The use of Capsicum chinense as sweet pepper cultivars and sources for gene transfer

The use of Capsicum chinense as sweet pepper cultivars and sources for gene transfer

Shanhua, Tainan AVRDC Taiwan

1989

p.55-62

SB349.A85

The common Capsicum annuum sweet pepper cultivars do not thrive under humid tropical conditions in the Amazon Basin because of disease problems such as bacterial wilt, anthracnose leafspot, bacterial spot, Erwinia rot and viral diseases. Most sweet peppers of the Amazon are imported from thousands of kilometers away because of the very high cost of local production. However, because of the need for transport over long distances under hot and humid conditions, the peppers imported from northeast and southern Brazil are always of poor quality, and are expensive. The Amazon Basin is the center of origin for C. chinense species. Many cultivars were domesticated by the Amazon natives for flavor and/or pungency. Some of the cultivars have sweet pepper properties and can be used as such. These cultivars are naturally adapted and disease-free under humid tropical conditions. This paper reports the collection, evaluation and development of C. chinense materials in the Amazon region as substitute for C. annuum sweet pepper for humid tropical regions. The advantages of C. chinense cultivation are the longer harvest periods, no pesticide application requirement, and low production cost. A breeding program is under way to transfer fruit quality traits from C. annuum to C. chinense. [AS]

Tomato and pepper production in the tropics

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