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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #92677
Title: SOUTHERN ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANCE IN HOT PEPPER (CAPSICUM CHINENSE): POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANT CULTIVARS FOR THE U.S. AND CARIBBEAN MARKETS

Author
item Fery, Richard
item Thies, Judy
item WEEKES, SHERMAN

Submitted to: Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Since the southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a major pest of pepper (Capsicum spp.), a series of studies was conducted to determine the vulnerability of available C. chinense cultigens to this pest, to identify sources of resistance, and to determine the inheritance of resistance. Capsicum chinense cultigens obtained from commercial seed companies and heirloom seed collections were evaluated for reaction to M. incognita. All commercial cultigens, all Habanero-type cultigens, and most of the cultigens obtained from heirloom seed collectors were found to be susceptible. However, four of the cultigens obtained from heirloom collectors exhibited high levels of resistance. Evaluation of parental, F1, F2, and backcross populations of a cross between resistant and susceptible C. chinense cultigens indicated that southern root-knot nematode resistance in C. chinense is conditioned by a single dominant gene. The results of an allelism test indicated that the dominant resistance gene in C. chinense is likely the N gene that conditions southern root-knot nematode resistance in C. annuum. Selections from three of the heirloom cultigens were released in 1997 as the southern root-knot nematode resistant germplasm lines PA-353, PA-398, and PA-426. All three of these lines are Scotch Bonnet-type peppers.