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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #82977
Title: PA-353, PA-398, AND PA-426: SOUTHERN ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANT CAPSICUM CHINENSE JACQ. GERMPLASM LINES

Author
item Fery, Richard
item Thies, Judy

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Although most peppers grown in the United States belong to the species Capsicum annuum, the increasing popularity of hot peppers has created intense interest in two cultivar classes of another domesticated Capsicum species, C. chinense. These cultivar classes, Habanero and Scotch Bonnet, contain some of the world's most pungent peppers. The southern root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a major pest of peppers, and the results of previous studies indicated that all C.chinense varieties available from U.S. seed companies are susceptible. About four years ago, USDA-ARS scientists initiated efforts to identify sources of resistance in C. chinense. These efforts resulted in the April 1997 release of the C. chinense germplasm lines PA-353, PA-398, and PA-426. Each of the newly developed lines exhibits a high level of resistance to the southern root-knot nematode. All three of the germplasm lines are well-adapted, Scotch Bonnet-type peppers, and each is potentially useful in commercial production without further development. Additionally, these root-knot nematode resistant C. chinense lines are potentially valuable sources of resistance for the development of root-knot nematode resistant Habanero peppers.

Technical Abstract: Three southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) resistant Capsicum chinense germplasm lines, PA-353, PA-398, and PA-426, were released in April 1997 by the USDA-ARS. All of the newly released lines originated from bulked populations of heirloom cultigens. Each of the germplasm lines has a small, erect, plant habit. PA-353 plants produce 40 or more bonnet-shaped fruits; a typical fruit has three locules, is 3.5 cm high and 6.0 cm wide, weighs 7.6 g, and matures to a bright red color. PA-398 plants produce 35 or more bonnet-shaped fruits; a typical fruit has three locules, is 3.5 cm high and 6.0 cm wide, weighs 10 g, and matures to a bright yellow color. PA-426 plants produce about 40 bonnet-shaped fruits; a typical fruit has three locules, is 2.5 cm high and 6.0 cm wide, weighs 7.6 g, and matures to a bright yellow color. Each of the newly released lines has exhibited high levels of resistance to the southern root-knot nematode in both greenhouse and field studies. All three of the germplasm lines are well-adapted, Scotch Bonnet-type peppers, and each is potentially useful in commercial production without further development. Additionally, these lines are potentially valuable as sources of resistance for the development of root-knot nematode resistant Habanero peppers.