Reaction of inbred lines of habanero hot pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) to inoculation of Fusarium oxysporum

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 hot pepper plant stems with typical symptoms of vascular wilt disease were obtained. Then, due to microscopic morphological characteristics of mycelium and conidia in the samples, patogen was identified as Fusarium oxisporum. By immersion of roots, at a concentration of 1x106 conidia per mL, five inbred lines of habanero pepper were inoculated. In addition to the serrano type cultivar Criollo de Morelos 334 (CM-334). The percentage disease index and area under the disease progress curve (ABCPE) were estimated in a randomized complete block design, with three replicates. Results: Significant differences (p≤0.05) were observed for disease index and ABCPE in the genotypes evaluated; evidencing the difference in the genetic basis of the genotypes and the resistance or susceptibility to Fusarium oxisporum. The CM-334 cultivar, the Habanero 5 and Habanero 8 lines showed the lowest percentage of incidence of the disease (10, 20 and 30%, respectively) and ABCPE of 300, 560 and 880. In turn, lines Habanero 9 and Habanero 6 reached the highest ABCPE values with 2220 and 2190, respectively. Study limitations/implications: The disease resistance response in plants is complex and contains multiple interactions between genes, proteins, and metabolites. Findings/conclusions: The grouping of genotypes according to their reaction to Fusarium wilt disease facilitated the identification of resistant and susceptible lines, which can be considered in subsequent genetic improvement studies for hot pepper cultivation.