ARS | Publication request: USE OF CAPSICUM CHINENSE AS A COMPANION CROP TO SUPPRESS EFFECTS OF SOUTHERN ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE IN PEPPERS AND TOMATOES

Submitted to: American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: March 9, 2001
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: In a greenhouse study the highly nematode resistant Scotch Bonnet type pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) line PA-426 was used as a companion plant to protect a highly resistant nematode (Southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita) susceptible tomato cultivar 'Rutgers' and the highly susceptible cayenne type pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) line PA-136. Greatly reducted galling of the susceptible plants was observed, and the reduction was root density dependent at around 1.3 g of root dry weight per liter of soil.

Technical Abstract: In a greenhouse study pepper and tomato plants, highly susceptible to the southern root-knot nematode, were grown with nematode resistant peppers as companion plants. The susceptible vegetable plant was surrounded by 0, 1, 2 or 4 companion peppers (Scotch Bonnet type pepper, Capsicum chinense, line PA-426). This line is very resistant to all races of the Southern root-knot nematode. The resistant peppers gave adequate protection, even at fairly high levels of infection (3000 eggs per plant) of the susceptible plants.