Submitted to: Russian Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 24, 1997
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: The southern root-knot nematode is a major pest of pepper (Capsicum annuum) in the U.S. Soil fumigation with methyl bromide is the principal control measure used at present, but the pending withdrawal of this fumigant from the U.S. market has focused considerable interest on host plant resistance. Research conducted in South Carolina by the USDA and Clemson University indicates that host resistance is a viable alternative to methyl bromide for controlling the southern root-knot nematode. Cooperative studies with Carolina Cayenne, a highly resistant cayenne pepper cultivar released by the USDA and Clemson in 1985, indicate that a resistant cultivar can produce high yields when grown in fields naturally infested with high populations of the root-knot nematode. For example, in one field study Carolina Cayenne outyielded its susceptible sibling line PA-136 by 339%. In subsequent field studies, Carolina Cayenne was demonstrated to be potentially useful as a rotation crop for reducing Meloidogyne incognita populations to levels that would allow production of root-knot nematode susceptible vegetable crops. USDA scientists have recently developed and released two root-knot resistant, open-pollinated bell pepper cultivars, Charleston Belle and Carolina Wonder. Both cultivars are homozygous for the N root-knot nematode resistance gene, and these cultivars should be suitable alternatives to fumigation with methyl bromide for the management of southern root-knot nematodes in bell pepper plantings.