REACTION OF INBRED LINES OF HABANERO PEPPER (Capsicum chinense JACQ.) TO Fusarium INOCULATION

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the reaction of five inbred lines of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) To the inoculation of Fusarium oxisporum and to identify genotypes with possible levels of resistance to this pathogen.

Design/methodology/approach: Samples of stems of chili plants with typical symptoms of vascular wilting disease were obtained, due to their morphological characteristics of mycelium and conidia at the microscopic level it was identified as Fusarium oxisporum. By immersion of roots, at a concentration of 1x10⁶ conidia per ml, five inoculated lines of habanero pepper were inoculated, in addition to the serrano-type cultivar Criollo de Morelos 334 (CM-334). The percentage disease index and the Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) were estimated in a randomized complete block design, with three repetitions.

Results: Significant differences (p?0.05) were observed for disease index and ABCPE in the evaluated genotypes, evidencing the existing difference in the genetic base of the genotypes and the resistance or susceptibility to Fusarium oxisporum. The cultivar CM-334, the Habanero 5 and Habanero 8 lines presented the lowest percentage of incidence of the disease (10, 20 and 30%, respectively) and ABCPE of 300, 560 and 880. In turn, the Habanero 9 and Habanero 6 lines presented the highest ABCPE values with 2220 and 2190, respectively.

Limitations on study/implications: The disease resistance response in plants is complex and contains multiple interactions between genes, proteins, and metabolites.

Findings/conclusions: The grouping of genotypes based on their reaction to Fusarium wilt disease facilitated the identification of resistant and susceptible lines, which can be considered in subsequent genetic improvement works for the cultivation of chili.