Screening of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes for response to pathogens and pests under conditions of conventional and organic field production

K. Vasileva; V. Yankova; V. Todorova; S.  Masheva

K. Vasileva

, V. Yankova, V. Todorova, S. Masheva

Abstract: Monitoring of eight pepper genotypes is conducted at Maritsa Vegetable Crop Research Institute, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, during two successive years, under different diseases and pests’management systems. The surveys is carried out, using the standard field inspection methods to detect virus diseases (Tobacco mosaic virus - TMV, Cucumber mosaic virus - CMV and Tomato spotted wilt virus - TSWV, stolbur (Phytoplasma solani), verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahlia Kleb.), brown leaf spots (Alternaria solani Ellis & Martin) the pests: cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hubn.), aphids (Homoptera:Aphididae) and thrips (Thysanoptera:Thripidae). Among observed pathogens Alternaria solani Ellis & Martin and Phytoplasma solani were most important for all varieties and breeding lines in all studied production systems as their infestation were on average 27.37% and 31.79%, respectively. During the survey, no plants with symptoms of verticillium wilting were reported in all studied genotypesunder all growing systems. The mean score of virus attack was below 12%. The average rate of brown leaf spots ranged between 29.05% for breeding line K992 to 36.26% for line K995. The established highest Phytoplasma solani attack averaged from 24.10% for Stryama to 32.15% for Kapia UV. Single plants with thrips damage were observed during seedling production and immediately after transplanting in the field. At maturity stage, an infestation of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hubn.) was observed, while aphids’ population was low with no colonies established. The lowest infestation rates by H. armigera were reported in pepper genotypes K992 (0.92%) and K995 (0.49%) grown under organic production conditions.

Keywords: Capsicum annuum L.; diseases; infestation; insects; screening

Citation: Vasileva, K., Yankova, V., Todorova, V. & Masheva, S. (2024). Screening of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes for response to pathogens and pests under conditions of conventional and organic field production. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 30(4), 636–643

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Date published: 2024-08-27

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