ARS | Publication request: DOUBLE CROPPING CUCUMBERS AND SQUASH AFTER RESISTANT BELL PEPPER FOR ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE MANAGEMENT

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2003
Publication Date: August 9, 2003
Citation: Thies, J.A., Davis, R.F., Mueller, J.D., Fery, R.L., Langston, D.B. 2003. Double cropping cucumbers and squash after resistant bell pepper for root-knot nematode management [abstract]. Phytopathology. 93:S82. Publication No. P-2003-0053-AMA.

Technical Abstract: The root-knot nematode resistant `Charleston Belle' pepper (Capsicum annuum) and the nearly identical but susceptible `Keystone Resistant Giant' were compared as spring crops for managing root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in fall-cropped cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and squash (Cucurbita pepo) at Blackville, SC and Tifton, GA. `Charleston Belle' was resistant and `Keystone Resistant Giant' was susceptible at both sites. Cucumber plants grown after `Charleston Belle' had lower (probability less than 0.001) root gall severity indices than plants grown after `Keystone Resistant Giant' (4.2 vs. 4.9 on a 1 to 5 scale). Cucumber yields were 87% heavier (probability less than 0.0001) following `Charleston Belle' than `Keystone Resistant Giant'. Squash plants grown after `Charleston Belle' had lower (probability less than 0.001) gall indices than plants grown after `Keystone Resistant Giant' (4.0 vs. 4.8). Squash yields were 55% heavier (probability less than 0.01) following `Charleston Belle' than `Keystone Resistant Giant'. These results demonstrate that root-knot nematode resistant bell pepper cultivars such as `Charleston Belle' will be useful tools for managing M. incognita in double-cropping systems with cucurbit crops.