Relationship of Preplant Population Densities ofMeloidogyne incognitato Damage in Three Chile Pepper Cultivars

Plant growth response and yield for three chile pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivars were evaluated at different preplant populations of Meloidogyne incognita race 3 in microplots during two growing seasons. All cultivars were susceptible to M. incognita in sandy loam soil, with cv. New Mexico 6-4 being most severely damaged. Fruit weight of this cultivar was reduced 10% at preplant nematode densities of 12 eggs and second-stage juveniles per 500 cm 3 of soil. Pod production was also suppressed (P < 0.05) for cv. Sandia at 33 or more eggs and juveniles per 500 cm 3 of soil and for cv. Jalapeno at 95 or more eggs and juveniles. Soil populations of M. Fncognita in Jalapeno plots were lower than those associated with other cultivars at harvest. Low populations of M. Fncognita that potentially damage New Mexico 6-4 might equire soil bioassay techniques for detection