New resistance sources to root-knot nematode in Capsicum pepper

ABSTRACT Thirty seven pepper genotypes, Capsicum chinense, C. annuum and C. frutescens, were characterized for resistance to three root-knot nematode species (Meloidogyne javanica, M. incognita race 1 and M. enterolobii) aiming to find potential resistance sources to be used in breeding programs. Three experiments were carried out, in 2013, 2014 and 2016, in a greenhouse, in randomized block design and six replicates, one plant/pot. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and average clustering. All evaluated pepper genotypes were resistant or immune to M. javanica. For M. incognita race 1, all accessions of C. frutescens, evaluated in the first experiment, were resistant, whereas the six accessions of C. chinense were susceptible. For M. incognita, all genotypes of C. chinense and C. annuum, evaluated in the second experiment, were resistant. In the third experiment, evaluating C. annuum genotypes, we verified that most were susceptible to M. incognita race 1; genotypes CNPH 30118 and CNPH 6144 were resistant, though. M. enterolobii, which is the most aggressive species, with few resistance sources described, showed a tendency of greater degree of resistance in C. chinense and C. frutescens. Although most of the evaluated genotypes were susceptible, significant differences were observed regarding the degree of susceptibility. The main contribution of this study was the identification of a genotype resistant to M. enterolobii, cultivar BRS Nandaia, which can be used in breeding programs.