ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the response of experimental hybrids of Capsicum annuum ['Experimental Hybrid (EH)' and its Reciprocal (EHR)] and Embrapa Hortaliças elite genotypes of C. chinense, C. frutescens and C. baccatum to Meloidogyne incognita race 1, M. javanica and M. enterolobii. The hybrid pepper 'Magali R' was used as susceptible control to M. incognita race 1 and resistant to M. javanica, and as resistant controls to M. incognita race 1 and M. javanica 'Silver' and 'Snooker' rootstocks were used. 'Rutgers' tomato was used to confirm the viability of the inoculum. Two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design with six replications. Thirty-day old seedlings were transplanted to 2.0 L pots containing a mixture of soil, sand, cattle manure and carbonized rice husk (1:1:1:1). Plants were inoculated after transplanting with deposition of 5.0 mL of suspension containing 5,000 eggs and J2 of each species alone. After seventy days, plants were assessed by measuring the index of egg mass and galls, the number of eggs per gram of roots and the reproduction factor. The C. annuumexperimental rootstock hybrids were resistant to M. incognita and M. javanica and susceptible to M. enterolobii, similar to 'Silver' and 'Snooker'. The hybrid 'Magali R' only showed resistance to M. javanica. Elite genotypes of C. chinense and C. baccatum were susceptible to all three species, while genotypes of C. frutescens were susceptible only to M. enterolobii. The experimental hybrids of Capsicum annuumand most genotypes of C. frutescens may be used in protected cultivation areas infested with M. incognita race 1 and M. javanica. However the search for resistant genotypes to M. enterolobii, as well as the development and adoption of control strategies is of crucial importance.
Meloidogyne incognita; Meloidogyne javanica; Meloidogyne enterolobii; resistance; reproduction factor; pepper
