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Title: Greenhouse Evaluation of a commercial Bell Pepper scion grafted onto various Capsicum rootstocks for management of Meloidogyne incognita.

Author
item Bausher, Michael
item Burelle, Nancy
item Rosskopf, Erin

Submitted to: Proceedings of Methyl Bromide Alternatives Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2007
Publication Date: 11/1/2007
Citation: Bausher, M.G., Burelle, N.K., Rosskopf, E.N. 2007. Greenhouse Evaluation of a commercial Bell Pepper scion grafted onto various Capsicum rootstocks for management of Meloidogyne incognita.. Proceedings of Methyl Bromide Alternatives Conference. 112:1-3.

Interpretive Summary: Using grafted plants is a way to mix and match germplasm to gain the best attributes of each plant. In this study, we joined a commercial bell pepper variety to 10 different pepper genotypes which we used as rootstocks. Damage from the nematode Meloidogyne incognita was lessened with the use of rootstocks which have genes which are resistant to nematode attack. The use of different root systems also changed the growth of the plants. The use of resistant rootstocks in vegetables is a method which is used to lessen the impact of nematode and other problems without or reduced use of fumigation pesticides.

Technical Abstract: The growth, development, and nematode susceptibility of various rootstock genotypes grafted to a commercial bell pepper variety scion were evaluated in conventional and climate controlled greenhouses. Eight rootstocks including ‘Caribbean Red Habanero’, ‘PA-136’, ‘Keystone Resistant Giant’, ‘Yolo Wonder’, ‘Carolina Wonder’, ‘Charleston Hot’, ‘Mississippi Nemaheart, ‘Carolina Cayenne’ and ‘Charleston Belle’ were grafted to the commercial variety ‘Aristotle’ as a scion and inoculated with Meloidogyne incognita. Nonrated and self-grafted plants were included as controls. Graft compatibility was assessed by measuring plant growth, while nematode infection was assessed using a gall index and extracting nematodes from roots. The rootstock ‘Charleston Hot’ was the most tolerant to nematode infestation under conventional greenhouse conditions. Both root weight and shoot weight were impacted by the use of different rootstocks. Self-grafting of the commercial variety ‘Aristotle’ reduced root growth. In all cases the use of tolerant rootstock was found in decrease root galling over the nongrafted commercial variety. Grafting a commercial bell pepper variety scion on nematode tolerant rootstocks can reduce damage caused by M. incognita.