Assessment of resistances to multiple pathogens in experimental sweet pepper hybrids

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess resistance to some of the major sweet pepper pathogens {Phytophthora capsici, Pepper yellow mosaic virus (PepYMV) and Meloidogyne incognita} in a group of experimental hybrids and their respective parental lines, and to identify hybrids possibly resistant to all three pathogens. Ten parental breeding lines, thirty experimental hybrids and seven commercial controls (Konan-R, Magali-R, Martha-R, Stephany, Mallorca, Magnata Super and Criollo de Morelos-334) were used. Each experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with three replications and plots consisting of 16 plants. For assessment of resistance to P. capsici and PepYMV, the percent of asymptomatic plants was considered. In evaluating reactions to M. incognita, both the nematode reproduction index and the nematode reproduction factor were calculated. Five hybrids were found with resistance to all three pathogens. For all three pathogens, there was evidence that hybrids with two resistant parental lines showed slightly higher levels of pathogen resistance than those with only one resistant parental line.