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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339540
Title: Development of a sweet cherry pepper line with resistance to the southern root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita

Author
item Rutter, William
item Buckner, Sharon
item Farnham, Mark
item Fery, Richard
item Kousik, Chandrasekar - Shaker

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: The southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a major pathogen of pepper (Capsicum spp.), causing significant yield losses in heavily infected plants. The N-gene confers resistance to M. incognita, and has been successfully used to mitigate nematode damage in specific pepper varieties for over 50 years. Unfortunately, the N-gene is only available in a limited number of commercial pepper varieties. With consumer demand for a selection of pepper varieties, and the removal of many traditional fumigant nematicides from the market, there is an increased need for a wider variety of peppers with resistance to M. incognita. To help fill this need, we have used a recurrent backcross strategy to develop a variety of sweet cherry pepper that carries the N-gene. This new sweet cherry variety shows a high level of resistance to M. incognita, equal to that of the widely-used nematode resistant variety Charleston Belle. Under field conditions it produces fruit yields, shape and color comparable to its recurrent commercial parent PA-0007. The release of this sweet cherry pepper variety will provide useful options for pepper growers and breeders looking to introduce nematode resistance in their fields and breeding programs.