This work reports the resistance of Capsicum spp. genotypes to Oidiopsis taurica. Experiments were first conducted with artificial inoculation in pots in a screenhouse, with a set of 104 genotypes. A similar test was carried out with transplants in soil beds in a greenhouse, with 93 genotypes, selected from those previously tested in the screenhouse. In the screenhouse, plants were spray-inoculated with a conidial suspension of 10(4) conidia/ml. The source of inoculum in the greenhouse consisted of previously-infected sweet-pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants. Genotypes were separated into five resistance groups, following measurements of four disease variables: disease incidence, sporulation index, leaf severity index, and total disease intensity. In addition, the areas under disease progress curves were determined for each variable. About 77% of the genotypes tested in the screenhouse were highly (HS) or moderately susceptible (MS); 8% moderately resistant (MR); 11% resistant (R); and 4% were highly resistant (HR). About 72% of the genotypes tested in the greenhouse were HS or MS; 11% MR; 9% R and 8% HR. Capsicum annuum was the most susceptible species to O. taurica. Classification of most genotypes according to their resistance remained the same in the two experiments. Capsicum baccatum, C. frutescens and C. chinense had higher frequencies of resistant genotypes, and therefore, are considered to be good sources of resistance to the disease. The best sources of resistance (HR genotypes) were CNPH 39, 161, 363 and 601 (C. baccatum); CNPH 579, 596 and 597 (C. frutescens); CNPH 55 (C. annuum); CNPH 280, 289, 434, 570 and 600 (C. chinense) and CNPH 1424 (C. annuum).
