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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Nat'l Clonal Germplasm Rep - Tree Fruit & Nut Crops & Grapes » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #231294
Title: Initial screening of chili and sweet pepper germplasm for resistance to chili thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood.

Author
item KRISHNA KUMAR, N. - INSTITUTE OF HORT - INDIA
item Aradhya, Mallikarjuna
item DESHPANDE, A. - INSTITUTE OF HORT - INDIA
item RAMACHANDAR, P. - INSTITUTE OF HORT - INDIA

Submitted to: Euphytica
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Krishna Kumar, N.K., Aradhya, M.K., Deshpande, A.A., Ramachandar, P.R. 1996. Initial screening of chili and sweet pepper germplasm for resistance to chili thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood.. Euphytica, 89: 319-324.

Interpretive Summary: A preliminary evaluation for resistance to chili thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood of 41 and 194 pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) germplasms during 1987 and 1988, espectively, indicated chili accessions may be a promising source of resistance . In contrast, all sweet pepper accessions tested were highly susceptible . A number of chili accessions produced a moderate yield, in spite of a high thrips infestation indicating tolerance to S. dorsalis . Rating for thrips damage was more reliable and efficient than estimating thrips numbers in screening pepper accessions for resistance to thrips. Highly significant, positive correlation between ratings at the seedling stage and final rating for thrips damage indicated the feasibility of screening pepper accessions at the seedling stage . Comparing the similarities in rating among accessions resulted in 40 distinct groups . The variance-covariance matrix of the data from these 40 groups was subjected to principal component analysis . This accounted for 56 and 18 per cent of the variation across the two principal axes, respectively . Projection of chili and sweet pepper accessions along these two axes revealed three distinct clusters . About 80 per cent of chili accessions formed the first cluster, 58 per cent of the sweet pepper accessions formed the second cluster and a third cluster exhibited intermediate ratings for thrips damage. The significance of these findings in relation to geographical divergence and resistance to thrips among pepper accessions is discussed .

Technical Abstract: A preliminary evaluation for resistance to chili thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood of 41 and 194 pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) germplasms during 1987 and 1988, espectively, indicated chili accessions may be a promising source of resistance . In contrast, all sweet pepper accessions tested were highly susceptible . A number of chili accessions produced a moderate yield, in spite of a high thrips infestation indicating tolerance to S. dorsalis . Rating for thrips damage was more reliable and efficient than estimating thrips numbers in screening pepper accessions for resistance to thrips. Highly significant, positive correlation between ratings at the seedling stage and final rating for thrips damage indicated the feasibility of screening pepper accessions at the seedling stage . Comparing the similarities in rating among accessions resulted in 40 distinct groups . The variance-covariance matrix of the data from these 40 groups was subjected to principal component analysis . This accounted for 56 and 18 per cent of the variation across the two principal axes, respectively . Projection of chili and sweet pepper accessions along these two axes revealed three distinct clusters . About 80 per cent of chili accessions formed the first cluster, 58 per cent of the sweet pepper accessions formed the second cluster and a third cluster exhibited intermediate ratings for thrips damage. The significance of these findings in relation to geographical divergence and resistance to thrips among pepper accessions is discussed .