IPM systems development of hot pepper, Capsicum chinense

IPM systems development of hot pepper, Capsicum chinense

1997/1998

SB950.2.A2V6 1997/1998

Hot pepper farms in the parishes of St Mary, St Catherine and St Elizabeth were surveyed over four periods between February 1997 and March 1998 to determine the incidence of pests as well as production practices. Virus symptoms were observed on 99% of farms with plants over two months old.\tab Tobacco etch virus was the most frequently detected virus, being present on 72% of farms. Aphid vectors such as Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae were the most prevalent arthropod pests and were present on 74% of farms. The population dynamics of these vectors has been monitored, from March 1998, on four farms in South St Catherine using pan traps. Myzus persicae, Uroleucon ambrosiae and A gossypii have been the most frequently detected species. Highest populations were recorded at the start of the study in February. Aphis gossypii is the only species which has been present throughout the entire study period. The temporal and spatial pattern of virus spread was monitored in South St Catherine. Tobacco etch virus (TEV) was the only virus detected. The rate at which plants became infected with TEV over the study period followed a logistic pattern indicating that the virus is spread mainly by intrafield means (secondary infection). An experiment assessing the impact of viruses on the yield of Scotch Bonnet and West Indian Red found the yield of virus infected Scotch Bonnet plots to be 50% lower than that of uninfected plots. The yield of virus infected West Indian Red plots was 15% lower than that of uninfected plots. Laboratory, greenhouse, and field studies were conducted to address pest problems associated with the production of peppers in the Caribbean and the United States. Four manuscripts reporting research conducted, in part, with IPM-CRSP funds were published in refereed journals. A breeding program to transfer southern root-knot nematode resistance from Scotch Bonnet pepper into Habanero pepper was continued; the second backcross was completed and resistant plants were selected from this backcross for use in completing the third backcross. The resistance to the peanut root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne arenaria Race 1) exhibited by the C. chinense germplasm line PA-353 was found to be conditioned by a single dominant gene; this gene is probably allelic to a gene that conditions the resistance in C. annuum. The results of a field test conducted cooperatively with a CARD I investigator in St. Kitts demonstrated that the recently released C. chinense germplasm lines PA-353, PA-398, and PA-426 are resistant to indigenous field populations of Meloidogyne spp.; two C. chinense cultivars that are commonly grown in the Caribbean were susceptible. The results of growth chamber tests indicated that resistance to southern root-knot nematodes (M. incognita) in C. chinense is compromised at high temperatures. However, the root galling response and nematode reproduction in the resistant Scotch Bonnet germplasm line PA-426 at high temperatures was significantly lower than in susceptible Habanero-type peppers. Root-knot resistant C. chinense cultivars should be a useful component of cropping systems designed to manage M. incognita in hot climates. An experiment designed to compare the labor and expense of using back-pack sprayer applications of the natural herbicide pelargonic acid (Scythe) with hand weeding for controlling weeds in peppers was repeated. Weed control with the herbicide took less labor than hand weeding; however, monetary savings in labor were offset by the cost of the herbicide. An experiment to evaluate four summer legumes (cowpea, soybean, sunnhemp and velvetbean) as cover crop mulches for pepper production is in progress. Preliminary observations indicate that (1.) each of the mulches suppresses weed growth, and (2.) early growth of peppers planted in mulches is more rapid than those planted in bare soil, probably due to nitrogen provided by the legumes. A district in St Mary has been selected for the transfer of IPM technology. Four training sessions were held in the district. Topics such as "IPM", "Common pests of hot peppers and their control", and "Common question which arise at the start of hot pepper production" were covered. The training days are now being held in farmers' fields where hot pepper crops have been followed since the seedling stage.

no.5:96-114, IPM CRSP, ANNUAL REPORT

Research > Published Articles