Abstract
Aphid borne viruses have become the most important limiting factor affecting the production of chillies in this country. Yield reduction of up to 60% has been reported. Chilli veinal mottle virus (CVMV) was first reported by Ong (1979) who found it serologically different from pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV). Screening by sap inoculation for resistance sources from our germplasm pools of 344 accessions has resulted in the identification of 30 CVMV resistant/tolerant genotypes. Many of them are of exotic origin. Genetic analysis on crosses involving two CVMV resistant genotypes, one local "cili padi" and the other a Mexican genotype Serrano Huasteco, indicates a pair of recessive genes confer resistance to CVMV. Preliminary studies show that different genetic loci were involved in these two different resistant genotypes. These two resistant genes have been successfully incorporated seperately into our susceptible cultivar. The F9 resistant breeding lines are now being screened for good agronomic characters. Preliminary screening for CMV resistance has identified 13 genotypes possessing high degree of resistance. They are all introduced materials. There are indications that strain differences exit among our local isolates. To date, a total of seven genotypes are found to possess resistances to both CVMV and CMV. However, further confirmation of the resistances of these genotypes need to be carried out. CVMV and CMV are prevalent in the field and mixed infection of the viruses are also commonly found, it is deemed necessary that the final released cultivars should posses resistances to both viruses. Research is now geared towards incorporating the resistances of CMV to the F9 CVMV resistant breeding lines. [AS]