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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137109
Title: ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANCE IN PEPPER (CAPSICUM CHINENSE JACQ.): POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANT HABANERO-TYPE CULTIVARS FOR U.S. GROWERS

Author
item Fery, Richard
item Thies, Judy

Submitted to: Pepper National Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/30/2002
Publication Date: 10/15/2002
Citation: FERY, R.L., THIES, J.A. ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANCE IN PEPPER (CAPSICUM CHINENSE JACQ.): POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANT HABANERO-TYPE CULTIVARS FOR U.S. GROWERS. Proceedings of the 16th International Pepper Conference, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, November 1-12, 2002. Abstract p.9

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cultivars belonging to the species Capsicum annuum account for most of the peppers grown in the U.S., but Habanero-type cultivars belonging to the species C. chinense are becoming popular. However, commercial U.S. Habanero-type cultivars are susceptible to root-knot nematodes. In 1997, the USDA released three Scotch Bonnet-type C. chinense germplasm lines that exhibit high levels of resistance to the southern root-knot nematode (M. incognita). These C. chinense germplasm lines are potential sources of resistance for development of root-knot nematode resistant Habanero-type peppers. Results of genetic studies demonstrated that this high level of resistance in the Scotch Bonnet-type germplasm to M. incognita is conditioned by a single dominant gene. Additionally, characterization studies indicated that this gene also conditions resistance to two other important nematode pests, the peanut root-knot nematode (M. arenaria) and the tropical root-knot nematode (M. javanica). A recurrent backcross breeding procedure is being used at the U. S. Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, SC, to transfer this C. chinense root-knot nematode resistance gene from Scotch Bonnet-type peppers into Habanero-type peppers. Several root-knot nematode resistant F3BC3 populations currently under evaluation produce large yields of Habanero-type fruit.