Characterization of Capsicum chinense Cultigens for Resistance to Meloidogyne arenaria, M. hapla, and M. javanica.

Four Capsicum chinense cultigens with known reactions to Meloidogyne incognita were characterized for resistance to M. arenaria races 1 and 2, M. hapla, and M. javanica, in greenhouse and growth-chamber tests. The M. incognita-resistant cultigens PA-353, PA-398, and PA-426 exhibited high resistance to M. arenaria race 1; the M. incognita-susceptible PA-350 was susceptible to M. arenaria race 1. M. arenaria race 2 and M. javanica were not highly pathogenic to any of the C. chinense cultigens. PA-353, PA-398, and PA-426, however, supported an average of 98.1 and 94.8% fewer (P < 0.05) M. arenaria race 2 and M. javanica eggs per gram fresh root, respectively, than PA-350. M. hapla was pathogenic to all four C. chinense cultigens. PA-353, PA-398, and PA-426 will be useful sources of resistance to M. arenaria races 1 and 2, M. javanica, and M. incognita, for developing resistant habanero pepper cultivars; however, an alternative source of resistance must be identified for M. hapla.