The viability of grafting was evaluated in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum, L) plants to control phytophthora blight. The research was carried out during the period of September 2000 to July 2001, in Botucatu (Brazil), under protected cultivation. The experimental design was of randomized blocks with four replication and five plants per plot. Rootstocks resistant to P. capsici, F1 hybrids of C. annuum and three susceptible commercial hybrids (Elisa, Margarita and Magali R) were used. The cleft grafting was realized when rootstocks and grafts showed seven and three true leaves, respectively. The inoculation was done 14 days after transplanting the seedlings by depositing wheat seeds infested with the fungus, around the stem of each plant. Evaluations were done each 15 days starting four days after the inoculations. A good level of grafting compatibility in all the combinations, flowering precocity of non grafted plants, maintenance of the resistance to the disease in grafted plants and variations in height of the plants in some combinations were observed. The physiological characteristics of the hybrids were not influenced by the plants used as rootstocks. Grafting could be used as alternative to control phytophthora blight under protect cultivation.
Solanaceae; Capsicum annuum, L.; Phytophthora capsici; Leonian
