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Title: EFFECTIVENESS OF RESISTANCE TO SOUTHERN ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE IN 'CAROLINA CAYENNE' PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) IN GREENHOUSE, MICROPLOT, AND FIELD TESTS

Author
item Thies, Judy
item MUELLER, JOHN - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item Fery, Richard

Submitted to: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a major pest of bell and hot peppers, causing severe yield losses worldwide. These soil-inhabiting microscopic roundworms invade plant roots, causing development of special enlarged 'nurse' cells required by the nematode for feeding. Swollen knots develop on the roots, drawing nutrients away from the plant leaves; consequently the plant becomes stunted and yellow, and yields poorly. Currently, the soil fumigant methyl bromide is used for nematode control in pepper, but pending withdrawal of this fumigant from the United States market has resulted in a need for effective alternative control measures. We evaluated the usefulness of the highly resistant 'Carolina Cayenne' pepper in soils with high numbers of root-knot nematodes. 'Carolina Cayenne' always showed exceptionally high resistance to root-knot nematodes, i.e. minimal root galling and nematode reproduction nand no reduction in fruit yield. In a heavily infested field, 'Carolina Cayenne' outyielded a susceptible sister line by 339%. The exceptionally high resistance exhibited by 'Carolina Cayenne' should be a suitable alternative to methyl bromide and other fumigant nematicides for controlling root-knot nematodes in pepper.

Technical Abstract: The southern root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood] is a serious pest of pepper. Currently, methyl bromide is used for nematode control, but the pending withdrawal of this fumigant from the United States market has resulted in a need for effective alternative control measures. We evaluated the effectiveness of resistance of 'Carolina Cayenne' relative to the susceptible genotypes 'Early Calwonder' and PA-136 in greenhouse, microplot, and field studies. In all tests, 'Carolina Cayenne' exhibited exceptionally high resistance (minimal galling, minimal nematode reproduction, and no yield reduction) to M. incognita; 'Early Calwonder' and PA-136 were highly suceptible. In a test conducted in a heavily infested field, 'Carolina Cayenne' outyielded PA-136 by 339%. The exceptionally high resistance exhibited by 'Carolina Cayenne' should be a suitable alternative to methyl bromide and other fumigant nematicides for controlling root-knot nematodes in pepper.