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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256477
Title: PA-566, A Root-knot Nematode Resistant, Pimento-type Pepper

Author
item Fery, Richard
item Thies, Judy

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/4/2010
Publication Date: 5/31/2011
Citation: Fery, R.L., Thies, J.A. 2011. PA-566, A Root-knot Nematode Resistant, Pimento-type Pepper. HortScience. 46(4):668-669.

Interpretive Summary: The root-knot nematodes are major pests of pimento-type peppers in the United States, and the ideal solution to this pest problem is the development and use of resistant cultivars. The pimento-type cultivar Pimiento L is widely grown in the Southern states where it can produce good yields under high temperature conditions. ‘Pimiento L,’ however, is quite susceptible to root-knot nematodes. In 2000, efforts were initiated at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC, to transfer a nematode resistance gene from the pimento-type cultivar Mississippi Nemaheart into a ‘Pimiento L’ type genetic background. These efforts resulted in the April 2010 release of the root-knot nematode resistant, pimento-type breeding line PA-566. The newly released breeding line is recommended for use as a parental line by pepper breeders interested in developing root-knot nematode resistant cultivars of pimento-type peppers. PA-566 is a relatively well-adapted, pimento-type pepper, and is potentially useful in commercial production without further development. It is particularly recommended for trial for the organic, specialty crop, and home garden markets because these segments of the pepper industry do not have easy access to alternative production sites or nematicides and nematicide application equipment.

Technical Abstract: The Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a new, open-pollinated, breeding line of a pimento-type pepper (Capsicum annuum) designated PA-566. The new breeding line is the product of a recurrent backcross breeding procedure to incorporate the dominant N root-knot nematode gene from ‘Mississippi Nemaheart’ into a ‘Pimiento L’ type genetic background. The N gene conditions a high level of resistance to the southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), the peanut root-knot nematode (M. arenaria), and the tropical root-knot nematode (M. javanica). PA-566 was derived from a single BC3F2 plant grown in 2005. PA-566 is quite similar in appearance and maturity to ‘Pimiento L.’ It has an erect plant habit and produces dark red fruit. The fruit characteristics of PA-566 are equal to or superior to those of ‘Pimiento L.’ PA-566 fruits are 9.0% heavier, 5.4% wider, and exhibit a 6.6% thicker fruit walls. A typical PA-566 fruit weighs 84.4 g and is conical- or heart-shaped (6.05 cm wide x 7.77 cm long). The fruit wall is thick (4.84 mm). The release of PA-566 will provide pepper breeders interested in developing both open-pollinated and F1 hybrid pimento-type cultivars access to a near-cultivar quality parental line that is homozygous for the N root-knot nematode resistance gene. PA-566 is a well-adapted, pimento-type pepper; it is potentially useful in commercial production without further development.