17th international pepper conference

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Compiled by Gene McAvoy, Extension Agent III Regional Vegetable/Horticulture, UF/IFAS Hendry County Cooperative Extension 17TH INTERNATIONAL PEPPER CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 14-16, 2004 NAPLES, FLORIDA USA BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

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Page 1: 17th International Pepper Conference

Compiled by Gene McAvoy, Extension Agent IIIRegional Vegetable/Horticulture, UF/IFAS Hendry County Cooperative Extension

1 7 T H I N T E R N AT I O N A L

PEPPER CONFERENCENOVEMBER 14-16, 2004 NAPLES, FLORIDA USA

BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

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Welcome to the 17th International Pepper Conference

For the past 30 years the International Pepper Conference has been held every other year in major pepper producingregions. The conference attracts prominent pepper research scientists, breeders, horticulturists, pathologists, ento-mologists, geneticists, physiologists and virologists, in addition to extension agents, seed and chemical company rep-resentatives, major processors, growers, and chile aficionados from around the world. In recent years, interest anddemand for peppers has increased dramatically worldwide and peppers have achieved major economic significancein the global market. This conference provides an important venue for the vital exchange of information and knowl-edge on Capsicum spp.

The conference has come along way since 1972 when Dr. Ben Villalon and Dr. Tom Zitter first tossed around theidea of holding a meeting to gather pepper researchers for the exchange of information. Since then, the InternationalPepper Conference has emerged as the premier venue for the dissemination and exchange of information onCapsicum. Although the conference has always attracted researchers from around the world, it became truly interna-tional in 2002 when it traveled to Tampico, Mexico.

This year the organizing committee would like to extend a warm welcome to our colleagues from around the globe.We feel confident we have successfully followed the model established by our predecessors in putting together a pro-gram you will find informative, challenging and exciting. The diversity of papers and posters being presented at thisconference will bring together the latest advances in the field and will provide something for everyone in attendance.

In addition to the exchange of information and ideas, this conference provides an opportunity for attendees to devel-op personal friendships and collaborative efforts with colleagues from around the world working on common pep-per issues. For this reason, you will note we have included breaks between formal sessions so both old friends andnew have plenty of time to trade ideas and share innovations. Many of our participants have been active with thepepper conference since its inception 32 years ago. You will find they are also here to welcome new colleagues andcollaborate with those in their midst, so we encourage you to get acquainted and enjoy your time in the company offriends with a common interest that connects us all.

In addition to the welcome reception and refreshment breaks, we have planned group lunches, a Monday night bar-beque and Tuesday night closing dinner banquet. These functions provide an opportunity to relax and network awayfrom the structure of the meeting place and enjoy great food and drink. Monday’s program includes a full day of sci-entific presentations and Tuesday’s agenda features an all-day tour of local industry research facilities and commer-cial pepper production South Florida style.

We are grateful to all of our many and generous sponsors who have joined in supporting this conference, and wouldalso like to thank our committee members, speakers and poster presenters for enriching the program. A sincere thanksis due to Beth Miller-Tipton and her staff at the UF/IFAS Office of Conferences and Institutes as they have left nostone unturned in making sure that our conference is scientifically successful and an enjoyable time for everyone.

We are glad you were able to join us and trust this will be a memorable and productive experience for all.

Sincerely,

Gene McAvoyConference Organizer

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Welcome Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Special Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

Planning Committee Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Sponsor Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

Jean Andrews Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Paul Bosland Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

Allan Stoner Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Program Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

Poster Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii

Abstracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Author Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe would like to extend a special thank you to the following companies for

providing ongoing assistance with publicizing the conference:

American Vegetable Grower Magazine – Meister Media Worldwide

Growing Magazine – Moose River Publishing

Richard Hentschel and Pickle Packers International, Inc.

We also thank our advertisers for making the

17th International Pepper Conference Book of Abstracts possible:

Chemical Dynamics, Inc.

Hazera Seeds, Inc.

McIlhenny Company

Seminis Vegetable Seeds

COVER PHOTO CREDITS:Photos of Rogers pepper varieties: Pageant, Mandarin and Lafayette are

copyrighted by a Syngenta Group Company and used with permission.

Photos of Sakata pepper varieties are copyrighted bySakata Seed Americaand used with permission.

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PLANNING COMMITTEE RECOGNITIONWe would like to acknowledge members of the planning committee, and

thank them for their time, commitment and dedication to organizing

the 17th International Pepper Conference:

Bob Conrad, Harris Moran, Ft. Myers, FL

Steve Czaplewski, Syngenta Rogers Seeds, Naples, FL

Randy Johnson, Sakata Seed America, Inc., Lehigh Acres, FL

Elizabeth Lamb, UF/IFAS Indian River REC, Ft. Pierce, FL

Don Maynard, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast REC, Bradenton, FL

Gene McAvoy, Conference Chair, UF/IFAS Hendry County CooperativeExtension Service, Labelle, FL

Michele Myers, Syngenta Rogers Seeds, Naples, FL

Teresa Olczyk, UF/IFAS Miami-Dade County Cooperative Extension Service,Homestead, FL

Mary Riley, Sakata Seed America, Inc., Lehigh Acres, FL

Pam Roberts, UF/IFAS Immokalee REC, Immokalee, FL

Rodney Robideaux, Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Felda, FL

Eric Simonne, UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department, Gainesville, FL

Benigno Villalon, “Dr. Pepper”, Texas A&M University, Weslaco, TX

Ted Winsberg, Green Cay Farms, Inc., Boynton Beach, FL

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SPONSOR RECOGNITIONPlease join us in thanking our contributing sponsors whose generous financial

assistance made the 17th International Pepper Conference possible:

AMVAC Chemical Corporation

Bedner Growers, Inc.

Brighton Plantation

C & B Farms

Cerexagri, Inc.

Citrus & Vegetable Magazine – Vance Publishing

DuPont de Nemours, Agricultural ProductsEDCO Food Products, Inc.

Enza Zaden

Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA)

Green Cay Farm

Harris Moran Seed Company

Intergro, Inc.

McIlhenny Company

Pickle Packers International, Inc.

Sakata Seed America, Inc.

Seminis Vegetable Seeds

Syngenta Seeds Rogers Brand

Texas Pepper FoundationThomas Produce Co.

University of Florida/IFAS, Office of Dean for Extension

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While there are many, many reasons why hot peppers have come into theirown and have blossomed into objects of public interest and enjoyment, oneof those reasons can be directly attributed to Dr. Jean Andrews, aka “ThePepper Lady,” a title she has, in fact, trademarked. A diminutive, outspoken,and endlessly energetic octogenarian, Andrews leads a life of travel, writ-ing, research, painting, and philanthropy.

As a native of Texas and a longtime cook and gardener, she had been grow-ing, preserving, and developing recipes for peppers for many years. Whenfinishing up a doctorate in art at the University of North Texas (begun atage 50, three years before), she was casting about for a dissertation subjectand learned that the pepper genus, Capsicum, had never been illustrated. Infact, as she explored the subject, she learned that the pepper genus was noteven defined until the Fifties, and that there was very little literature pub-lished on the topic. While she ultimately chose a different area for her doc-

toral research, her interest in painting peppers was irrevocably piqued, and in her spare time, while teachingart, she bought textbooks and began to teach herself botany to properly prepare for the task.

Although a debilitating eye injury slowed her down for a few years, Dr. Andrews remained committed to herbotanical illustration project, and as she recovered, she began the work. “Because my vision was impairedand I had to work so slowly, it took me five years to complete the paintings, at a rate of 5 or 6 per year,” shetold me. “I only worked from live specimens, so at times I was growing as many as 81 varieties of peppers.Although I was not formally botanically trained, once the experts — botanists and scholars at UT and otherplaces — understood what I was doing, they were very helpful to me and supportive of my work; I wasaccomplishing something that hadn’t been done before.” The results of this labor of love, scholarship, andultimate dedication were the 34 gorgeous botanical paintings of pepper varieties that appear in Peppers: TheDomesticated Capsicums, along with her comprehensive and erudite text that includes pepper history, sci-ence, cultivation, and culinary and medicinal uses.

The consequence of this Herculean endeavor was that Dr. Andrews is recognized as a world authority on thesubject of peppers, and she became a Visiting Scholar in Botany at the University of Texas and a staff mem-ber at the Herbarium there. In 1983, she endowed two visiting professorships at UT — one in HumanNutrition and one in Economic Botany. After writing some smaller works on pepper subjects (along withseveral books on two other abiding interests, Gulf Coast shells and wildflowers), in 1999 Dr. Andrews pub-lished a companion volume to Peppers, titled The Pepper Trail: History and Recipes From Around the World.This is an anthropological and sociological study of the early spice trade, and about the global progress ofpeppers through various cultures and cuisines. The book contains a panoply of pepper recipes contributed byan impressive assortment of nationally known chefs. In 2000, it won the IACP Jane Grigson Award forDistinguished Scholarship. Together, the two volumes are commonly recognized as the ultimate source forpepper information.

Andrews was named to the Hall of Honor of the College of Natural Science at the University of Texas atAustin, was honored as a 1991 Distinguished Alumni of University of North Texas at Denton, Texas and a1997 Distinguished Alumni at University of Texas at Austin.

Meet The Pepper Lady – Monday, November 15th, there will be a book sale and author signing ofThe Pepper Trail by Jean Andrews, in the Poster Display Area (River of Grass Ballroom D & G), from10:10am -10:40am. Please join us.

GUEST SPEAKER – Jean Andrews

Dr. Jean Andrews

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Dr. Paul Bosland is currently a Regents Professor in horticulture at NewMexico State University and Director of the Chile Pepper Institute. He is popu-larly known as the “Chileman.” He leads the chile breeding and geneticsresearch program at NMSU. Dr. Bosland is recognized nationally/international-ly as one of the foremost experts on Capsicum. He has published more than 100scientific papers dealing with chile pepper and is co-author of six books. Heserves as the chairman of the annual New Mexico Chile Conference. He hasserved as chairman of the USDA Capsicum Crop Advisory Committee.

Dr. Bosland has received many honors and awards for excellence in researchand teaching, including being named a Regents Professor, the NMSU Collegeof Agriculture and Home Economics Distinguished Researcher Award, inclu-sion in Who’s Who in America, Wilson’s Guide to Experts in Science andTechnology, Distinguished Award for Graduate Teaching/Achievement GammaSigma Delta, and the infamous IgNobel, at Harvard University. He was honored

by the European Scientific Committee on Capsicum and Eggplant by being the first American ever selected toserve on this Committee. He has delivered invited presentations or been a visiting professor at more than 30 of thenation’s leading universities including, Harvard, MIT and U.C. Davis.

Dr. Bosland and his program have been featured in many media outlets. These range from Smithsonian Magazine,National Geographic, New York Times, New Yorker Magazine, Men’s Health, Martha Stewart’s Living, NationalPublic Radio, CBS Sunday Morning, Scientific American Frontiers, Food Network, Discovery Channel, to namejust a few, and was highlighted in the award winning video “Green Gold - From the Maya to the Moon.” He evenhas been an expert consult to the television show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

He earned his B.S. degree in 1976 in genetics, and an M.S. degree in vegetable crops in 1977 at U.C. Davis. Whileat U.C. Davis, he also earned a secondary teaching credential and subsequently taught at the high school and thecommunity college level. Additionally, he worked in the Cooperative Extension Service as a Research Associateadministering potato trials in California. After these experiences, he returned to school at the University ofWisconsin-Madison, and earned his Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics in 1986. He joined the faculty inthe Department of Horticulture at New Mexico State University in 1986, where he rose through the ranks to fullprofessor in 1994.

His research has graced numerous International Science journals and one of his cultivars, ‘NuMex Twilight’, hasbeen acclaimed by Organic Gardening as a “Plant Worth Having”. Likewise, he has generously devoted his timeas a classroom teacher in undergraduate and graduate courses and is highly regarded for his teaching skills. Hereceives very high compliments from his students in all of his courses and has made international graduate educa-tion a cornerstone of his program.

Dr. Bosland is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society forHorticultural Sciences, Gamma Sigma Delta, New Mexico Academy of Science, Scientific Board- Eucarpia -Capsicum & Eggplant and Sigma Xi.

He is married to Judy (27 years in Sept.) and has a daughter, Emily, and a son, William.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Paul Bosland

Paul Bosland

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Allan Stoner attended Purdue University, where he received a B.S. degree inhorticulture and a M.S. degree in plant breeding and genetics. He received aPh. D. degree in horticulture from the University of Illinois. Dr. Stoner hasbeen employed by the USDA, Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville,Maryland since 1965. Initially, he conducted research on insect resistant toma-toes and later his responsibilities included the breeding of widely adapted, highquality, multiple disease and pest resistant tomatoes. This work resulted in therelease of nine cultivars adapted to the Eastern U.S. and numerous multiple dis-ease and insect resistant breeding lines.

In 1980, Dr. Stoner was named Chairman of the Plant Genetics and GermplasmInstitute at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and made administra-tively responsible for several Laboratories, including some engaged in theacquisition, maintenance, documentation, and utilization of plant geneticresources, in support of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS).

From 1988 to the present, he has served as Research Leader of the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory(NGRL), whose programs support the NPGS.

During the early 1980’s, Dr. Stoner was involved in the decision to create the Germplasm Resources InformationNetwork (GRIN) to document the NPGS germplasm collections. He subsequently guided GRIN’s developmentinto what is widely recognized as the world’s premier genetic resources database or information system. TheGRIN database has become a critical tool used by administrators, managers, and curators to manage the approxi-mately 450,000 germplasm accessions maintained by the NPGS. GRIN also provides germplasm users, worldwide,ready access to information on the contents of the NPGS collection, and passport, characterization and evaluationdata on the germplasm, thereby encouraging its use for improving agriculture. Dr. Stoner was instrumental in thecreation of the pcGRIN software, which is used to document and help manage relatively small genetic resourcescollections. The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) recognized the potential usefulness of thepcGRIN software, particularly for germplasm collections in developing countries. IPGRI translated pcGRIN intoSpanish, distributed it to gene banks throughout South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Africa, and trainedover 150 personnel in its use. The pcGRIN software has also been provided to cooperators in Asia, Europe, andthe Middle East.

As Research Leader of the NGRL, Dr. Stoner is also responsible for the Plant Exchange Office, which documentsgermplasm entering the NPGS, facilitates domestic and foreign exchange of germplasm, establishes acquisitionpriorities within and across crop groups, and manages the USDA plant exploration program. Dr. Stoner was instru-mental in the creation of 40 crop germplasm committees, comprised of crop specialists from the public and privatesectors, to provide crop specific technical input to the many components of the NPGS. Since their creation, Dr.Stoner has facilitated the committee’s activities. He has also served on local, national, and international commit-tees concerned with policy and operational issues related to genetic resources preservation and utilization, andorganized numerous symposia, workshops, and meetings dealing with these and related subjects.

Dr. Stoner has communicated regularly with administrators, scientists and curators associated with foreign nationaland international agricultural research center plant genetic resources programs regarding policies and procedures,germplasm exchange, collection documentation and management, training, etc. He has welcomed to the U.S.hundreds of political leaders, government officials, and scientists interested in genetic resources preservation andutilization.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Allan Stoner

Allan Stoner

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8:00am-5:30pm Pre-Conference Educational Tour Activities

5:00pm-7:00pm Poster Presenters Set Up Displays — River of Grass Ballroom Salons D & G

6:00pm-8:00pm Welcome Networking Social in Poster Display Area — River of GrassBallroom Salons D & G

Monday, November 15, 2004

7:30am-8:30am Morning Refreshments in Poster Display Area — River of Grass Ballroom D & GOPENING PLENARY SESSION — River of Grass Ballroom E, F, H & IMODERATORS: Gene McAvoy and Ben Villalon

8:30am -8:40am Welcome and Introduction - Gene McAvoy, UF/IFAS Hendry CountyCooperative Extension, Labelle, FL, USA and Ben Villalon, Texas A&MUniversity, Weslaco, TX, USA

8:40am -9:00am Homage to the Chili Pepper - Paul Bosland, The Chile Pepper Institute, NewMexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA (p. 1)

9:00am -9:20am Preservation and Utilization of Capsicum Germplasm - Allan Stoner, USDANational Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA (p. 29)

9:20am -9:25am MODERATOR: Don Maynard, UF/IFAS, Gulf Coast REC, Bradenton, FL, USA

9:25am -9:40am Greenhouse Colored Peppers as a Vegetable Production Alternative for Florida -Elio Jovicich, UF/IFAS, Horticultural Sciences Department, Gainesville, FL,USA (p. 10)

9:40am -9:55am Molecular Genetic Diversity of Capsicum chinensis Jacq. in the Caribbean BasinUsing RAPD Markers - Marisa Moses, Life Sciences Department, University ofthe West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago (p. 18)

9:55am -10:10am Genetic Variability of Capsicum chinensis Jacq. at El Peten, Guatamala -Max M.R. Gonzalez-Salan, Institute of Science and Agricultural Technology,Program of Plants and Animals, Bàrcenas, Villa Nueva, Guatemala (p. 7)

10:10am -10:40am Book Sale and Author Signing of The Pepper Trail by Jean Andrews and Breakin Poster Display Area – River of Grass Ballroom D & G

Monday, November 15, 2004 (continued)

Pepper Conference Program AgendaSunday, November 14, 2004

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SESSION 1 — Mangrove BallroomHorticultural Crop Management and Production

MODERATOR: Teresa Olczyk, UF/IFAS Miami-Dade County Cooperative Extension Service,Homestead, FL, USA

10:40am -10:45amSession Introduction

10:45am -11:00amScheduling Drip Irrigation for Bell PepperGrown with Plasticulture - Eric Simmone,UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department,Gainesville, FL, USA (p. 28)

11:00am -11:15amYield Response of ‘Wizard X3R’ Bell Pepperto Foliar-applied ‘Soar’ Biostimulants in WestCentral Florida - Alezander Csizinsky,UF/IFAS Gulf Coast REC, Bradenton, FL, USA(p. 4)

11:15am -11:30amActivity of Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris, L.)on the Pollination of Sweet Pepper (Capsicumannuum, L.) Flowers and Fruit Set - AnaRoldán Serrano, Agrobío, S.L., I & D & I,Almeria, Spain (p. 24)

11:30am -11:45amWater Conservation Strategies for PoblanoPepper in South Texas - Daniel Leskovar,Texas A&M University, Texas AgriculturalExperiment Station, Horticultural SciencesDepartment, Uvalde, TX, USA (p. 15)

11:45am -12:00 noonDISCUSSION

SESSION 2 — River of GrassIntegrated Pest Management

MODERATOR: Randy Johnson, Sakata SeedAmerica, Inc., Lehigh Acres, FL, USA

10:40am -10:45amSession Introduction

10:45am -11:00amMethods for Managing Phytophthora Blight(Phytophthora capsici) of Pepper -Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois,Crop Sciences Department, Urbana, IL, USA (p.1)

11:00am -11:15amIdentification of Innoculum Sources in theField for Phytophthora Blight and Rot ofPepper in Florida - Ronald French-Monar,UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research andEducation Center, Immokalee, FL, USA (p. 5)

11:15am -11:30amEvaluation of Phytophthora Resistant BellPepper Cultivars and Breeding Lines - WesKline, Rutgers Cooperative Extension ofCumberland County, Millville, NJ, USA (p. 14)

11:30am -11:45amChili Thrips, Scirotothrips dorsalis Hood, aSerious Threat to Vegetables, Fruits andOrnamentals in the Western Hemisphere -Dakshina Seal, UF/IFAS Tropical Researchand Education Center (TREC), Homestead, FL,USA (p. 26)

11:45am -12:00 noonBiological Control of the European Corn Borerby Inundative Releases of Trichogamma ostri-nae in Bell Peppers - Karen Friley, Universityof Kentucky, Entomology Department,Lexington, KY, USA (p. 6)

River of Grass Ballroom D&G

CONCURRENT MORNING SESSIONS – 10:40am-12noon

12:00 noon -1:30pm GROUP LUNCHEON – Sunset Terrace

Monday, November 15, 2004 (continued)

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SESSION 1 — Mangrove BallroomHorticultural Crop Management and Production

MODERATOR: Daniel Leskovar, Texas A&MUniversity, Texas Agricultural ExperimentStation, Horticultural Sciences Department,Uvalde, TX, USA (p. 15)

1:30pm -1:35pmSession Introduction

1:35pm -1:50pmInfluence of N Fertilization on Post-harvestFruit Quality of Drip-irrigated Bell Pepper -Nicole Shaw, UF/IFAS Horticultural SciencesDepartment, Gainesville, FL, USA (p. 26)

1:50pm -2:05pmFate of Nitrogen in Soil Under Mulched andDrip-irrigated Pepper Beds - Nicole Shaw,UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department,Gainesville, FL, USA (p. 27)

2:05pm -2:20pmPreplant and Fertigation Potassium andCalcium Influence Bell Pepper Yield, Qualityand Blossom End Rot - Douglas Sanders,North Carolina State University, HorticulturalSciences Department, Raleigh, NC, USA (p. 25)

2:20pm -2:35pmUrea Formaldehyde Based Polymer ImprovesBell Pepper Yield in Raised Bed Experiment -James M. Wargo, Georgia-Pacific Resins, Inc.,Chemical Division, Decatur, GA, USA (p. 32)

2:35pm -2:50pmPepper Cultivar Trials in Northern New Jersey -William Tietjen, Rutgers CooperativeExtension of Warren County, Belvidere, NJ,USA (p. 39)

SESSION 2 — River of GrassIntegrated Pest Management

MODERATOR: Darrin Parmenter, UF/IFASPalm Beach County Cooperative Extension,West Palm Beach, FL, USA (p.

1:30pm -1:35pmSession Introduction

1:35pm -1:50pmBroad Mite (Polyphagotarsoneumus latusBanks) Damage in Bell Pepper (Capsicumannuum L.) Seedlings and the Potential Controlof this Pest by Neoseiulus californicusMcGregor - Elio Jovicich, UF/IFASHorticultural Sciences Department, Gainesville,FL, USA (p. 11)

1:50pm -2:05pmPotential of Releases of the ParasitoidCatolaccus hunteri for Suppression of PepperWeevil on Pepper - David Schuster, UF/IFASGulf Coast Research and Education Center(GCREC), Bradenton, FL, USA (p. 25)

2:05pm -2:20pmProspects for Biological Control of PepperWeevil with a Parasitic Wasp (Triaspis eugeniiWharton and Lopez-Martinez) from Mexico -Esteban Rodriguez, UF/IFAS SouthwestFlorida Research and Education Center,Immokalee, FL, USA (p. 23)

2:20pm -2:35pmUtility of Resistant Bell Pepper for ManagingSouthern Root-Knot Nematodes in theSoutheastern US - Judy Thies, USDA ARS,US Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC,USA (p. 29)

2:35pm -2:50pmCultivars Tolerance of Red Chile to Root Rot:Response to High Levels of Soil Moisture II -Francisco Mojarro Davila and BertoldoCabañas Cruz, INIFAP Zacatecas, Zacatecas,México (p. 4)

Monday, November 15, 2004 (continued)

CONCURRENT AFTERNOON SESSIONS – 1:30pm – 3:05pm

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2:50pm -3:05pmDISCUSSION

2:50pm -3:05pmBreeding Peppers for Enhanced BeneficialPhytochemical Compounds - Kevin Crosby,Texas A&M University, Texas AgriculturalExperiment Station, Weslaco, TX, USA (p. 3)

3:05pm-3:25pm BREAK IN POSTER DISPLAY AREA – River of Grass Ballroom D&G

PLENARY SESSION RESUMES — River of Grass Ballroom

Breeding and Genetics

MODERATOR: Eric Simonne, UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department, Gainesville, FL, USA

3:25pm -3:30pm Session Introduction

3:30pm -3:45pm Isolation of Molecular Markers for Two Recessive Resistances to Races 4 and 6 ofXanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria - C. Edwardo Vallejos, UF/IFASHorticultural Sciences Department, Gainesville, FL, USA (p. 31)

3:45pm -4:00pm Characterization of Different Pepper Genotypes Collected from Coastal Regionsof Turkey - Davut Keles, Alata Horticultural Research Institute, Erdemli, Mersin,Turkey (p. 13)

4:00pm -4:15pm A Comparison of Fruits of a Capsicum annuum Bell Pepper Type with a Capsicumchinense Pepper Type - Cyril Broderick, Delaware State University, Departmentof Agriculture & Natural Resources, Dover, DE, USA (p. 2)

4:15pm -4:30pm Analysis of Fruit Morphology of Habenero Pepper Capsicum chinensis Jacq. -Thomas González, CICY, Mexico, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Merida,Yucatan, Mexico (p. 6)

4:30pm -4:45pm Preservation of Texture of Acidified Red Belle Peppers - Rodger McFeeters,USDA-ARS and North Carolina State University, Food Science Department,Raleigh, NC (p. 16)

4:45pm -5:00pm Overview of the California Pepper Industry and the California Pepper Commission- Ken Melban, California Pepper Commission, Dinuba, CA, USA (p. 16)

5:00pm - 5:15pm Effects of a Topologic Arrangement and the Fertilization on the Yield of the DryChile Mirasol (Capsicum annuum L.) in Zacatecas, Mexico – Bertoldo CabañasCruz, INIFAP Zacatecas, Calera de V.R., Zacatecas, Mexico (p. 4)

5:15pm -6:00pm POSTER DISPLAYS TO BE REMOVED FROM POSTER BOARDS

6:00pm -9:00pm OUTDOOR BARBECUE COOKOUT — Watkins LawnFEATURING GUEST SPEAKER — Dr. Jean Andrews, “The Pepper Lady”,Austin, TX, USA

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7:00am-8:00am Morning Refreshments Prior to Boarding Busses for Commercial Field Trip— Orchid Atrium (Busses depart promptly at 8:00am)

8:00am-5:00pm Commercial Field Trip: This segment of our conference entails an all-day tourof local industry research facilities and commercial production. Because of thedistances involved, participants will be divided into two separate tour groups.Traditional cultivars as well as advanced breeding material will be available atall sites. Both tours will visit commercial production and packing operations.Lunch will be provided at Syngenta and Seminis.

Tour Group #1: Syngenta Vegetable Seeds and Harris Moran Seed Co.

Tour Group #2: Sakata Seed America and Seminis Vegetable Seeds

5:30pm Return to Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

7:30pm-10:30pm Closing Dinner Banquet at Naples Beach Hotel — Ocean Lawn

10:30pm CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

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Pepper Conference Poster Directory

PosterNumber6 Chile Pepper Research Information Dissemination – Danise Coon, New Mexico State

University, Agronomy & Horticulture/Chile Pepper Institute, Las Cruces, NM, USA (p. 3)

9 Root-knot Nematode Resistance in Pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.): Development ofResistant Habanero-type Cultivars for U.S. Growers – Richard Fery, USDA-ARS, U.S.Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC, USA (p. 5)

7 Chile Breeding & Genetics Research Program for Underrepresented Students – WendyHamilton, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, Chile Pepper Institute, Las Cruces, NM,USA (p. 7)

13 Flowering and Fruit Production Dynamics of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)Under Different Shade Conditions in a Humid Tropical Region – Ramon Jaimez,Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (IIAP), Facultad de Cicncias Forestales YAmbientales, La Hechicera, Merida, Venezuela (p. 8)

1 Determination of Capsaicinoids in Shelf-Stable Salsa by Enzyme Immunoassay –Robert Jarret, USDA/ARS, Plant Genetic Resources, Griffin, GA, USA (p. 9)

2 Determination of Capsaicinoids in Oleoresins and Dried Hot Peppers by EnzymeImmunoassay – Robert Jarret, USDA/ARS, Plant Genetic Resources, Griffin, GA, USA(p. 9)

8 Heat Stress Tolerance in Closely Related Genotypes of Habanero Pepper (Capsicumchinense Jacq.) – John Jifon, Texas A&M University, Texas Agricultural ExperimentStation, Weslaco, TX, USA (p. 10)

10 “Spanish” Pepper Trellis System and High Plant Density Can Increase Fruit Yield,Fruit Quality, and Reduce Labor in a Hydroponic, Passively Ventilated Greenhouse-grown Crop – Elio Jovicich, University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL,USA (p. 12)

11 Searching for Low Use of Water and Fertilizers in Soilless, Greenhouse-grown Peppersin Florida – Elio Jovicich, University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Department,Gainesville, FL, USA (p. 12)

(Poster Directory continued)

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PosterNumber

12 Managing Greenhouse-grown Peppers in a Saline Environment – Elio Jovicich,University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Department, Gainesville, FL, USA (p. 13)

18 The Effect of Temperature on the Development of Fusarium Stem Rot in GreenhousePeppers in South Florida – Elizabeth Lamb, University of Florida, Indian River Researchand Education Center, Fort Pierce, FL, USA (p. 14)

3 Three Recessive Genes Controlling Bacterial Spot Resistance in Pepper – RosanaRodrigues, UENF, CCTA/LMGV, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil (p. 21)

4 Hypersensitive Response to Xanthomonas Campestris pv. Vesicatoria Race 6 inCapsicum chinense and C. baccatum – Rosana Rodrigues, UENF, CCTA/LMGV, Camposdos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil (p. 22)

5 Genetic Divergence and Screening for Bacterial Spot Resistance in Capsicum spp. –Rosana Rodrigues, UENF, CCTA/LMGV, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil (p. 22)

14 Dynamics and Sugar Composition of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum, L.) Nectar –Ana Roldán Serrano, Agrobío, S.L., I+D+I, Almería, Andalucía, Spain (p. 24)

17 Screening of Biorationals for Control of Phytophthora capsici – Erin Rosskopf, USDA,Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL, USA (p. 24)

16 Controlling Fungal and Bacterial Diseases of Peppers with Tanos – ChristopherShepherd, DuPont Crop Protection, Research and Development, Newark, DE, USA (p. 28)

15 Harvest Date for Machine Harvest of New Mexican Red Chile (Capsicum annuum)Affects Quality and Yield – Stephanie Walker, New Mexico State University, ExtensionPlant Sciences, Las Cruces, NM, USA (p. 32)

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Methods for Managing PhytophthoraBlight (Phytophthora capsici) of Pepper

M. Babadoost and S.Z. IslamDepartment of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois,Urbana, IL, USA

To develop effective strategies for managingPhytophthora blight of pepper, caused by Phytophthora cap-sici, three methods, (i) using resistant cultivars, (ii) induc-tion of resistance in plants by red-light treatment, and (iii)application of fungicides, were evaluated. To identify resist-ant pepper cultivars to P. capsici, 64 cultivars/accessions ofbell pepper were tested in the greenhouse and field. In thegreenhouse, 8-week-old seedlings were inoculated with P.capsici. Almost all of the infected seedlings died by 23 daysafter inoculation. Three cultivars (Emerald Isle, Paladin, andReinger) and six accessions (Abbot-1, Abbot-2, Abbot-13,BHN-1P, BHN-2P, and Syngenta-7326) were found resistantto P. capsici. These nine resistant cultivars/accessions in thegreenhouse tests, and two susceptible bell pepper cultivars(Maxi Bell and California Wonder), to P. capsici were eval-uated in a naturally infested commercial field. All nine cul-tivars/accessions resistant to P. capsici in the greenhousewere also resistant to Phytophthora blight in the field. Thefinal stand of asymptomatic plants in the field ranged from82 to 100 for the resistant cultivars/accessions; for the sus-

ceptible cultivars, only 57% of Maxi Bell plants and 50% ofCalifornia Wonder plants survived.

In the second method, a study was conducted in thegreenhouse to investigate the effects of red light (600-700nm) on the subsequent occurrence of seedling infection ofbell pepper ‘Hybrid SPP 6112’. Four-week-old seedlingswere inoculated with P. capsici or transplanted into potsfilled with artificially infested soil mix. Red-light treatmentof seedlings for four weeks reduced Phytophthora damping-off by 74%.

In the third method, selected fungicides were evaluatedfor their effectiveness for control of Phytophthora blight inthe field. Eight-week-old seedlings of California Wonderwere transplanted into raised beds with drip irrigation.Application of fungicides began two weeks after transplant-ing and continued at 7-day intervals (a total of 6 applica-tions). The stands of asymptomatic plants after 12 weeksfrom transplanting ranged from 70% in untreated controlplots to 100% in the plants treated with Ranman plusAcrobat. The results showed that application of Ranman400SC alone or in combination with Acrobat 50WP orRidomil Gold Copper 65WP could protect bell pepper plantsagainst P. capsici under moderate disease pressure.

Contact Information: M. Babadoost, Dept. of CropSciences, University of Illinois, N-533 Turner Hall, 1102S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801Phone: 217-333-1523; Fax: 217-333-1289Email: [email protected]

Homage to the Chile Peppers

Paul W. BoslandChile Pepper Institute, New Mexico State University,Las Cruces, NM, USA

I am honored to open the 2004 National PepperConference with this presentation about Capsicum (chilepeppers). “Homage” is defined in Merriam-Webster’sCollegiate Dictionary as an “expression of high regard.”With chile peppers this is an easy task for me, but with sucha distinguished group of Capsicum researchers it could be adaunting challenge. What is it that you don’t already know?This presentation is a celebration of both the staying powerof the chile pepper in the world’s gardens and cuisines, andof Americans' current enthusiasm for chile peppers. In thenext 20 minutes, I will be a purveyor of interesting facts andcurrent information. Nearly everyone consumes chile pep-pers everyday, even though we may not know it. The rangeof food products that contain chile peppers or their chemicalconstituents is broad, and includes ethnic foods, meats, saladdressings, mayonnaise, dairy products, beverages, candies,baked goods, snack foods, breading and batters, salsa, andhot sauces. They have been used as currency, tributes,spices, vegetables, coloring agents, ornamentals, criminal

deterrents, medicine, aphrodisiacs, and to invoke spiritualsensations. Chile peppers aided Szent-Györgyi in his dis-covery of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), for which he won theNobel prize. The partnership between humans and chilepeppers is thousands of years old; chile peppers may be theoldest domesticated crop in the Western Hemisphere. Thesmall-fruited wild forms of chile peppers, chiltepins, ofCapsicum annuum still grow wild in Arizona and Texas,making it one of the rare crops that is native to the UnitedStates. The human craving for flavor and taste has been alargely unacknowledged and unexamined force in history.For millennia, royal empires have been built, unexploredlands traversed, and great religions and philosophies forev-er changed by the spice trade. In 1492, ChristopherColumbus set sail to find seasoning. Chile peppers are nowessential to the cuisines of Asia, Africa, the Americas, andeven parts of Europe. Given the availability of other fruitsand vegetables high in nutritional value, why did our ances-tors domesticate and grow chile peppers? It may have beenthe myriad fruit shapes and colors of chiles that interestedthem, or the flavor and aroma that are as important in chilepeppers as are color and form. However, in spite of theseattributes of chile peppers, it was probably the hotness ofchile peppers that caused the popularity and spiritualessence of chile peppers. I will argue that chile pepper hot-

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Morpho-physiological Characterizationand Evaluation of CaribbeanLandraces of Capsicum chinense Jacq.

P. Umaharan, S. BharathThe University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus,Trinidad

Capsicum chinense Jacquin, more familiarly referred toas hot pepper, has become a very important non-traditionalcrop in the Caribbean region. Every CARICOM country isinvolved in hot pepper production, and based on currentmarket earnings, and existing demands for hot, flavourfulpeppers, the industry holds much promise for all involvedstakeholders. Traditionally greatest attention has been direct-ed at Capsicum annuum and this is readily evidenced in theavailable literature. The same cannot be said for C. chinensematerial. Countless potentially very useful local forms existunderexplored (apart from the well-known Scotch Bonnetand Habanero types) and these must be properly collected,characterized and evaluated for important agronomic traits.Much confusion exists with respect to the regional cultivarnames and very little is known of the overall agronomy ofthese local forms, As a result, consistency of material quali-ty cannot always be guaranteed. Correct identification,

assessment and use of appropriate breeding strategies musttherefore be encouraged. According to Andrews (1998) eachpepper variety/group/type has specific qualities unique tothat variety/group/type e.g. color, aroma, pungency, size,thickness of flesh etc. As a result, thorough characterizationand evaluation of all the available regional landrace materi-al is imperative so as to ensure the propagation of commer-cially worthwhile material, while still conserving the avail-able diversity. This work therefore has much implication forthe economic and academic aspects the Capsicum industry.

The project’s initial focus involves the establishment of2 replicates of 110 accessions representing material from theentire Caribbean region. Characterization is to be doneaccording to the IPGRI descriptors list. This list will be sub-sequently manipulated to produce a condensed format,which will be used to distinguish C. chinense varieties fromeach other. Further evaluation for important agronomic traitsinclusive of yield and quality characteristics, abiotic andbiotic stress susceptibility, as well as pest and disease sus-ceptibilities will be conducted on a smaller sub-sample ofthe most promising accessions.

Contact Information: S. Bharath, The University of theWest Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Department of LifeSciences, Section Plant Sciences, Trinidad & Tobago W.I.Phone:1-868-784-2619Email: [email protected]

ness is a major taste, along with bitter, sweet, sour, salty,and umami. The hot sensation is produced by the capsaici-noids, alkaloid compounds that are unique to the genusCapsicum. Chile pepper hotness is expressed in ScovilleHeat Units (SHU). In addition, each chile pepper has a “heatprofile,” which I will describe in detail. To stop the pain, thebrain secretes endorphins, the opiatelike substances thatblock pain. This experience may not sound like one to seek

out again and again—but we do. I look forward to the pre-sentations that follow, which will add to our growingknowledge of this special genus, Capsicum.

Contact Information: Paul W. Bosland, Chile PepperInstitute, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM88003, Phone: 505-646-3028, Fax: 505-646-6041Email: [email protected]

A Comparison of Fruits of a Capsicumannuum Bell Pepper Type with aCapsicum chinense Pepper TypeFluorescence Measurement with Confocal Electron Microscopy

Cyril BroderickDept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources, DelawareState University, Dover, DE, USA

Capsicum annuum and Capsicum chinense are the twoof the major species of peppers, this very important worldcrop, and the two types are divided mainly between pungentand non-pungent and sweet peppers, the most pungent typestypically belonging to the Capsicum chinense grouping. TheHabanero variety is a C. chinense type that is recognizedwidely as among the hottest. The question is posed as to

whether there is a significant difference in spectral respons-es between pungent and non-pungent types. Our objectivesconsequently were set to compare spectrophotometricresponses of the Lady Bell Pepper, a Capsicum annuumtype, with that of the Habanero pepper, a Capsicum chinensepepper type. The opportunity for confocal electronmicroscopy provides the methodology, and different tissuesof fruits of the two pepper types were analyzed.Measurements involved the use of fluorescent dyes, includ-ing Nile Red and comparative measure and imaging of thefluorescence from stained tissues. We found that externalfluorescence of the seed tissues was similar, but intensity andquality of fluorescence differed between tissues in the twofruit types. This report will present data on the comparativeresponses of tissues of the Lady Bell and Habanero pepperfruit types as seen in confocal electron microscopy.

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Chile Pepper Research InformationDissemination

Danise CoonNew Mexico State University, Department of Agronomy &Horticulture, Las Cruces, NM, USA

New Mexico State University has the only chile pepperspecific breeding program and Institute of its kind, in theworld. Working in areas of breeding for disease resistance,new cultivar development, and research in pungency, theNMSU Chile Breeding Program is the only crop specificprogram researching chile peppers, in the world. The ChilePepper Institute works to disseminate research informationfor the breeding program as well as host educational pro-grams of its own. The annual New Mexico Chile Conferenceis one way the Institute distributes the latest research newsand findings about chile peppers. The Institute publishes aquarterly newsletter for its worldwide members coveringtopics on the latest in research in the chile pepper industry aswell as news and discoveries in the world of chile peppers.The Institute also provides a chile specific, extensive, world-wide, website covering topics from disease and pests to pun-gency and growing tips.

The Chile Pepper Institute also has educational venuesprimarily dedicated to educating the world about chilePeppers. The annual teaching and demonstration garden pro-vides information on more than 150 different varieties ofchile peppers that are grown all over the world. The ChilePepper Institute Center for Chile Education opened just overa year ago and houses a 600+ library containing scientificresearch guides, educational books, journals and cookbooks,all dealing with chile peppers. The center also showcasesresearch, plant displays and other educational materials. TheChile Pepper Institute gives hundreds of talks, tours, andother presentations throughout the year to school groups, 4-H and FFA and other educational groups. The Institute alsohosts educational programs that teach underrepresentedminority students about research through agriculture.

The Chile Pepper Institute provides all of this informa-tion to the general public and serves educational groups,anyone interested in information can contact the ChilePepper Institute through e-mail, phone, fax, regular mail orby visiting the Institute.

Contact Information: Danise Coon, New Mexico StateUniversity, Agonomy & Horticultural/Chile Pepper Institute,Box 30003, MSC 3Q, Las Cruces, NM 88003, Phone: 505 646-3028, Fax: 505-646-6041,Email: [email protected]

Contact information: Cyril Broderick, Dept. ofAgriculture and Natural Resources, Delaware StateUniversity, 1200 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901

Phone: 302-875-6416,Fax: 302-875-6455Email: [email protected]

Breeding Peppers for EnhancedBeneficial Phytochemical Compounds

K.M. Crosby1, J.L. Jifon1, D.I. Leskovar2 andK.S. Yoo3

1Texas Agr. Exp. Station, Weslaco; 2Texas Agr. Exp. Station,Uvalde; 3Texas A&M University, College Station

Peppers are considered to be good sources of variousbeneficial phytochemicals, such as carotenoids, flavonoidsand ascorbic acid. The yellow, orange, and red colors in pep-pers originate from the 30 different carotenoid pigmentsproduced in the fruit during ripening. β-carotene is a precur-sor of vitamin A, which is important in human vision. Luteinand zeaxanthin are isomers, which exist primarily in themacula where they protect the retina of the eye from sun-light. Quercetin, a food-derived flavonoid, has shown anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic effects in vitro and in vivo.Additionally, its powerful antioxidant activity protects LDLfrom oxidation, reducing the risk of heart disease. Luteolinmay help prevent breast cancer by reducing excess estrogenformation.

The pepper improvement program at the Texas

Agricultural Experiment Station has been screeninggermplasm and developing new families with enhancedconcentrations of carotenoids, ascorbic acid and flavonoidsfor the last 10 years. Recent releases include TAM MildHabanero with elevated β-carotene concentration, and TAMPeproncini with extremely high ascorbic acid concentration(2300 ppm) and high flavonoids (100 ppm). More than 400germplasm accessions from C. annuum and C. chinensehave been screened to identify good sources of these com-pounds. Several paprika and cayenne types have recentlybeen confirmed as excellent sources of the flavonoid com-pounds quercetin and luteolin, with levels between 260 and400 ppm. These flavonoids are low in most of thegermplasm accessions screened. Only Ancho (113), sweetbanana (70 ppm) and Hungarian hot wax (200 ppm) hadhigh levels among the commercial varieties available.

All bells, jalapeño and Habanero varieties screened hadlow levels (< 30 ppm) of flavonoids. Ascorbic acid concen-trations were highly variable among the accessions. Thiscompound increased dramatically in mature, colored fruitfor all lines tested. Nearly all bells had low to moderate lev-els at the green fruit stage but very high levels at the coloredstage. One TAES breeding line, B36, had the highest levels(600 ppm) at the green stage, which is more important for

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Yield Response of ‘Wizard X3R’ BellPepper to Foliar-applied ‘SOAR’Biostimulants in West-Central Florida

Alexander A. CsizinszkyUniversity of Florida, Gulf Coast Research and EducationCenter, Bradenton, FL, USA

Foliar-applied biostimulants ‘SOAR MicronutrientMix’ and ‘SOAR Bloom Spray’ were evaluated for theireffect on yield and fruit size of ‘Wizard X3R’ green pepperduring the spring (Feb.-June) 2004 season. Peppers weregrown in the full-bed polyethylene mulch system with seep-age (modified furrow) irrigation. The ‘SOAR’ biostimulantswere applied at two rates: 4.67 L/ha (2 qt/A) and 7.0 L/ha (3qt/A) from a backpack sprayer at 2.8 bar (40 psi) pressure. Inthe control plots plants were treated with water only. Fruitswere harvested four times and graded according to USDA

standards, then weight and number of fruits were recorded ineach grade. Early yields (first two harvests) of U.S. Fancygrade fruits were higher, 5.04 Mt/ha (161 28 lb cartons/A)with the low than with the high biostimulant rate, 3.51 Mt/ha(111 ctn/A) or with the water control, 2.95 Mt/ha (94 ctn/A)(P≤0.05). Season’s total yield of U.S. Fancy fruit was alsohigher, 9.95 Mt/ha (317 ctn/A) with the low than with thehigh biostimulant rate, 7.09 Mt/ha (226 ctn/A) or with thewater control, 6.43 Mt/ha (205 ctn/A). Marketable total fruityields, however, were similar with all treatments. Weight andnumber of cull fruits in the first three harvests were lowerwith the low biostimulant treatment than with the high bios-timulant or water treatments.

Contact Information: A. A. Csizinszky, University ofFlorida, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, 500760th Street East, Bradenton, FL 34203Phone: 941-751-7636, Fax: 941-751-7639Email:[email protected]

the larger consumer market. Nearly all jalapeños were muchlower at the green than colored mature stages. Two excep-tions were TAES J222 (845 ppm), and Mitla (616 ppm),which had high concentrations at the green mature stage.Carotenoid concentrations varied tremendously among thegermplasm accessions. Many accessions were low in β-carotene, though extremely high in total carotenoids at thecolored stage. Some exceptions were TAES serrano 7084

(29 ppm) and GRIF 9095 (47 ppm). A few lines had moder-ate levels of lutein or xeaxanthin, particularly TAES SJ 82(12 ppm), TAES B36 (10 ppm), and Grande (10 ppm). Thesetwo compounds did not increase much in mature, colored fruit.

Contact Information: K.M. Crosby, Texas Agr. Exp.Station, 2415 E. Hwy 83, Weslaco, TX, 78596Phone: 956-968-5585; Email: [email protected]

Effects of a Topologic Arrangement andthe Fertilization on the Yield of the DryChile Mirasol (Capsicum annuum L.)in Zacatecas, Mexico

Bertoldo Cabañas Cruz, Guillermo GalindoGonzález, Francisco Mojarro Dávila, Angél G. BravoLozano y Jorge A. Zegbe DomínguezINIFAP-ZAC

Fertilization and plant population are factors that influ-ences in the crop yield of hot pepper cv. ‘Mirasol’. Theobjectives were to determine the effect of fertilizer doses andplant densities (the number of plants per plant and the dis-tances between plants) on the yield and quality of dry fruit ofthe an outstanding line of hot chili pepper cv. Mirasol gener-ated by the Instituto Nacional de investigaciones Forestales,Agrícolas y Pecuarias de México. The experiment was con-ducted at the Campo Experimental Zacatecas, in Zacatecas,Mexico. Two doses of fertilizers were evaluated: 220-100-150 and 210-150-100. Number of plants per plant with one

or two plants per plant and the distance between them: 25,35, and 45 centimeters. Fruit damaged by the local weatherconditions was found higher with the highest fertilizer dosesin combination with the highest plant density than in anyother treatment. The lowest fertilizer doses increased totalyield and dry fruit of the first plus second category. Twoplants per plant increased total yield, dry fruit of first catego-ry, and dry fruit of the first plus second category. Distancebetween plants did not affect significantly any of the dry fruitcategories.

Contact Information: Bertoldo Cabañas Cruz, INIFAPZacatecas, Km 24.5 Carr.Zacatecas -Fresnillo, Calera deV.R., Zacatecas, MéxicoPhone: 47-8-98-50-198, Fax: 98-50-363Email: [email protected] Experimental [email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]

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Identification of Inoculum Sources inthe Field for Phytophthora Blight andRot of Pepper in Florida

R. French-Monar1, J. Jones2, R. McGovern2, 3, andP. Roberts1.1Plant Pathology Department, IFAS-SWFREC, Immokalee,FL, USA; 2Plant Pathology Department, University ofFlorida, Gainesville, FL; USA; 3Plant Medicine Program,University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

Root, crown, and fruit rot, as well as foliar blight,caused by Phytophthora capsici are limiting factors for theproduction of peppers and other vegetable and fruit crops.Studies to determine potential reservoirs of initial inoculumfor this pathogen were carried out in Florida in Collier,Manatee, and Palm Beach counties. A current trend inFlorida agriculture is to irrigate with recovered surfacerunoff. Using water filtration and lemon leaf baiting, recy-cled irrigation water tested in Collier and Manatee countieswas found to harbor P. capsici as well as other potentialpathogenic species of Phytophthora and Pythium. In PalmBeach county, weeds that were common on most vegetablefarms with a history of P. capsici were sampled to determinethe potential of such plants as reservoirs for this pathogen.Root samples were washed under high-pressure water, sur-face-sterilized with 70% ethanol for about 45 seconds, andblotted dry. Crown and root tissue were plated on a semi-

selective medium for isolation of Phytophthora spp., and ina general fungal medium. It was determined that commonpurslane (Portulaca oleracea), Carolina geranium(Geranium carolinianum), and American black nightshade(Solanum americanum) served as alternative hosts for P.capsici. In addition, fourteen other fungal genera were iso-lated from root tissue. Some genera isolated, such asFusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, and Sclerotinia, havespecies that are potential pathogens of pepper and other veg-etable crops. In Collier Co., studies were conducted at theSouthwest Florida Research and Education Center to deter-mine the survival of inoculum of P. capsici in soil over time.Inoculum, which consisted of mycelium, oospores, and spo-rangia, was grown on autoclaved wheat seed, shredded,mixed with soil, and buried inside a porous acrylic envelopeat a soil depth of 15 cm (6 in).

After 343 days (49 weeks), viable inoculum of P. capsi-ci was recovered during repeated studies. Although oosporesare still considered to be the most important source for ini-tial inoculum in a field with a history of P. capsici, irrigationwater and weeds could be playing a much more importantrole than previously thought, especially in farms whereoospores might not be present. Understanding the ecologyand epidemiology of this pathogen will allow for better dis-ease management practices.

Contact Information: R. French-Monar, University ofFlorida, IFAS Southwest Florida Research and EducationCenter, Immokalee, FL 34142, Phone: 239-658-3452Fax: 239-658-3469, Email: [email protected]

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Root-knot Nematode Resistance inPepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.):Development of Resistant Habanero-type Cultivars for U.S. Growers

R. L. Fery and J. A. ThiesU.S. Vegetable Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Charleston, SC,USA

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are majorpests of pepper (Capsicum spp.) in the United States, andparasitism of susceptible plants can result in severe yieldlosses. Although cultivars belonging to the species C. annu-um account for most of the peppers grown in the U.S.,Habanero-type cultivars belonging to the species C. chinenseare becoming increasingly popular. Unfortunately, all com-mercial Habanero-type cultivars are susceptible to root-knot

nematodes. In 1997, the USDA released three C. chinensegermplasm lines that exhibit high levels of resistance to root-knot nematodes. The resistance in these lines is conditionedby a single dominant gene, and this gene conditions resist-ance to the southern root-knot nematode (M. incognita), thepeanut root-knot nematode (M. arenaria race 1), and thetropical root-knot nematode (M. javanica). A recurrent back-cross breeding procedure has been used to transfer the C.chinense root-knot nematode resistance gene into Habanero-type germplasm. Several root-knot nematode resistant,Habanero-type candidate cultivars have been developed.Each of these Habanero-type candidate cultivars has a com-pact plant habit and produces a high yield of orange-colored,lantern-shaped fruit.

Contact Information: R. Fery, U.S. Vegetable Laboratory,USDA-ARS, 2700 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC29414-5334, USA, Phone: 843-402-5300Fax: (843-573-4715, Email: [email protected]

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Biological Control of the EuropeanCorn Borer by Inundative Releases ofTrichogramma ostriniae in Bell Peppers

K. Friley1, B. Rowell2, and R. Bessin1

1University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology,Lexington, KY, USA, 2University of Kentucky, Departmentof Horticulture, Lexington, KY, USA

A two-year study was conducted on research stationsand in commercial growers’ fields in central Kentucky toevaluate inundative releases of Trichogramma ostriniae(T.o.) for control of European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinianubilalis, in fresh market bell peppers. Two treatments weretested at five locations; some sites used organic productionpractices while others were conventional. Control andrelease plots (treatments) were established at each site; theplots were separated by at least 1,000 ft. T.o. were releasedthree times during the growing season; releases were sched-uled according to a degree-day model predicting the approx-imate oviposition dates of the second generation ECB.Sentinel ECB egg masses were placed on the border rows oftreatment at all locations beginning on the date of the firstT.o. release and weekly thereafter until final harvests. Theseegg masses were used to determine the percentage of para-sitization and to check for establishment and dispersal ordrift of the wasps. The number of ECB-damaged fruit, per-

centage of fruits infested, and total marketable yields werecompared using Analysis of Variance and a simple T-Test. Apartial budget analysis was used to compare the economicsamong production systems using conventional insecticides,organic-approved insecticides, or T.o. releases to controlECB.

The first year’s study (2002) resulted in an overall aver-age percentage of fruits infested with ECB being significant-ly lower (1.5%) in the T.o. release plots compared to controlplots (5.2%) when data from all locations were combined.The second year’s study (2003) showed the same trend withthe overall average percentage of fruits infested with ECBlower (0.6%) in the release plots than in the control plots(1.1%); however, ECB numbers were very low in 2003 andthis difference was not statistically significant. There wereno significant differences between marketable yields ofrelease and control plots for either year. Partial budget analy-sis showed that, at this time, conventional insecticides arethe least expensive treatment, while the cost of release ofT.o. is comparable to the cost of using organic-approvedinsecticides. This study showed that biological control ofECB in fresh market bell peppers using inundative releasesof T.o. is a promising control tactic, at least when ECB infes-tations are low.

Contact Information: K. Friley, Dept. of Entomology,S-225 Ag Science Bldg. North, University of Kentucky,Lexington, KY 40546, USA, Phone: 859-257-7456Fax: 859-323-1120, Email: [email protected]

Analysis of Fruit Morphology ofHabanero Pepper (Capsicum chinenseJacq.)

T. González, L. Villanueva, O. Cisneros, L.Gutiérrez, F. Contreras, S. Peraza, J. Trujillo, andG. EspadasCentro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán

Habanero Pepper is one of the main agriculture com-modities produced in the Yucatán Peninsula, México.Current demand for high quality fresh and dried fruit, pow-der, and mash exceeds the supply, and this has resulted in arush to grow more in the U.S., Central and South Americaand the Caribbean. Fruit quality in terms of shape, color,aroma, flavor and pungency are very important for this crop.Fruit capsaicin content have an international commercialprime rate, unfortunately its synthesis is highly affected byboth genetic and environmental factors, which result in awide variation of capsaicin content among and within indi-vidual plants.

The purpose of this study was to characterize morpho-logically fruit types found in a local cultivar grown in theState of Yucatan, Mexico and to analyze the relationship

among the main fruit components i.e. pericarp, placenta andseeds. Fruits of Habanero Pepper cv. Orange were collectedlocally at maturity stage (orange color) and dissected to sep-arate pericarp, placenta and seeds. Fresh and dry weight wasdetermined for each fruit component. Capsaicin contentswere analyzed by TLC. Results indicate that pericarp consti-tutes most of the fruit fresh weight (87%) followed by pla-centa (9%) and seeds (4%). However, placenta tissues (62%)and seeds (37%) contain the highest proportion of capsaicin.Identified fruit morphotypes include bilocular, trilocular andtetralocular types. Pentalocular and hexalocular morpho-types were also found, but at a very low frequency. Fruitmorphotypes are produced by the same individual plant.However, the proportion of fruit types varied among plants.

Analysis of fruit fresh weight revealed that seed isstrongly correlated to pericarp (R2= 0.8222 ). In contrast,seed showed a low correlation to placenta (R2 = 0.2892).Surprisingly, placenta showed a low correlation(R2 = 0.2023) to pericarp. Further analysis of this relation-ship, indicated that fruits of the same fresh and dry weighthad differences in placenta biomass. Differences in placentafresh weight may represent up to 5 times more weight andup to 20 times more dry weight. Since placenta is the tissueof synthesis and higher concentration of capsaicin, selectionfor placenta biomass could be of interest. Results of this

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Genetic Variability of Capsicumchinense Jacq. at El Peten, Guatemala

Max M.R. González-SalánInstitute of Science and Agricultural Technology, -ICTA-,Guatemala, Guatemala, Central America

Collecting Capsicum chinense Jacq. germplasm at ElPeten represented the rescue of the only endemic and uniquerepresentative of this species in Guatemala: the orange chilehabanero. Having the native chile habanero germplasm inhands means, that it will be possible to study its geneticdiversity, to conserve ex situ the seed collections and tobegin breeding programs with this.

The collection expeditions were planned to be donebetween July and December 2003. Sixteen geo referentialpoints were sampled in El Peten. From these points, twentyfruit samples of habanero were collected. Fruits sampleswere obtained from open population fields, tropicalorchards, and home gardens or from small town markets.Several morph types were detected and the predominantfruit colors were: orange, and red. But it was also found,white fruits. The seeds from each fruit sample were extractedand dried. They will be conserved at ICTA in the medium

term gene bank at 5 to 7°C with 6% of humidity.It was established, that November is the best month of

the year to get fruits of C. chinense Jacq. in El Peten, eventhough, it is possible to get some fruits any time of the year.Orange habanero (C. chinense) is culturally associated toMayan people. Its great genetic diversity is located aroundthe Peten Itza Lake., as it is the current Mayan culture. MostMayan people prefer orange habanero fruits consumption.The principal human use of native orange habanero is as aspice in foods. Until now, no medical uses have been report-ed in El Peten. Currently, C chinense is getting agro-industrialimportance in Guatemala. Consecuently, some red C. chi-nense have been introduced into El Peten from theCaribbean region. The fruits are being transformed intosauces and salsas which are supplying local, national andinternational markets.

Contact Information: Max M.R. Gonzálex-Salén, AGRO-CYT03-2002 RESEARCHER, Program of Plants andAnimals, Institute of Science and Agricultural Technology,-ICTA-, Km 21.5 carretera hacia Amatitlan, Bárcenas, VillaNueva, Guatemala, Guatemala, Central AmericaPhone: 502-630-5695, Fax: 502-630-5697Email: [email protected]

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study will be applied to select plants with a higher percent-age of trilocular and tetralocular fruits with a high proportionof placental tissues.

Contact Information: T. González, Centro deInvestigación Científica de Yucatán A. C. Calle 43 No. 130Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo. CP 97200 Mérida, Yucatán,México, Phone +(999) 9813921, Fax +(999) 9813900Email: [email protected]

Chile Breeding & Genetics ResearchProgram for UnderrepresentedStudents

W. Hamilton1, D.Coon2, P.Bosland3

Cooperative Extension Service, New Mexico StateUniversity (NMSU)1; The Chile Pepper Institute, NMSU2;Agronomy and Horticulture, AES, NMSU3, Las Cruces,NM, USA

The Agricultural Science Summer UndergraduateResearch Education & Development (ASSURED) Programseeks to develop a diverse, internationally competitive, agri-cultural science workforce. ASSURED, funded by theNational Science Foundation’s Research Education forUndergraduates (REU) Project is implemented by theNMSU Chile Pepper Institute. Underrepresented (freshmanand sophomore ethnic and language minorities and females)college students from SW New Mexico and West Texasfarm labor families experience a chile breeding and geneticsresearch project under the guidance of research faculty men

tors. NSF REU programs provide resources to attract stu-dents to science careers. ASSURED Program objectivesinclude offering career choice options, exploring agricultur-al research, developing college skills and changing miscon-ceptions about ‘agriculture’. The Program selects 10 stu-dents from 1st or 2nd generation migrant farm families. Theeight week intensive program takes students through theentire research process from hypothesis building to posterpresentation.

Research projects include (but are not limited to): coloranalysis of capsicums; tracing fertilizer in food crops; meas-uring pungency in chiles; gene transfer in capsicum; andwater use efficiency. Program coordinators meet with thegroup and with each participant regularly. During the lastprogram week, students present a research paper, poster andseminar outlining their research project, methodology used,the hypothesis studied, and their conclusions.

Evaluation assessments are made using a variety ofself-assessment tools. Results strongly indicated that contin-uing this program could dramatically increase the number ofminority participants choosing agricultural science careers.Participants gained a broader appreciation for agricultural

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science research; would make more informed decisions tomajor/minor in agricultural science; feel their extended fam-ilies were impacted; reassessed perceived barriers toachievement; valued the mentor experience; and appreciatedthe applicability and transferability of research skills to otherdisciplines. The 2003 & 2004 ASSURED Programsincreased college minority enrollment, secured several stu-dents with work study positions, provided two mentors witha research focus, produced twenty excellent undergraduateresearch papers, posters and presentations, built new cross-campus partnerships, excited twenty ‘disenfranchised’ youthto a new way of thinking, and offered one student the oppor-tunity to apply for the Barry Goldwater scholarship.

Significant involvement in meaningful scholarly

research is one means to enhance student learning and inves-tigative abilities. Such research experience enriches theundergraduate experience, challenges students to think criti-cally and sharpen their communication skills. These experi-ences, which represent learning activities that go far beyondthe typical classroom experience, will help these studentsfeel “assured” that they can compete for employment, foranalytically-demanding graduate programs and professionaldegree programs.

Contact Information: Wendy V. Hamilton, CooperativeExtension Service, NMSU, Las Cruces, NM.,Phone: 505-646-7936; Fax 505-646-3970;Email: [email protected]

Flowering and Fruit ProductionDynamics of Sweet Pepper (Capsicumchinense Jacq) Under Different ShadeConditions in a Humid Tropical Region

Jaimez, Ramón E.1 and Rada, Fermín21Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (IIAP).Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales.Universidad de Los Andes. Mérida, Venezuela.2Institutode Ciencias Ambientales y Ecológicas (ICAE). Facultadde Ciencias. Universidad de Los Andes. Mérida 5101,Venezuela

In addition to C. annuum, both C. frutescens and C. chi-nense have been commonly cultivated in Latin America. Noevidence in the literature on the genus Capsicum grown withshade trees has been presented, but recently plantations of C.chinense have been observed under shade of passion-fruitvines (Passiflora edulis) to the south of Lake Maracaibo inVenezuela. In the case of C. chinense, the most commonlygrown species in the Caribbean region there is limited infor-mation on its performance under different environmentalconditions We study the effects of different shade conditionson the dynamics of flowering and fruit production of C. chi-nense. Two experiments were carried out. In the first one, inplots chosen at random with five replications, weekly meas-urements of flowering and fruit production in plants shaded

by passion-fruit (Passiflora edulis) vines and in those in fullsunlight were made. In the second experiment, with a simi-lar design and three replications, the same variables weremeasured for three shade levels (70%, 40% and full sun-light). In the first experiment (p<0.05), there were no signif-icant differences in total number of flowers (TNF), totalnumber of fruits (TNFr) or in total production (TP).However, total production of shade plants was slightly high-er, and the average fruit weight of shade plants was signifi-cantly greater (p<0.05).

In the second experiment different shade conditionsshowed no significant differences for either the TNF or fruitweight. Highest production was obtained for plants with40% shade, but this was not significantly different fromthose in full sunlight. However, both were significantly dif-ferent from plants with 70% shade (p<0.05). Althoughplants in full sunlight and those with 40% shade showed nosignificant differences, the results indicate that producerscan grow C. chinense in partial shade provided by otherplants, thereby making better use of vertical space. For smallproducers this strategy could provide greater economicreturns from the same area.

Contact Information: Ramón E. Jaimez. Instituto deInvestigaciones Agropecuarias (IIAP). Facultad de CienciasForestales y Ambientales. Universidad de los Andes. aparta-do postal 77 La Hechicera Mérida 5101, VenezuelaPhone: +58-274-2401587 Fax: +58-274-2401503Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

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Determination of Capsaicinoids inShelf-Stable Salsa by EnzymeImmunoassay

B. Perkins1, K. Guthrie1, T. Fan2, A. Prince2,

K. Shapero3, R. Jarret4

1University of Maine, Dept. Food Science & HumanNutrition, Orono, ME; 2Beacon Analytical Services, Inc.,Portland, ME; 3Bangor High School, Bangor, ME;4USDA/ARS, Plant Genetic Resources, Griffin, GA, USA

As thermally processed, shelf-stable salsas becomeincreasing popular in the U.S. marketplace, standardizationof pungency levels has become more important.Quantification of pungency in salsa can be accomplished byhigh performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence

detection (HPLC/FLD) or by 96 well enzyme immunoassay(EIA). Using commercially available kits (BeaconAnalytical Systems, Portland, ME) we have developed arapid EIA, which utilizes a tube format for the quantificationof capsaicinoid content. This system is easy to use, inexpen-sive and permits flexibility in both sample numbers and inspectrophotometer choice. A total of 42 salsas (14 brandnames – mild, medium and hot) were analyzed by EIA andHPLC/FLD for capsaicinoid content. The two methodolo-gies compared favorably. Furthermore, in several instances,salsa (with the same brand name) labeled “mild” or “medi-um” had capsaicinoid levels approaching or exceeding salsalabeled with a higher pungency.

Contact Information: Brian Perkins, Dept. Food Science &Human Nutrition, 5735 Hitchner Hall, University of Maine,Orono, ME 04469-5735, USA, Phone: 207-581-1369Fax: 207-581-1369, Email: [email protected]

Determination of Capsaicinoids inOleoresins and Dried Hot Peppers byEnzyme Immunoassay

K. Guthrie1, B. Perkins1, T. Fan2, A. Prince2 andR. Jarret3

1University of Maine, Dept. Food Science & HumanNutrition, Orono, ME; 2Beacon Analytical Services, Inc.,Portland, ME; 3USDA/ARS, Plant Genetic Resources,Griffin, GA, USA

As more pungent food flavorings are developed fromCapsicum fruit extracts, quantification of capsaicinoid con-tent has become increasing important for the purpose ofquality control. Traditionally, these analyses have been per-formed by high performance liquid chromatography withfluorescent detection (HPLC/FLD), which is both time-con-suming and prohibitively expensive. We have developed a

simple procedure for the analysis of capsaicinoids in fla-vored oleoresins and dried hot peppers using enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) kits (Beacon Analytical Systems,Portland, ME). Twelve flavored oleoresins and 19 dried hotpepper samples were extracted with methanol and assayedusing both EIA and HPLC/FLD. Oleoresin capaisinoid lev-els ranged from 10 to 45,000 ppm while hot pepper capsai-cinoids varied from 5.9 to 4,700 ppm. Correlation betweenEIA and HPLC/FLD techniques was good for both matrices,with R2=0.98 for the oleoresins and R2=0.99 for the driedpeppers. Our work indicates that EIA could provide an effec-tive and inexpensive alternative to HPLC for monitoring thecapsaicinoid content of pepper extracts with complex matrices.

Contact Information: Kelly Guthrie, Dept. Food Science& Human Nutrition, 5735 Hitchner Hall, University ofMaine, Orono, ME 04469-5735, USAPhone: 207-581-1369, Fax: 207-581-1369Email: [email protected]

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Heat Stress Tolerance in CloselyRelated Genotypes of Habanero Pepper(Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

J. Jifon1, K. Crosby1, and D. Leskovar2.1Texas A&M University System, Texas AgriculturalExperiment Station, TAMU-TAES, Weslaco, TX2TAMU-TAES, Uvalde, TX, USA

High temperature stress is one of the major constraintsto commercial production of the Habanero pepper(Capsicum chinense Jacq.) in tropical and subtropical pro-duction regions. The ability to sustain high metabolic andphysiological activity in stressful environments is an impor-tant tolerance trait for incorporation into newer varieties. Inthis study, we evaluated leaf thermotolerance (based on thecell membrane stability - CMS test) of three Habanero vari-eties to (1) determine genetic variability in CMS among thegenotypes studied, and (2) to look for correlations betweenCMS, leaf gas exchange and radiation use efficiency thatcould be used as markers of heat tolerance. The genotypesevaluated were TAM Mild Habanero (TMH, a recently-developed mild Habanero pepper) and its closely related par-ents (Yucatan, a landrace from Mexico, and PI 543184).Leaf gas exchange (net CO2 assimilation rate, An) of intactleaves was measured in the field and leaf samples collectedand exposed to heat stress (55°C for 20 min) in temperature

controlled water baths under dim light conditions.Thermotolerance was assessed by comparing CMS tests andchlorophyll a fluorescence (CF - an indicator of membrane-dependent photosystem II quantum efficiency, ?PSII) meas-urements before and after the heat treatment. Cell membranethermostability was highest in PI 543184 (~70% injury) andlowest in TMH (~74% injury). The CMS of Yucatan wasintermediate but statistically similar to that of PI 543184. Allgenotypes maintained high An rates in the field with PI543184 having the highest, and Yucatan showing the lowestrates. An values were highly variable (range 19-31 ?molm-2s-1), and did not correlate well with CMS readings. Darkadapted ?PSII values were similar among the genotypes(~0.8) under non-stress conditions but differed significantlyfollowing stress exposure.. PI 543184 had the highest post-stress _PSII values (0.506±0.023) followed by Yucatan(0.442±0.023) and TMH (0.190±0.025). The observed dif-ferences in CMS and _PSII indicate that heat injury to leafplasma membrane was least in PI 543184, suggesting a moreelastic response to abiotic stress compared to the other geno-types. The results strongly indicate that the relatively easy-to-measure _PSII parameter could be used as a marker inscreening genotypes for abiotic stress tolerance.Contact Information: John Jifon, Texas A&M University,Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, TAMU-TAES, 2415East Highway 83, Weslaco, TX, 78596, USAPhone: 956-969-5643, Fax: 956-9695620Email: [email protected]

Greenhouse-grown Colored Peppersas a Vegetable Production Alternativefor Florida

E. Jovicich1, J.J. VanSickle2, D.J. Cantliffe1,P.J. Stoffella3

1University. of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Dept.,Gainesville, FL, USA; 2University of Florida, Food andResource Economics Dept., Gainesville, FL, USA;3University. of Florida, Indian River Research andEducation Center, Ft. Pierce, FL, USA

The increase in U.S. demand for colored bell peppershas been satisfied with increased supplies from imports andincreased domestic production. Greenhouse-grown peppersof red, orange, and yellow colors were imported during theperiod 1993–2002 from The Netherlands, Israel, and Spainat an average year round wholesale fruit market price of$4.80/kg ($2.18/lb), with higher prices in the Nov.–Mayperiod. By contrast, U.S. field-grown peppers averaged only$1.60/kg ($0.73/lb) for yellow and red fruits, and $0.91/kg($0.41/lb) for green fruits. Peppers in Florida are mostly har-vested at the immature green stage of development becauseopen field environmental conditions negatively affect quali-ty and yields for mature colored fruits. With high market

prices and a suitable environment for growing colored pep-pers under inexpensive greenhouse structures, up to 14 ha(34.6 acres) of greenhouses produced bell peppers in Floridain the year 2002. Greenhouse area may expand in the nearfuture, in part as a consequence of the greater demand forspecialty vegetable crops, loss of methyl bromide, and anincrease in urban sprawl and price of arable land. To esti-mate the profitability of a bell pepper greenhouse enterprise,a budget analysis was used to calculate the returns to capitaland management.

Production costs of greenhouse-grown peppers wereestimated assuming the use of current technology applied incommercial greenhouse crops in Florida and in experimen-tal crops at the Protected Agriculture Center, University ofFlorida. Revenues were estimated from current fruit yieldsand historical fruit price data. Production assumptionsincluded a crop of nonpruned plants, grown in soil-lessmedia in a high-roof polyethylene-covered greenhouse [0.78ha (1.927 acres)] located in the North Central Fla. region,where, on occasion, fuel was used for heating during winterand spring. The crop was transplanted in August and fruitsharvested from November through May. For a fruit yield of13 kg·m-2 (2.66 lb/ft2), the total cost of production was$41.09/m2 ($3.82/ft2), the estimated return was $17.89/m2

($1.66/ft2), and the return over investment was 17%. A sen-sitivity analysis indicated that fruit yields should be greater

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Broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus[Banks]) Damage in Bell Pepper(Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings andthe Potential Control of this Pest byNeoseiulus californicus McGregor

E. Jovicich1, L.S. Osborne2, D.J. Cantliffe1,P.J. Stoffella3

1University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Dept.,Gainesville, FL, USA; 2University of Florida, Entomologyand Nematology, Mid-Florida Research and EducationCenter, Apopka, FL; 3University of Florida, Indian RiverResearch and Education Center, Ft. Pierce, FL, USA

Because of their small size, broad mites are unnoticeableuntil they cause serious damage to apical leaves in pepperseedlings. In a first study, changes in broad mite populationand seedling damage over time were measured after artificialmite infestations of seedlings with unfolded cotyledons, orwith unfolded two, or four true leaves. With infestationsoccurring at these seedling developmental stages, symptomsof elongation and curling of apical leaves were observed fivedays after infestation. The mite populations first increasedexponentially as days after seeding (DAS) increased andpopulations developed more rapidly in older seedlings thatwere infested. At 38 DAS (transplanting age, with 6 leavesunfolded in uninfested seedlings), seedling damage wasgreater in those infested at younger developmental stages.Mite population in seedlings infested at two and four leaves

were still increasing at 38 DAS. Damage increased morerapidly with increased cumulative mite-days in seedlingsinfested at the cotyledonary stage. The relative growth losscaused by one mite-day was generally greatest shortly afterinfestation occurred.

At 38 DAS, cotyledonary-infested and 2-leaf-infestedseedlings showed necrosis in cotyledons and leaves while in4-leaf-infested seedlings, symptoms of mite damage werejust starting to be noticeable. Because of the serious damageon early infested seedlings, these seedlings will be easilyrecognized and not used for saleable transplants but theywould be foci of infestation from where mites will disperseto other uninfested seedlings. It is likely that late broad miteinfestations lead to transplanting ‘broad mite-free-like’ pep-per seedlings which host broad mites. In a second study, theeffectiveness of broad mite control using a broad mite pred-ator, Neoseiulus californicus, was evaluated when pest infes-tations and predator releases occurred at different seedlingdevelopmental stages. Two predatory mites per seedlingwere used in preventive and curative releases. Levels ofdamage on terminal leaves caused by broad mites wereassessed with an injury scale. Curative releases were noteffective for producing undamaged transplants. Preventivereleases of the predator led to no or incipient seedling dam-age at transplanting age. Early preventive releases of thepredatory mite were effective means to control broad mites inseedlings and produce undamaged transplants.

Contact Information: Elio Jovicich, HorticulturalSciences Dept., 1143 Fifield Hall, PO Box 110690,University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690,USAPhone/Fax: 352-392-9905, Email: [email protected]

than 7.8 kg·m-2 (1.60 lb/ft2) in order to generate positivereturns based on a season average wholesale fruit price of$5.29/kg ($2.40/lb). For this price, a range of possible fruityields [5–17 kg·m-2 (1.0–3.5 lb/ft2)] led to returns rangingfrom $-9.52–30.84/m2 ($-0.88–2.87/ft2), respectively. Theestimates indicate that production of greenhouse-grown pep-

pers could represent a viable vegetable production alterna-tive for Florida growers.

Contact Information: Elio Jovicich, HorticulturalSciences Dept., 1143 Fifield Hall, PO Box 110690, Univ.of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, USAPhone/Fax: 352-392-9905, Email: [email protected]

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“Spanish” Pepper Trellis System andHigh-Plant Density Can Increase FruitYield, Fruit Quality, and Reduce Laborin a Hydroponic, Passively VentilatedGreenhouse-grown Crop

E. Jovicich1, D.J. Cantliffe1, P.J. Stoffella2

1University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Dept.,

Gainesville, FL, USA; 2University of Florida, Indian RiverResearch and Education Center, Ft. Pierce, FL, USA

Production and quality of bell pepper (Capsicum annu-um) fruits were evaluated in a passively ventilated green-house, in soilless media trellised to a “V” system (2-stem-pruned plants) or the “Spanish” system (nonpruned plants) inflat bags or nursery pot containers; and densities of 1.5, 1.9,3.0, and 3.8 plants/m2 (0.14, 0.18, 0.28, and 0.35 plants/ft2),

in a winter-to-summer-crop in Gainesville, FL, USA. Thetrellis systems did not affect total marketable fruit yields butproduction of extra-large fruit was higher (38%) in non-pruned than in pruned plants. Marketable fruit yields weresimilar in plants grown in bags and pots, and had positivelinear responses to increased plant density. Not pruningreduced by half the percentage of fruits with blossom-endrot. Pruned plants produced 50% fewer flower bud support-ing nodes than non-pruned plants but had a greater percent-age of fruit set. Regardless of trellis systems, fruit set perplant decreased linearly as plant density increased. Overall,the “Spanish” trellis system at a density of 3.8 plants/m2

resulted in greater yields of extra-large fruits and required75% less labor than the “V” system to prune and support theplant canopy.

Contact Information: Elio Jovicich, HorticulturalSciences Dept., 1143 Fifield Hall, PO Box 110690,University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, USAPhone/Fax: 352-392-9905, Email: [email protected]

Searching for Low Use of Water andFertilizers in Soilless, Greenhouse-grownPeppers in Florida

E. Jovicich1, D.J. Cantliffe1, P.J. Stoffella21University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Dept.,Gainesville, FL, USA; 2University of Florida, Indian RiverResearch and Education Center, Ft. Pierce, FL, USA

Managing quantity and timing of delivery of water andnutrients in soilless-greenhouse-grown peppers (Capsicumannuum) not only affects fruit yield and fruit quality but alsodirectly affects cost of production and sustainability of‘drain-to-waste’ irrigation systems. In a 250-day fall to sum-mer crop, pepper plants grown in peat mix, pine bark, or per-lite were irrigated with irrigation frequencies (9, 12, 16, 26and 62 events/day) determined by a range of solar radiationintegrals. At each irrigation event, plants were given differ-ent volumes of nutrient solutions: a) 74 mL of a completenutrient solution, b) 74 mL of half the nutrient concentration,or c) half the volume (37 mL) of the complete nutrient solu-tion. Fertigation treatments led to ranges of total amounts ofwater and fertilizer of 87-1016 L/plant and 240-2944g/plant, respectively. High frequencies of irrigation events

led to fruit yields of 9 kg·m-2, but at low numbers of irriga-tion events/day these fruit yields were obtained only whendelivering 74 mL/event. In plants with 37 mL/event, fruityields decreased from 9.0 to 3.7 kg·m-2 and stem lengthsfrom 2.1 m to 1.1 m when number of events/day decreasedfrom 62 to 9. There were high efficiencies in water and fer-tilizer used per kg of fruit produced with 74 mL/event withhalf the nutrient solution concentration at 12 and 16events/day, where total deliveries were 297 and 396 g/plantof fertilizer, respectively, and 214 and 282 L/plant of water,respectively. High volumes of water applied per dayincreased fruit cracking and greater volumes per irrigationevent reduced blossom-end rot particularly when plantswere grown in pine bark and perlite. With 74 mL and half thenutrient solution concentration and 12 or 16 events/day, sim-ilar fruit yields were obtained regardless of media used. Thecost of pine bark represented at least 1/5 of the cost of per-lite or peat mix. It was possible to identify fertigation prac-tices which would lead to reduced fertilizer and water use inlow-cost soilless media greenhouse-grown peppers.

Contact Information: Elio Jovicich, HorticulturalSciences Dept., 1143 Fifield Hall, PO Box 110690,University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, USAPhone/Fax: 352-392-9905, Email: [email protected]

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Managing Greenhouse-grown Peppersin a Saline Environment

E. Jovicich1, D.J. Cantliffe1, P.J. Stoffella2

1University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Dept.,Gainesville, FL, USA; 2University of Florida, Indian RiverResearch and Education Center, Ft. Pierce, FL, USA

Under certain conditions, greenhouse-grown pepperplants from various areas of the world, including theMediterranean and North America, exhibit symptoms wherethe base of the main stem becomes swollen below the cotyle-donary node level and crack-like wounds develop at the baseof the stem’s epidermis. The physiological disorder may pre-dispose the plant to a localized rot and result in a suddenplant wilt. This phenomenon has been observed in both, soiland soilless cultivated plants. We proposed that deposits ofsalts on basal stem epidermal tissues may contribute to local-ized injuries, which can predispose the plant to an infectionby opportunistic pathogens. The effects of soilless mediatype, transplant depth, and amount of nutrient solutionapplied per day were studied to evaluate the development ofwhat was termed “Elephant’s Foot” disorder, on a green-house-grown bell pepper crop in Gainesville, FL. The per-centage of plants with epidermal wounds at the base of the

stem was highest (83%) on plants transplanted at half of thecell height (3.8 cm), compared to plants transplanted to thecotyledonary node level (6%) and the second leaf node(0%). Salts were washed from the surface of basal stem epi-dermis and electrical conductivity measured in the washingsolution was expressed per unit area of epidermal sample(ECA). The ECA in the solutions from plants transplanted athalf of the cell height was higher than that from plants trans-planted to the cotyledonary node level and to the second leafnode. There was a positive linear relationship (r = 0.81)between the percentage of plants with epidermal wounds andthe ECA of the solution obtained from washing the epider-mal tissues. Salts deposited on the epidermis beneath thecotyledonary node provoked a tissue injury that may predis-pose the plant to a Fusarium infection. Simple managementpractices, such as transplanting deep, using cultivars withlower susceptibility to salt damage, and gradually movingback the emitter from the base of the plant after transplanti-ng (to reduce humid conditions near the base of the stem)would help reduce the appearance of this basal stem disorderin soilless-grown peppers.

Contact Information: Elio Jovicich, HorticulturalSciences Dept., 1143 Fifield Hall, PO Box 110690,University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, USAPhone/Fax: 352-392-9905, Email: [email protected]

Characterization of Different PepperGenotypes Collected From CoastalRegions of Turkey

Davut Keles1, Suleyman Karagul1,Saadet Buyukalaca21Alata Horticultural Research Institute Erdemli-Mersin-TURKEY 2Cukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture,Department of Horticulture Balcali-Adana-TURKEY

Capsicum spp. is among the most important vegetableand spice crops and cultivated worldwide. Pepper has greatsignificance in some countries such as China, Mexico,Turkey, India and Hungary. The enormous genetic diversityavailable for pepper breeding offers a potential for the devel-

opment of new varieties and hybrids.In Turkey, there are also big genetic diversity and can be

facilitated for the breeding of new varieties. For this aim, agene pool has been formed by collecting pepper genotypesgrown in the coastal region of Turkey. Seventy differentgenotypes, which were chosen from gene pool, have beenevaluated by using 30 morphological characters which areformed by modifying IPGRY and UPOV. Data were ana-lyzed statistically using SAS computer program. The resultsshowed that there are 8 main clusters when fruit and leafshapes and weigh of 1000 seeds were considered.

Contact Information: Davut Keles, Alata HorticulturalResearch Institute, Breeding and Genetic, Erdemli, 33 740,Mersin, Turkey, Phone: +90 324 518 00 52,Fax: +90 324 518 00 80, Email: [email protected]

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Evaluation of Phytophthora ResistantBell Pepper Cultivars and BreedingLines

W.L. Kline1, C.A. Wyenandt2, M.D. Zimmerman2

and M. L. Fogg2

1Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County,Millville, NJ; 2Rutgers Agricultural Research andExtension Center, Bridgeton, NJ, USA

Phytophthora blight caused by the fungus Phytophthoracapsici is the number one disease in New Jersey bell peppers.Trials were conducted in naturally infested fields at theRutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center(RAREC) and at a grower location (GL). The objective wasto determine if breeding lines and recently released cultivarshad field tolerance to the crown phase of Phytophthora. Thegrower location has been in continuous pepper production forover 25 years while the RAREC site has been in productionfor five years. Seventeen cultivars and breeding lines wereplanted in 2003 and ten in 2004 on raised beds in double rows(17 inches between plants and 5 ft between double rows) at

RAREC and single rows (18 inches between plants and 3 ft.between rows) at GL. Cultivars were replicated four times ina randomized complete block design. Healthy plants werecounted between 6 and 8 times during the season and plotswere harvested when fruit reached marketable size. For2003, there were no statistical differences among the entriesfor phytophthora blight symptoms until the third and fourthevaluation date. By the final evaluation, the tolerant stan-dard cultivars ‘Paladin’ and ‘Aristotle’ had more healthyplants than the susceptible cultivar ‘Camelot’ or a suscepti-ble breeding line. Several new breeding lines were statisti-cally equivalent to the standard tolerant cultivars, but need tobe evaluated for horticultural characteristics. There were nostatistical differences for marketable yield due to early ter-mination from hurricane damage. In 2004, early yields ofmarketable fruit were statistically higher for three cultivars‘Paladin’, ‘Aristotle’, ‘Alliance’ than the other cultivars orbreeding lines.

Contact Information: W.L. Kline, Rutgers CooperativeExtension of Cumberland County, 291 Morton Ave.,Millville, NJ, 08332, USA, Phone: 856-451-2800Fax: 856-451-4206, Email: [email protected]

Integrating the Pepper Value Chain withParticipation of Managers and Growers

Mario A. Lamas NolascoBank of Mexico, Agribusiness Consultancy Department

FIRA-Bank of Mexico is applying a model designatedto promote the entrepreneurial integration in the agri-foodvalue chains which have major impact in the Mexican GrossInternal Product. The model is giving tangible results tomaintain and fortify the small and medium size industries inthe current economic environment through the grouping ofstrategic enterprises and the “professionalization” of grow-ers which, in the future, could constitute formal managerialclusters. The resulting knowledge is being adopted by; grow-ers associations, industry, state rulers, and national and inter-national investors.

The integration of enterprises and growers is a pathwaytoward competitiveness in the new economy. So, currently isknown that to operate in the new international economicaland commercial conditions put by the globalization is neces-sary to count with real options to compete such as; to offerbetter quality in products and services, to low prices, to catchnew markets and get new technologies.

In this context, the main objectives of FIRA-Bank ofMexico are: to offer financial support and consultancy to for-tify small and medium size enterprises and foment theircompetitiveness in the international arena. The applied modelis a form of organization through which the enterprises and

growers are associated avoiding compete among themselves,and allowing them a structure and strength to negotiate likea big corporation, gaining access to technical specializedservices, better prices when buying inputs and getting pub-lishing, marketing, financing, etc. To get these benefits it isa need to count with a Reliable Diagnostic to implement aprecise Business Plan identifying the conditions of the busi-ness opportunity and defining the strategy to catch it and togrow up based on a risk analysis and the expected benefits inthe short and long-term.

The FIRA´s Model includes: Diagnostic of the ValueChain, Determination of Inversion Opportunity, Road Showto find business associates, Technical and Financial study,Engineering of Agro-industrial Project and a Program toDevelop Suppliers. Currently FIRA is participating in proj-ects to articulate various entrepreneurial nets, ones are inoperation yet and others are in progress. The managerialgrouping (cluster) of the growers and processors of peppersin the states of Chihuahua and Yucatan are two good exam-ples of the model feasibility so as the benefits obtained forthe associates which recently have attracted national andinternational investors. Furthermore this integrated chains,had defined their quality basis and processes at their conven-ience, which in time could turn into entrance barriers to newcompetitors.

Contact Information: Mario A. Lamas N., Agri-BusinessConsultancy, FIRA - Banco de México, Km 8Antiqua Carr.a Patzcuaro, Moreliea, Micoacan 58341Phone: 443-322-24 92, Fax: 443-332-24 57Email: [email protected]

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The Effect of Temperature on theDevelopment of Fusarium Stem Rot inGreenhouse Peppers in South Florida

E.M. Lamb1, R.M. Sonoda1, E.F. Oxman1 and E.N.Rosskopf21IRREC, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, 2USHRL,USDA, ARS, Fort Pierce, FL, USA

Fusarium stem rot of greenhouse peppers caused byFusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. (teleomorph Nectria haema-tococca Berk. and Broome) was found in South Florida in1999. Black lesions occurred at nodes where the plant waspruned or where fruit were harvested. Tissues above thelesion appeared normal until the lesion girdled the stem atwhich time the plant parts above the lesion wilted and died.Greenhouse surveys conducted over a 4 month period dur-ing harvest suggested that environmental factors played arole in the number of infected plants and lesion size.Therefore, a controlled environment test was conducted toevaluate the effect of temperature and cultivar on rate of dis-ease development and severity of infection.

Four-week-old plants of cultivars Cubico, Triple 4 andKelvin were stem inoculated at the 4th node with F. solani,with non-inoculated plants as a control. Five plants of each

cultivar, plus controls, were incubated at ~ 31, 29, and 23°C,typical greenhouse temperatures in South Florida green-houses. Measurements of lesion length and circumference ofstem covered by visible lesion were taken ~ daily for 2weeks starting 2-3 days after inoculation. The 2 values weremultiplied to calculate a disease index term for each evalua-tion date. All of the inoculated plants showed lesion devel-opment while none of the control plants developed symp-toms. The severity of the disease increased with time in alltreatment combinations but was significantly different onlyafter day 9. The interaction of time and temperature was sig-nificant with the disease index values and the rate of diseasedevelopment increasing with temperature, particularly afterday 9. Cultivar was not a significant factor, nor was theinteraction of cultivar and time, although Triple 4 appearedto have slightly lower disease index values at the later times.While temperature control is often difficult in South Floridagreenhouses, the results suggest that reduction in tempera-ture will slow the rate of disease development and reducethe potential yield loss due to plant wilting and death.

Contact Information: Elizabeth M. Lamb, Indian RiverResearch and Education Center, University of Florida,2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945Phone: 772-468-3922, Fax: 772-468-3973Email: [email protected]

15

Water Conservation Strategies forPoblano Pepper in South Texas

D.I. Leskovar1, D.J. Moore1, G. Piccinni1,J. Loaiza2, K.Crosby 3 and B. Aloni41TAES, Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX, USA; 2VFIC,Dept. Horticultural Sciences, College Station, TX, USA;3TAES, Texas A&M University, Weslaco, TX, USA; 4VolcaniCenter, Bet-Dagan, Israel

Regulations restricting water use, competition for waterwith a large urban sector, as well as extremely high temper-atures have placed a large strain on underground aquifersand farming areas in south Texas. In addition, consumerdemand for healthy and nutritious vegetables has increased.Water stress disturbs stand establishment, crop performanceand fruit quality in bell pepper, but its effects are unknownin poblano pepper. The objective of this work was to deter-mine yield and fruit quality of poblano pepper (Capsicumannuum L. cv. Tiburon), under deficit irrigation and irriga-tion systems. In 2002, an experiment was conducted at theTAES Uvalde with a Center pivot in a 2.5 ha block usingthree irrigation rates, 100%, 80% and 60% evapotranspira-tion rates (ETc). Six-week old containerized transplantswere mechanically transplanted on beds 1.0 m between cen-

ters with in-row plant spacing of 45 cm. After summer har-vests, plants were mowed and a ratoon crop was obtained inthe fall. In 2003, we compared production efficiency of fourirrigation systems in an urban-rural environment near SanAntonio. Beds were 0.9 m between centers for single-rowbeds or 1.8 m between centers for double-row beds withplant spacing of 45 cm. Irrigation systems were: 1) furrowirrigation with one line/single beds, 2) subsurface drip(SDI)-no mulch, with one line/single bed, 3) SDI-no mulch,with two lines/double bed, and 4) SDI-white mulch with twolines/double bed. In 2002, marketable yield in summer waslow, irrespective of irrigation rates. Summer ratooning of thespring-planted crop under deficit irrigation (less than 100%ETc) allowed a fall crop with a 4.0 fold yield increase, larg-er fruit size (greater than 10 cm length) and significantlylower defects caused by sunburn or blossom end rot com-pared to summer production. In 2003, SDI-white mulchincreased the average fruit number per plant, caused a 2.4fold yield increase and a minimum of 380 mm water savingscompared to furrow. Fruit vitamin C content was less vari-able and higher for SDI compared to furrow, while maturered fruits had 3.6 times more than mature green fruits. Ourresults suggest that by combining deficit irrigation withratooning we can produce fancy and nutritious poblano fruitsfor the Texas market. Additional water savings and increasedyield were demonstrated by the SDI technology. Current

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TAES breeding efforts are targeted towards the developmentof novel poblano genotypes with improved size, nutrition,disease resistance and adaptability to Texas environments.

Contact Information: Daniel I. Leskovar, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Dept. HorticulturalSciences, Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX 78801Phone :830-278-9151, Fax: 830-278-1570Email: [email protected]

16

Preservation of Texture of AcidifiedRed Bell Peppers

R. F. McFeeters,1 L. Papageorge,2 A. Barish,2 and S.Morrison11USDA-ARS Food Science Research Unit and 2Departmentof Food Science, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA

The ability to acidify red bell peppers in bulk for use asa food ingredient has considerable economic potential. Aproblem that is particularly acute in brining red peppers isthat they can soften rapidly, sometimes for no apparent rea-son. A second problem is that, if peppers are brined in highsalt concentrations, disposal of the waste brine can be diffi-cult and costly. Research in our laboratory has been directed

toward identifying conditions which will preserve the firm-ness of acidified red peppers for several months in no-saltcover solutions. The traditional factors, including blanchtreatments, calcium addition, pH, and acid concentration,were evaluated to determine optimum treatments for textureretention. A major surprise that emerged from this work wasthat oxygen can cause rapid softening of acidified peppers,but sulfite inhibits the effect of oxygen on softening.Integration of these factors so that red peppers can be pre-served and maintain a reasonable firmness during storage forup to one year will be described.

Contact Information: R. McFeeters, USDA-ARS, 322Schaub Hall, Box 7624, NC State University, Raleigh, NC27695-7624; Phone: 919-515-2990, Fax: 919-513-0180;Email: [email protected]

Overview of the California PepperIndustry and the California PepperCommission

K. Melban1, R. Heisey2

1California Pepper Commission, Dinuba, CA, USA;2United Genetics Seeds, Hollister, CA, USA

The pepper crop in California is estimated to be worthapproximately $200 million per year, grown on approxi-mately 25,000 acres. This includes bells and chilis for bothfresh market and processing, handled as both green andmature fruits.

The California Pepper Commission (CPC) was set up asa research-only commission to fund research to solve prob-

lems of the industry. A budget of approximately $100,000per year is funded by a per-ton-fresh-weight assessment.More than 75% of the budget goes to fund research projects.Most projects funded involve research into pest managementby way of genetic resistance, cultural practices, and chemi-cal control. Other projects deal with pesticide regulation.Funding decisions are made in February by a group of pub-lic and private scientists associated with the industry.Proposals are solicited and considered from scientistthroughout the US and the world. Areas of current researchinterests will be discussed.

Contact Information: K. Melban, California PepperCommission, 531-D North Alta Avenue, Dinuba, CA93618-3202, Phone: 559-591-3925, Fax: 559-591-5744Email: [email protected]

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Cultivars Tolerance of Red Chile toRoot Rot: Response to High Levels ofSoil Moisture II

Francisco Mojarro Davila1, MC. Bertoldo CabañasCruz2

Red chile has several diseases, which can cause exten-sive losses in both yield and quality. These diseases oftenmean the difference between profit and loos. In recent yearsthe loss of crops has been increased by the root rot, some-times called phytophthora root rot. The fungus becomes aproblem when soils are excessively wet because of over irri-gation from either furrows or drip irrigation, and heavy rain-fall or both. In the State of Zacatecas Mexico alone, during2000, the losses surpassed 250 million pesos. In general,high frequency irrigation with drip and furrow irrigation sys-tems enhanced root rot in red pepper. Currently, in Mexico

there are no chile pepper cultivars resistant to root rot dis-ease. While soil moisture is certainly important, there havebeen no attempts to examine, under field condition, theeffects of different soil moisture levels in partially resistantgenotypes of red chile on the disease incidence of root rot.The main objectives of this study were to investigate theeffects of soil moisture content on the disease incidence ofroot rot in new breeding cultivars (ANCHOS: LEAZ-6,LEAZ-8, LEAZ-10 and MIRASOLES: LEMZ-7, LEMZ-8,and LEMZ-10) of red chile, and test under various field con-ditions, the LEMZ-7 (Mirasol INIFAP Zacatecas) which is anew cultivar with excellent characteristics of high yield andtolerance to root rot, over three complete cropping periodsagainst the indigenous (Criollos) cultivars, which are sus-ceptible to the root rot disease.

Contact Information:Francisco Mojarro Davila1INIFAP-ZAC [email protected]@inifapzac.sagarpa.gob.mx2INIFAP-ZAC [email protected]

Critical Purple Nutsedge (CyperusRotundus)-Free Period afterTransplanting Cubanelle Pepper(Capsicum annuum)

J. Pablo Morales-Payan1, 2 and William M. Stall11Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida.Gainesville, FL; 2Sociedad Dominicana de InvestigadoresAgropecuarios y Forestales, Inc. Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic

Experiments were conducted to determine the yieldresponse of transplanted cubanelle pepper (Capsicum annu-um) to increasing initial purple nutsedge-free periods (0, 1,3, 5, 7, and 11 purple nutsedge-free weeks after transplanti-ng) at different purple nutsedge densities (0, 20, 40, 60, and80 plants/m2). After the initial weed-free period, purplenutsedge was allowed to grow unchecked with the crop. Atany given purple nutsedge density, pepper yield tended to

decrease as the weed-free period was shorter. When the cropgrew season-long with purple nutsedge at the densities of20, 40, 60, and 80 plants/m2, total marketable pepper yielddecreased by 18, 35, 52, and 59%, respectively. Regardlessof purple nutsedge density, pepper yield loss was lower than10% when the initial purple nutsedge-free period wasapproximately 5 WAT. Pepper yield loss was negligiblewhen purple nutsedge emerged >7 WAT. The results suggestthat to avoid yield losses >5%, any means of purplenutsedge suppression in cubanelle pepper must be effica-cious for at least 5 WAT (purple nutsedge density <40plants/m2) to 6 WAT (purple nutsedge density 40-80plants/m2).

Contact Information: J. Pablo Morales-Payan,Horticultural Sciences Dept., University of FloridaP.O Box 110690. Gainesville, FL 32611-0690Phone 352-392-1928 x 257E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

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Cubanelle Pepper (Capsicum annuum)Yield is Affected by Selected CropStimulators

J. Pablo Morales-Payan1, 2 and William M. Stall11Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida.Gainesville, FL; 2Sociedad Dominicana de InvestigadoresAgropecuarios y Forestales, Inc., Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic

Field research was conducted to compare the effects ofselected crop stimulators on the yield of cubanelle pepper(Capsicum annuum). The stimulators tested were (1) a plantextract with gibberellins, indole-acetic acid, zeatine, andmicronutrients (BIO), (2) an extract from the seaweedAscophyllum nodosum with cytokinins, nutrients, aminoacids, and carbohydrates (STM), (3) a commercial glycine-rich mixture of amino acids and short-chain peptides,

derived from hydrolyzed animal skin (APC), and (4)acetylthioproline, a cysteine & folic acid complex (AP),applied at recommended rates at 15, 15+30, 15+30+45, and15+30+45+60 days after transplanting the crop (DAT). Inmost cases, two applications (15+30 DAT) of any of thestimulators sufficed to significantly increase yield above thatof control plants. Nevertheless, the yield of cubanelle peppertended to increase as the number of applications increased.When APC, STM, AP, and BIO were applied at 15+30 DAT,cubanelle pepper yield increased by approximately 6, 10, 12,and 15%, respectively, as compared to control plants. In con-trast, yields increased by 19, 23, and 25, and 30% when AP,BIO, APC, and STM were applied 15+30+45+60 DAT.

Contact Information: J. Pablo Morales-Payan,Horticultural Sciences Dept., University of FloridaP.O Box 110690. Gainesville, FL 32611-0690Phone: 352-392-1928 x 257E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

Capsicum spp. in the DominicanRepublic: An Overview

J. Pablo Morales-Payan1, 2 and William M. Stall11Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida.Gainesville, FL; 2Sociedad Dominicana de InvestigadoresAgropecuarios y Forestales, Inc. Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic

Peppers (Capsicum spp.) are important crops in theDominican Republic. In 2003, pepper production was30,000 t were produced in 5,200 ha. The cubanelle, bell, andhot peppers comprise 88, 9, and 3% of the area under com-mercial pepper production, respectively. Peppers are con-sumed predominantly as condiments. Most operations aresmall (<5 ha) and use conventional production systems, but

the area under sustainable and strictly organic systems(mainly for exportation) has been increasing since the1990s. Peppers are grown in pure stands or intercroppedwith other vegetables, herbs, and fruit crops. Local lan-draces, traditional varieties, and up to date hybrids aregrown. High technology growers may have large operationsand grow high yielding hybrids in pure stand plasticulturesystems. Overall, viruses, mites, root diseases, and limitedherbicide options are the main biological constraints formost growers.

Contact Information: J. Pablo Morales-Payan,Horticultural Sciences Dept., University of FloridaP.O Box 110690. Gainesville, FL 32611-0690Phone 352-392-1928 x 257E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

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Molecular Genetic Diversity ofCapsicum chinense Jacq. in theCaribbean Basin Using RAPD Markers

Moses, M and Umaharan, P. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic ofTrinidad and Tobago

Capsicum chinense Jacq. is commercially the mostimportant pepper grown in the Caribbean. It is used popular-ly in the Caribbean cuisine to impart pungency and flavourto the dishes, or as an accessory (pepper sauces or pepperflakes). C. chinense is indigenous to tropical South Americaand the Caribbean, but has not been systematically collectedor characterized. The objective of the study was to deter-mine the genetic diversity in the Caribbean basin and itsstructure compared to South America, using RAPD analysis.DNA isolated from 86 accessions collected from Trinidadand Tobago were initially compared to samples from

Guyana, the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles, andlater to a random sample of 20 accessions from selectedSouth American countries, based on RAPD markers. ThePCR conditions and the 10 arbitary primers used were basedon a similar study in C. annuum (AVRDC, 1999). Eachaccession was scored for 104 polymorphic and reproducibleRAPD markers. The results indicate considerable geneticdiversity for C. chinense in the Caribbean region. The genet-ic diversity seems to be concentrated in Guyana, Trinidadand Tobago and to some extent in the lesser Antilles.Approximately 67% of the variability in the Caribbean basinwas located in collections from Guyana and Trinidad andTobago. The implications of the results to the evolution anddistribution paths of C. chinense are discussed.

Contact Information: M.Moses: Life Sciences Department,Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of the WestIndies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.Phone:1-868-662-2002 ext. 3108Email: [email protected]

19

Pollen Grain Viability in CapsicumGermplasm

C. E. S. Monteiro, T. N. S. Pereira, K. P. Campos,F. R. Costa, C. P. Sudré, , R. RodriguesUniversidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense DarcyRibeiro, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias,Laboratório de Melhoramento Genético Vegetal, Camposdos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

Semi-domesticated and wild species from differentcrops have often been used as sources of useful genes fortransfer into cultivated genotypes using interspecifichybridization. However, interspecific hybridization is notalways successful because of incongruity observed in thespecies. In Capsicum, interspecific hybrids, when possible,offer opportunities for breeding programs to improve manytraits such as disease and pest resistances. Several types ofinterspecific incompatibility due to pre- and post-fertiliza-tion barriers have been reported as being major reasons forlimited use of semi-domesticated and wild species in pepperbreeding. We are studying the genetic relationships amongfour Capsicum species based on cross compatibility. Thirty-three accessions were characterized using morphological,agronomic and molecular techniques and they are being usedin interspecific crosses. Preliminary findings on the pollenviability for these accessions are reported in this work.

Crosses, including reciprocals, were made using twelveaccessions of C. annuum; six accessions of C. frutescens;nine accessions of C. baccatum, and six accessions of C. chi-nense.

Flower buds were fixed in 70% ethanol solution andanthers were squashed into a drop of Alexander’s TripleSolution. The differentiation of aborted/nonviable and viablepollen grains was based upon pollen grain color. Abortedpollen grains were green and viable pollen grains were red.Five slides/accession/species and 250 pollen grains/slidewere observed, given a total of 1250 pollen grains/accession.The analyses of variance showed that there are significantdifferences among accessions. The lowest average pollenviability was observed in C. annuum var. annuum (85.62%)and the highest value was observed in C. chinense (98.25%).Within species, C. frutescens accessions UENF 1560 andUENF 1588 showed the lowest average, 60.56% and76.88% respectively. The average pollen grain viability was93.54%. Thus, pollen grain viability was not the reason for fail-ure in the ability to set fruit observed in some combinations.

Contact Information: T. N. S. Pereira,. UniversidadeEstadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro deCiências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Laboratório deMelhoramento Genético Vegetal, Av. Alberto Lamego2000, CEP 28013-600, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, BrazilEmail: [email protected]

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Interspecific Hybridization AmongCultivated Germplasm in Capsicum

K. P. Campos, T. N. S. Pereira, F. R. Costa, C. P.Sudré, C. E. S. Monteiro, R. RodriguesUniversidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Centrode Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Laboratóriode Melhoramento Genético Vegetal, Campos dosGoytacazes, RJ, Brazil

Brazil is considered a center of diversity for Capsicumand the large genetic pool is useful in pepper breeding pro-grams. Unfortunately, traits of interest, such as diseaseresistance, are many times present in species that cannot pro-duce fertile hybrids when crossed with commercial geno-types. Despite being associated with barriers to geneexchange, interspecific hybridization has been used toimprove many important crops such as tomato and potato.However, this approach has been used less frequently inCapsicum breeding programs. Considering that we have aCapsicum germplasm collection with approximately 150accessions, we are conducting a study to evaluate the genet-ic relationship among four Capsicum species. Crosses,including reciprocals, were made between accessions from

C. annuum (UENF 1562, UENF 1565, UENF 1382, UENF1567, UENF 1569, UENF 1503, UENF 1381, UENF 1578,UENF 1502, UENF 1559 and UENF 1576), C. frutescens(UENF 1425, UENF 1491, UENF 1557, UENF 1587 andUENF 1588), C. baccatum (UENF 1495, UENF 1584,UENF 1492, UENF 1496, UENF 1573, UENF 1426 andUENF 1490) and C. chinense (UENF1497, UENF 1498,UENF 1424, UENF 1555 and UENF 1585). These acces-sions were selected based on previous studies to determinegenetic divergence and resistance to the bacterial spotpathogen. Preliminary results showed that the C. annuum xC. frutescens, C. annuum x C. baccatum, C. baccatum x C.chinense and C. baccatum x C. frutescens were the mosteffective combinations for setting fruit and producing seeds.The crosses, including the reciprocal, between C. annuum xC. chinense either did not set fruit or produced fruit thatwere seedless. RAPD markers will be used to analyze the F1progenies and the hybrids will be planted in the field to eval-uate agronomic traits.Contact Information: T. N. S. Pereira,. UniversidadeEstadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro deCiências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Laboratório deMelhoramento Genético Vegetal, Av. Alberto Lamego2000, CEP 28013-600, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, BrazilEmail: [email protected]

Molecular Characterization ofCapsicum Accessions Based onRAPD Markers

F. R. da Costa, T. N. S. Pereira, R. Rodrigues, K. P.de Campos, C. P. Sudre1, A. P. Vitoria, M. G. PereiraUniversidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense DarcyRibeiro, Centro de Ciencias e Tecnologias Agropecuarias,LMGV, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

The genus Capsicum is a member of the Solanaceaefamily with the cultivated species having originated inCentral and South America. Improving the knowledge of thediversity in Capsicum germplasm banks is the major goal inmany research centers worldwide. Molecular markers,which have been used as an important tool in germplasmcharacterization, allow helping taxonomic identification, inidentifying duplicated accessions, in detecting polymor-phism and estimating genetic distances among accessions,as well as in studying evolutionary relationships among andwithin cultivated species. The objective of this work was toquantify the genetic diversity of 75 Capsicum accessions bymolecular characterization using RAPD markers.Germplasm was sampled from the Laboratorio deMelhoramento Genetico Vegetal Capsicum germplasm col-lection by random selecting 75 accessions. Seeds were ger-minated for each accession under greenhouse conditions.Young leaves from 15 plants were harvested for DNA

extraction. Data were analyzed using multivariate tech-niques, such as cluster analysis considering Ward, UPGMAand Tocher’s method. All the methods produced similarresults and 6 groups were formed. There was significantgenetic diversity within and among species and we wereable to separate 15 C. annuum, seven C. frutescens, 14 C.baccatum and 16 C. chinense accessions into distinctgroups. However, for C. baccatum it was not possible to dis-tinguish the forms baccatum and pendulum. Moreover, forC. annuum we could not separate C. annuum var. annuumfrom C. annuum var. glabriusculum. Six taxonomically non-identified accessions (UENF 1589, UENF 1592, UENF1593, UENF 1594, UENF 1595 and UENF 1598) wereincluded in C. baccatum group.

Other five unidentified accessions (UENF 1587, UENF1591, UENF 1597, UENF 1600 and UENF 1602) weregrouped into the C. chinense cluster. The highest divergencewas observed between UENF 1592 and UENF 1599. Usingthe RAPD markers data in association with morphologicaland agronomic characterization was an adequate approachfor obtaining phenotypic and genotypic information that canbe useful in management of germplasm collections and plantbreeding programs.

Contact Information: T. N. S. Pereira,. UniversidadeEstadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro deCiências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Laboratório deMelhoramento Genético Vegetal, Av. Alberto Lamego2000, CEP 28013-600, Campos dos Goytacazes,RJ, Brazil. Email: [email protected]

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Hypersensitive Response toXanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoriaRace 6 in Capsicum chinense andC. baccatum

R. Rodrigues1,2, R. E. Stall3, G. V. Minsavage3,J. B. Jones31Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense DarcyRibeiro, Centro de Ciencias e Tecnologias Agropecuarias,LMGV, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil; 2CNPq,Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico eTecnologico, Brazil; 3University of Florida, PlantPathology Department, Gainesville, FL, USA

Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria is the causalagent of bacterial spot and it is considered one of the mostimportant diseases in pepper and tomato. Because ofpathogen variation it is important to search for new sourcesof resistance to be used in breeding programs. Currently,races are identified based on hypersensitive reactions (HR)or susceptibility in C. annuum differentials genotypes ECW,ECW10R, ECW20R, ECW30R and C. pubescens PI235047.ECW is a susceptible genotype; ECW10R has the Bs1 genethat confers resistance to races 0, 2 and 5; 20R has the Bs2gene that confers resistance to races 0 and 3; Bs3 is presentin 30R and it is effective against races 0, 1 and 4. Resistancedescribed as an HR to race 6 was identified in C. pubescens,

and this reaction has been reported to be associated with theBs4 gene. Despite being used as a differential genotype, C. pubescens cannot be used in breeding programs because fer-tile hybrids are not produced when crossed with C. annuum.Fifty-five Capsicum spp. accessions from Brazil werescreened by inoculation in the greenhouse using races 0, 3,4, 5 and 6. Differentials ECW, ECW 10R, 20R and 30R wereused as controls. Bacterial suspensions for infiltration bysyringe and needle were standardized to approximately 108

CFU/ml by adjusting turbidity to A600=0.3. Occurrence ofHR was observed for 24-48 h after inoculation. Twentyaccessions showed an HR for race 0; twelve showed HR forrace 3; six accessions showed HR for race 4, and fiveshowed HR for race 5. Nine accessions of C. baccatum,namely UENF1489, UENF1490, UENF1492, UENF1493,UENF1501, UENF1426, UENF1573, UENF1584, andUENF1504, and one accession of Capsicum chinense(UENF1556) showed resistance to race 6.

Since HR for race 6 in C. baccatum accessions seemedto be phenotypically the same, we chose UENF1501 to char-acterize HR using the electrolyte leakage technique. A rapidincrease in eletrolyte leakage was observed for UENF1501leaves, confirming HR. Studies to determine the inheritanceof this resistance are in progress. Viable F1 seeds wereobtained with C. baccatum (UENF1501) crossed with C.annuum (ECW) and with C. chinense (UENF1556) crossedwith C. annuum (ECW). Viable F1 seeds were also obtainedfrom crosses of resistant and susceptible C. baccatum.

Three Recessive Genes ControllingBacterial Spot Resistance in Pepper

E. M. Riva, R. Rodrigues, C. P. Sudre, M. Karasawa,M. G. PereiraUniversidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense DarcyRibeiro, Centro de Ciencias e Tecnologias Agropecuarias,LMGV, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

Bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria is a major problem of pepper plants in many pro-duction areas. Plant resistance is considered the most ade-quate alternative to manage the disease. New varieties withbacterial spot resistance have been the major goal in breed-ing programs. UENF 1381, a chilli pepper Capsicum annu-um accession, was identified as having a high level of non-hypersensitive resistance. The purpose of this work was tostudy the inheritance of bacterial spot resistance in a crossmade between ‘Hercules’ x UENF1381. Forty plants ofeach, ‘Hercules’ (P1), UENF1381 (P2) and F1, 200 F2 plants,and 60 plants each of BC1 and BC2 were screened for bac-terial spot resistance in Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.

Strain ENA4135 (P3, T1) was used and the bacterial suspen-sion was standardized to 108 cells/ml with spectrophotome-ter adjusted to A600=0.3 and diluted to 103 cells/ml. Threeweeks after inoculation, infiltrated leaves were collected,scanned and the lesions number/cm2 was counted, consider-ing mean of three counts. Mean generation analysis was per-formed and estimates for broad and narrow sense heritabili-ty were 82.5% and 50.2%, respectively. Dominance meandegree indicated complete dominance for susceptibility.Three genes with recessive inheritance were responsible forresistant phenotype. Mean generation analysis showed thatadditive-dominant model was sufficient to explain the datasuggesting that epistatic effects were not important in theinheritance of bacterial spot resistance.

Contact Information: R. Rodrigues, UniversidadeEstadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro deCiencias e Tecnologias Agropecuarias, Laboratorio deMelhoramento Genetico Vegetal, Av. Alberto Lamego2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil, CEP 28013-620, Phone: 55-22-2726-1432, Fax: 55-22-2726-1434Email: [email protected]

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Introgressing gene(s) responsible for resistance to race 6from C. baccatum and C. chinense should be possible sinceboth species can be crossed with C. annuum.

Contact Information: R. Rodrigues, UniversidadeEstadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro de

Ciencias e Tecnologias Agropecuarias, Laboratorio deMelhoramento Genetico Vegetal, Av. Alberto Lamego2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil, CEP 28013-620, Phone: 55-22-2726-1432, Fax: 55-22-2726-1434Email: [email protected]

22

Genetic Divergence and Screeningfor Bacterial Spot Resistance inCapsicum spp.

C. P. Sudre, R. Rodrigues, E. M. Riva,M. Karasawa, A. T. do Amaral Jr.Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense DarcyRibeiro, Centro de Ciencias e Tecnologias Agropecuarias,LMGV, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

The importance of pepper as a vegetable and a condi-ment is increasing in many areas worldwide, thereforeCapsicum germplasm has been collected, evaluated and usedfor breeding purposes. The aim of this work was to deter-mine genetic divergence among 60 accessions of Capsicumspp. collected in Brazil. Accessions were also screened forbacterial spot resistance, caused by Xanthomonas campestrispv. vesicatoria, considered one of the most important bacte-rial disease in pepper plants. The morphoagronomic charac-terization, considering 27 characteristics listed as Capsicumdescriptors by International Plant Genetic ResourcesInstitute (IPGRI) was determined. The work was carried outunder field conditions from November/2001 to July/2002, inCampos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil, in a randomized blockdesign, with three replications and 16 plants per plot. Fifteenqualitative traits were rated for frequency distribution.Twelve quantitative traits were analyzed by univariate andmultivariate techniques, including canonical variate analy-sis, cluster analysis according to Tocher’s agglomerativemethod and hierarchical method of the nearest neighbor.Generalized Mahalanobis distance (D2) was used to measuredissimilarity. The relative importance of the characteristicswas determined using Singh’s method. Large variability was

observed among the accessions considering qualitative traitsand analysis of these characters allowed us to identify allaccessions regarding species and botanical variety. Therewas significant difference among Capsicum accessions forall quantitative traits analyzed, indicating presence of vari-ability for useful characteristics.

Tocher’s method, nearest neighbor and canonical-variatemethod showed resemblance results and accessions weregrouped in eight clusters. Subgroups were formed, consider-ing the nearest neighbor, based on fruit type. Fruit length,fruit diameter, number of seeds per fruit and fruit weightexplained the majority of the divergence among accessions.Screening for bacterial spot reaction was conducted undergreenhouse conditions from February/2002 to Septem-ber/2002. Two inocula concentrations (108 and 103 cells/ml)were infiltrated in young leaves. Higher concentration wasapplied to detect hypersensitive response (HR) while lowerconcentration was tested to screen for quantitative pattern ofresistance, such as smaller size of lesions and less number oflesions. Evaluation for higher concentration was done 24-48hours after inoculation and ratings for lower concentrationwere carried out three weeks after inoculation. Seven acces-sions (UENF1381, UENF1491, UENF1498, UENF1558,UENF1573, UENF1578, UENF1585) showed high level ofresistance and they are being used as source of resistance inbreeding program currently in progress.

Contact Information: R. Rodrigues, UniversidadeEstadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro deCiencias e Tecnologias Agropecuarias, Laboratorio deMelhoramento Genetico Vegetal, Av. Alberto Lamego2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil, CEP 28013-620Phone: 55-22-2726-1432, Fax: 55-22-2726-1434Email: [email protected]

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Prospects for Biological Control ofPepper Weevil with a Parasitic Wasp(Triaspis eugenii Wharton & Lopez-Martinez) from Mexico

Esteban Rodrìguez1, Phil A. Stansly1, andDavid J. Schuster21University of Florida, Southwest Florida Research &Education Center, Immokalee, FL. 2Gulf Coast Researchand Education Center, Bradenton, FL, USA.

Although biological control is considered an integralcomponent of IPM, no viable control strategy for pepperweevil has evolved during the one hundred years that haveelapsed since the pest was firs reported in United States in1904Furthermore, natural enemies of pepper weevil in USAhave not been shown to play an important role in the controlof this insect. Catolaccus hunteri (Hymenoptera:Pteromalidae), a generalist and cosmopolitan parasitoid ofthe pepper weevil, and other 17 species of Coleoptera, isineffective under most circumstances because it only attacksmature larvae that are inaccessible deep in the fruit. A morediverse parasitoid fauna of pepper weevil occurs in Mexico

(Mariscal, E., J. Leyva, and R. Bujanos 1998. Parasitoidesdel picudo del chile en Nayarit, Mexico. Vedalia 5: 39-46),where this insect and Capsicum annuum L. likely evolved.

Nine parasitoids have been reported from the westerncoast, in the Mexican state of Nayarit (Mariscal et al. 1998),with Triaspis eugenii (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) being themost abundant. T. eugenii is a solitary endoparasitoid ofegg-prepupa. It parasitizes the egg of the pepper weevil anddevelops as endoparasitoid until the host finishes the pupalcell, then emerges from the prepupa and feeds as ectopara-sitoid leaving nothing but the head capsule of the host. Itthen spins its cocoon and completes the rest of the life cyclein 14-20 days. Because these endoparasitoids can reach thehost before the larva burrows into the fruit, it could attackthe pepper weevil in any cultivar regardless of fruit size andtherefore should be amenable to augmentative biologicalcontrol programs. We have developed a rearing methodolo-gy for this wasp using pepper weevil and fresh Jalapeñopeppers, and we will begin field cage evaluations for this year.

Contact Information: Esteban Rodrìguez,University ofFlorida, Southwest Florida Research & Education Center,2686 State Road 29 N, Immokalee, FL 34142-9515Phone: 239-658-3427, Fax: 239-658-3470Email: [email protected]

23

Activity of Bumblebees (Bombus ter-restris, L.) on the Pollination of SweetPepper (Capsicum annum, L.) Flowersand Fruit Set

J. M. Guerra Sanz1 and A. Roldán Serrano2

1CIFA La Mojonera, I.F.A.P.A., La Mojonera, Almería,Spain; 2Agrobío, S.L., La Mojonera, Almería, Spain

An experimental culture of two pepper cultivars of“California” type has been carried out, with a treatment bybumblebees and a control without bees. The culture wasdeveloped during the autumn campaign, in a plastic green-house without heating. The whole experiment was repeatedtwice, in 2002-2003 and in 2003-2004.

Pollination treatment gave a higher production than thecontrol one (between 5 and 6% depending on the cultivar andthe year). The fruit quality was always better in the pollina-tion tratment, according to the statistical tests applied. Fruitlength, weight, numbers of seeds, calibre and pericarp thick-ness were always greater in the pollination trearment com-pared with the control.

Bumblebees activity, pollen viability and floral abscis-sion were studied during the experiments. Bumblebee activ-ity was enough to give a pollination rate between 51% in

cultivar Bárdenas and 42% in Vergasa, having a pollinationrate in the control treatment of 29% and 27% respectively.Pollen viability and floral abscission were affected by tem-peratures. Pollen viability decreased along the culture,approximately at the same rate that the temperatures. Floralabscission was affected by pollination treatment, takingplace less abscission with pollination, but the differencesbetween the treatments were not statistically significant.

Correlation tests were performed between the mainvariables studied. Pollination rate was correlated with thenumber of bumblebee visits to the flowers, seeds per fruit,number of pollen grains on stigma and the quality fruit traits.The number of pollen grains was correlated with the numberof seeds per fruit. All these correlation coefficients were sta-tistically significant.

According to our data, the introduction of the bumble-bee colonies should be done at an optimal temperaturebecause an early introduction did not produce any improve-ment of the floral abscission or fruit set, even it can be detri-mental to the culture.

Contact Information: A. Roldán Serrano, Agrobío, S.L.,Ctra. Nacional 340, Km. 419; El Viso; 04745 La Mojonera,Almería, Spain. Phone: + 34-950-558030Mobile phone: +34-618-278749, Fax: + 34-950-558055Email: [email protected]

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Dynamics and Sugar Composition ofSweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum, L.)Nectar

J. M. Guerra Sanz1 & A. Roldán Serrano21CIFA La Mojonera, I.F.A.P.A., La Mojonera, Almería,Spain; 2Agrobío, S.L., La Mojonera, Almería, Spain

Three species belonging to the Solanaceae family arecultured as extra-early horticulture plants: pepper, tomatoand aubergine. Pepper (Capsicum annuum, L.), is the onlyspecies which produce nectar. The other two species, toma-to (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill.) and aubergine (Solanummelongena, L.), have nectarless flowers.

Nectar dynamics and sugar composition of severalsweet pepper commercial varieties of the ‘bell’ type werestudied during two years. Nectar volume per day was alwayssmall, depending on the cultivar and time of collection, butnever greater than 10 µl per flower.

Differences in nectar production and composition were

found between varieties and times of collection. One of thestudied varieties did not have nectar until the third monthafter blooming. Nectar volume decreased with flower age,being greater on the first day of floral anthesis, declininguntil the third day when it almost disappeared. Nectar fromall varieties was hexose-dominated (Glucose and Fructose),although sucrose was identified in most samples. This is thefirst time that sucrose has been described as one of the sug-ars present in pepper nectar. The sucrose to hexoses ratiowas very variable, not only between varieties, but also with-in the same variety. That ratio varied among samples of thesame variety, depending on the time of collection.

The importance of nectar volume and sugar composi-tion of sweet pepper is discussed from the point of view ofcommercial application of pollinators.

Contact Information: A. Roldán Serrano, Agrobí, S.L.,Ctra. National 340, km 419, Almería, Andaluca, 4745,Spain, Phone: 0034-950-558030Email: [email protected]

24

Screening of Biorationals for Control ofPhytophthora capsici

E.N. Rosskopf1, C.B. Yandoc1, J.P. Albano1, andE.M. Lamb2.1USHRL, USDA, ARS, Fort Pierce, FL, 2IRREC, Universityof Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, USA

Phytophthora capsici, causal agent of Phytophthorablight and root and crown rot of peppers, is considered oneof the most limiting diseases in the production of bell pep-pers in the southeast US. Available control measures areoften inadequate when weather conditions favoring epi-demics of the disease are present. The loss of methyl bro-mide further intensifies the need to find alternative tacticsfor control. While there are many biologically based prod-

ucts that have some efficacy for controlling soil borne dis-eases, few are labeled for control of Phytophthora spp.Greenhouse trials were conducted testing the efficacy of sev-eral biorational products in controlling this disease. All prod-ucts were applied as soil drenches based on label recommen-dations for other vegetable crops. A range of applicationrates was used for the experimental materials. Results withorganism-based products were highly variable. A mixture ofdipotassium phosphonate with dipotassium phosphate, cur-rently in commercial development under the name BIO-PHOS, provided consistent control of the disease in green-house experiments.

Contact Information: E.N. Rosskopf, US HorticulturalResearch Lab, USDA, ARS, 2001 South Rock Road,Fort Pierce, FL 34945, Phone: 772-462-5887,Fax: 772-462-5986, Email: [email protected]

won’t fit on this line

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Preplant and Fertigation Potassiumand Calcium Influence Bell PepperYield, Quality and Blossom End Rot

Douglas Sanders, Wilfred Jester, Brad Taylorand Luz ReyesHorticultural Science, North Carolina State University,Raleigh, NC, USA

When using soils with moderate levels of native potas-sium and relatively low levels of calcium growers havehypothesized that fertigating with high rates (1-0-2 ratio)predisposes bell pepper to blossom end rot (BER). We estab-lished studies at Kinston, NC, 1999, 2000, 2001 to comparepreplant K and Ca levels along with weekly fertigation of Nalone, N+ K (1-0-1), or N+ K (1-0-2). We grew ‘King

Arthur’ bell pepper with polyethylene mulch and drip irriga-tion in 5 ft rows and 12 inches in row spacing using 3 bedplots. We applied a conventional base fertilizer rate of 50-50-100 or applied the base plus an additional 0-0-200 and toeach of these preplant fertilizers we added no gypsum or 400lb/A of gypsum as a band between the two rows of peppers.The extra preplant K and/or Ca did not affect any of theyield or quality parameters in any of the three years. Nor didthe N : K ratios fertigation-side dressing affect yield or qual-ity except in 2001 when BER increased in high preplant Kwith the 1 N:2K ratio, normal preplant K or high K preplantin the 1N:1K ratio.

Contact Information: Douglas Sanders, HorticulturalScience, Box 7609 NCSU, Raleigh, NC 27695Phone: 919-515-1222, Fax: 919-515-2505Email: [email protected]

25

Potential of Releases of the ParasitoidCatolaccus hunteri for Suppression ofthe Pepper Weevil on Pepper

D. J. SchusterUniversity of Florida, IFAS, Gulf Coast Research &Education Center, Bradenton, FL, USA

The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano, is a seri-ous pest of cultivated Capsicum spp. Peppers in the southernUnited States, Hawaii, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, CostaRica and Puerto Rico. Infestations are difficult to managebecause eggs are deposited in flower buds and fruit anddeveloping larvae and pupae are inaccessible to insecticides.Biological control would be desirable, but natural enemiesgenerally are regarded as contributing little to natural controlof the pest. Catolaccus hunteri Crawford is the most abun-dant parasitoid found attacking the pepper weevil in Floridaand in some locales in Mexico. Augmenting naturally occur-ring populations of the parasitoid on small-fruited alterna-tive host plants such as nightshade (Solanum spp.) and/orwhen bell pepper fruit are small may be a means of enhanc-ing biological control of the pepper weevil.

A laboratory method was developed to rear C. hunterion the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus F., a facti-tious host for the parasitoid. Parasitoid adults were released

at 0, 800, 1600, and 3200 per acre in 0.5 acre plots on anorganic farm. The number of infested fruit were significant-ly less on three sampling dates in plots into which 3200 par-asitoids were released weekly compared to plots whichreceived no parasitoids. Furthermore, the area under the pro-gression curve of the cumulative numbers of infested fruitwas significantly less at the 3200 parasitoid per week ratecompared to the other release rates.

Weekly releases of 1500 C. hunteri adults on plots ofnightshade at the GCREC beginning in mid-September fol-lowed by weekly releases of 350 (3200/acre equivalent) onpepper plots adjacent to the nightshade beginning in lateApril resulted in fewer fruit damaged by the pepper weevilcompared to plots where no parasitoids were released.Laboratory studies indicated that residues of the insecticidesindoxacarb, tebufenozide, azadirachtin and cryolite were nottoxic to C. hunteri adults while residues of spinosad andoxamyl were moderately toxic. Thus, it should be possible tointegrate biological and chemical control in management ofA. eugenii on pepper.

Contact Information: D. J. Schuster, University ofFlorida, IFAS, Gulf Coast Research & Education Center,5007 60th Street East, Bradenton, FL, USAPhone: 941-751-7636 ext 247, Fax: 941-751-7639Email: [email protected]

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Chilli Thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalisHood, a Serious Threat to Vegetables,Fruits and Ornamentals in the WesternHemisphere

D. R. Seal1, M. Ciomperlik2, T. L. Skarlinsky3 andW. Klassen11University of Florida-IFAS, Tropical Research andEducation Center, Homestead, FL; 2USDA APHIS PPQCPHST, Pest Detection Diagnostics and ManagementLaboratory, Edinburg, Tx; 3USDA APHIS PPQ, MiamiPlant Inspection Station, Miami, FL, USA.

The chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, is apolyphagous pest of numerous vegetable, fruit and orna-mental crops in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions.It is widely distributed in Asia, the Pacific, and to someextent in Africa. During the past year this pest has beenrepeatedly intercepted on pepper imports entering Miami,Florida. Recently, we discovered S. dorsalis to be estab-lished on St. Lucia and St. Vincent in the Caribbean fromwhich the infested shipments originated.

S. dorsalis has been reported to attack 112 plantspecies; the most important economically being pepper,onion, cashew nut, peanut, tea, chilli, cotton, tomato, tobac-co, castor bean, citrus, mango and grape. The chilli thripsalso attacks roses, sacred lotus and saraca. In St. Vincent andSt. Lucia, we collected S. dorsalis from pepper, eggplant,squash, cucumber, zucchini, watermelon, cantaloupe, pump-kin, tomato, bean, pigweed and some ornamental plants.However, on these two islands the S. dorsalis populationwas more abundant on pepper than on any other crop.

S. dorsalis is a vector of various viral diseases includ-

ing bud necrosis disease, tomato spotted wilt virus and othertospo viruses, yellow spot virus, chlorotic fan-spot virus,bunchy top disease, and chili leaf curl disease. Also S. dor-salis is a vector of some bacterial diseases.

Reproduction in chilli thrips is almost continuous,although development is slow in winter. In India S. dorsalisis abundant in the early autumn, but relatively sparse duringthe rest of the year. In Japan, S. dorsalis adults overwinter intea fields, and emerge in late March after a few days of hightemperature. S. dorsalis adults probably disperse largelydownwind. Nevertheless, observation in South Africa sug-gest that early season infestations in citrus orchards developmainly from thrips that have over-wintered within eachorchard, rather than from adults flying in from wild hostplants.

All stages of S. dorsalis feed on young leaves and onthe apices of young fruits of chilli pepper. Often they areconcealed under the calyx. This thrips feeds on the wholeplant, including leaves, growing points and inflorescence. Inour study in St. Vincent we collected more S. dorsalis fromleaves than from flowers and fruits.

S. dorsalis females start to oviposit 3-5 days after emer-gence at the rate of 2–5 eggs/d for 13-18 days. However ona favorable host like chilli pepper, an S. dorsalis femaleoviposits 2-4 eggs/d for a period of about 32 days.

Since in Asia, S. dorsalis is distributed from tropical totemperate latitudes, and since it has a broad host rage, wepredict that this pest has the potential to become establishedover a wide rage of latitudes encompassing much of South,Central, and North America. Contact Information: Dakshina Seal, University ofFlorida IFAS, Tropical Research and Education Center,18905 SW 280th St., Homested, FL 33031Phone: 305-246-7001, Fax: 305-246-7003Email: [email protected]

26

Influence of N Fertilization onPostharvest Fruit Quality of Drip-Irrigated Bell Pepper

Nicole L. Shaw, Daniel J. Cantliffe,Steven A. Sargent, and George J. HochmuthHorticultural Sceinces Sept., University of Florida,Gainesville, FL, USA

Pepper cv. X3R Camelot was produced using polyethyl-ene mulch and drip irrigation under factorial combinationsof total N rates of 0, 85, 155, 170 and 340 kg.ha-1 and fourpreplant portions (0%, 30%, 70%, and 100%) during springand fall. in Gainesville. Five fruits from each experimentalunit were analyzed the day of harvest. The remaining 10fruits were stored at 12°C to avoid chilling injury to simulatea commercial handling scenario in which pepper fruits arepacked and stored prior to shipment. Following 10 days ofstorage, fruits were transferred to 20°C for 48 hours to sim-

ulate retail store conditions where a consumer purchasespeppers. Both before harvest and after storage, five soundfruits were chosen from each experimental unit sample andanalyzed for bio-yield point, fruit diameter, and pericarpthickness to determine the effect of N rate, preplant N por-tion, and storage on fruit textural changes. Fruits tended tobe firmer in the fall than in the spring which was associatedwith the smaller fruit diameter and larger pericarp thicknessin the fall season. Yields in the fall were significantly lowerthan spring yields. Bio-yield point and chroma valuedecreased during storage in each season. Bio-yield point andpericarp thickness were not affected by N rate in both sea-sons. Color (hue angle) was more green in the fall than in thespring which may be associated with less fruit produced inthe fall than in the spring. Higher N rates resulted in fruitswith lower L* values in both seasons, and fruits grown in thefall season were darker. Pepper fruit color in both seasonswas not greener with N > 170 kg.ha-1 and marketable yieldwas not improved in the spring season with N > 240 kg.ha-1.

In both seasons, chroma values were higher with less N

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27

Fate of Nitrogen in Soil Under Mulchedand Drip-Irrigated Pepper Beds

Nicole L. Shaw, Daniel J. Cantliffe,George J. Hochmuth, and Ed A. HanlonSteven A. Sargent, and George J. HochmuthHorticultural Sceinces Sept., University of Florida,Gainesville, FL, USA

Soil samples at different depths were taken to monitorN movement in the soil profile under mulch when using fer-tigation for pepper. Soil samples from plots receiving Nrates of 170 and 340 kg.ha-1 and four preplant portions (0%,30%, 70%, 100%) were analyzed for nitrate-N and ammoni-acal-N concentrations. In spring, three samplings were madeat 5, 10, and 15 weeks from the date of planting. In fall, foursamplings were made at 3, 5, 10, and 15 weeks from the dateof planting. A control which received no N fertilizer wasincluded both seasons and sampled 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 weeksafter transplanting to obtain estimates of nitrate-N andammoniacal-N supplied by the unfertilized soil. With a 2-cmdiameter soil core, samples were taken from 0 to 15 cm, 15to 30 cm, 30 to 45 cm, and 45 to 60 cm depths of the beddedsoil profile. Three samples were taken from each plot andcomposited. Samples were taken approximately 15 cm fromthe irrigation tube and between two plants within that row.Loss of N occured under polyethylene mulch and drip irri-gation. The greatest concentration of N in the bed soiloccurred within five weeks after planting in the upper 45 cmand was greater in soils receiving higher rates of N fertilizer.Soil N concentration remained significantly greater thanbaseline levels until the last sampling period of both seasons

when levels were not different than baseline levels. Largeamounts of preplant N fertilizer created high concentrationsof soil nitrate-N and ammoniacal-N early in the season whenthe plants were small, not requiring large amounts of N, andthe leaching potential was high due to over-irrigation duringplant establishment and/or rainfall. In the spring season, sig-nificant concentrations of nitrate-N remained in the bed soilwhen all N fertilizer was applied preplant compared to otherportions of preplant N fertilizer suggesting the need forscheduled applications of N. There was no difference in soilammoniacal-N concentration among different preplant Nportions at the end of the spring season. In the fall, when noN fertilizer was applied at bed formation and total N was fer-tigated (12 weeks), significant concentrations of soil nitrate-N (20 mg.kg-1) and ammoniacal-N (10 mg.kg-1) remainedwithin the mulched bed at the end of the season.

For mulched pepper production, applying N at preplantand during the season can minimize N fertilizer losses.Maximum yields were predicted to occur with 240 kg . ha-1 inthe spring and 85 kg . ha-1 in the fall with approximately 30%applied preplant and the remainder fertigated. Though soilsreceiving those combinations were not tested during thisresearch for nitrate-N or ammonical-N concentration in thesoil profile, matching N applied to plant need ultimately lim-its loss of added N. In addition, the current research showsthat soil N at 15 weeks after planting not only has a negativeeffect on plant yield but provides residual soil N, therefore,fertigated N should be applied no later than 10 weeks afterplanting for a short-season pepper crop.

Contact Information: Nicole Shaw, University of Florida,Horticultural Sciences Department, PO Box 110690,Gainesville, FL 32611, 352-392-9905Email: [email protected]

fertilizer or the intensity of the fruit color was greater withless N fertilizer. More N fertigated (less applied preplant)increased hue angle or produced a greener fruit. More ferti-gated N produced a darker green fruit (L*), but the intensity(chroma) of the green color decreased with more N fertigat-ed (0% N preplant). Thicker pericarp was produced in thecooler fall season, and as a result of the cooler weather, fruitquality was enhanced while yield was reduced. ‘X3RCamelot’ pepper was produced in both seasons, therefore,variety difference was not a factor. N rates higher than opti-

mal and lack of fertigated N decreased postharvest fruitquality and storability of pepper in the spring and fall.Pepper produced in the spring with 240 kg.ha-1 seasonal Nwith no more than 30% applied preplant with the remainderfertigated, provided excellent yields of high quality pepper.

Contact Information: Nicole Shaw, University of Florida,Horticultural Sciences Department, PO Box 110690,Gainesville, FL 32611, 352-392-9905Email: [email protected]

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Controlling Fungal and BacterialDiseases of Peppers with Tanos™

C. Shepherd1, M. Martin1, R. Williams1, S. Rick1,D. Ganske1, B. McInnes21DuPont Crop Protection, Stine-Haskell Research Center,Newark, DE, 2DuPont Crop Protection, MemphisAgricultural Products Center, Memphis, TN, USA

Effectively controlling both the damaging fungal dis-eases as well as the bacterial diseases that affect peppers andother vegetables is a difficult challenge for growers.Tanos™, a new fungicide from DuPont, currently is regis-tered in the United States for use on peppers as well as pota-toes, tomatoes, cucurbits and head lettuce. Tanos™ is a dryflowable formulation containing Famoxate™ (famoxadone)

and cymoxanil. It offers broad-spectrum disease control andstrong residual properties with high resistance to washoff. Inaddition to control of fungal diseases, Tanos™ complementsthe activity of copper hydroxide and EBDC fungicides likemaneb in suppressing bacterial diseases. In peppers,Tanos™ is labeled for suppression of the foliar and fruitphase of Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici) with ause rate of 8-10 oz/acre. The utility of higher use ratesagainst this disease as well as control of bacterial spot(Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria), bacterial soft rot(Erwinia carotovora), and anthracnose (Colletotrichum sp.)is being assessed.

Contact Information: Christopher P. Shepherd, DuPontCrop Protection, P.O. Box 30, Elkton Rd., Newark, DE.19714, Phone: 302-366-6182, Fax: 302-451-4602Email: [email protected]

28

Scheduling Drip-Irrigation for BellPepper Grown with Plasticulture

Diane Jarry, Eric Simonne, Michael Dukes, BobHochmuth, and David StudstillHorticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida,Gainesville, FL, USA

Approximately 10,000 ha of bell pepper (Capsicumannuum L.) are grown annually in Florida with an estimatedvalue of over $230 million. Detailed fertility recommenda-tions exist for this crop, but irrigation recommendations arebased on historical weather data and year-to-year adjust-ments. The objective of this study conducted on a Lakelandfine sand soil, was to test a crop factor (CF) for bell peppersgrown with plasticulture and irrigated daily with class A panevaporation (Ep). Values for the proposed CF were 0.20,0.40, 0.80, 1.00, and 0.80 for periods 1-2, 3-4, 5-11, 12, and13 weeks after transplanting (WAT), respectively. Daily Epvalues were converted to irrigation volumes using 10 mm Ep= 835 L / 100 m of bed. Bell peppers were grown with plas-ticulture under factorial combinations of 75%, 100% and125% of the recommended 224 kg N/ha rate, and four irri-gation (33%, 66%, 100%, and 133% of the reference rate;I3) rates. Plants receiving the I3 treatment were irrigatedaccording to the proposed CF. Soil water tension (SWT) wasmonitored approximately twice weekly in plots receiving the100% N rate at the 15-cm and 30-cm depths. The experi-

mental design was a randomized complete-block designwith 4 replications. Green bell peppers were harvested threetimes in 2001 and once in 2002. Seasonal irrigation was79,769 and 45,639 L/100 m of bed for I3 in 2001 and 2002,respectively. Differences in seasonal irrigation were due todifferences in rainfall pattern, cumulative seasonal Ep, andgrowing season length. The numbers of days SWT remained<15 kPa increased quadratically from I1 to I4 both years andonly I3 and I4 maintained SWT within the 0-15 kPa recom-mended range at both depths on most days.

In 2001, yields increased as N rate increased, and total,marketable, and fancy yields responded quadratically to irri-gation rates. Highest yields with 125% N rate were withinthe 115%-124% range of I3. In 2002, yields did not respondto irrigation rate, responded quadratically, and linearly for75%, 100% and 125% N rate, respectively. Highest yieldsoccurred with 125% N rate and 133% I3, and may have beengreater with higher irrigation rates. Therefore, highest bellpepper yields grown in the Spring with plasticulture may beachieved with a combination of 125% of the recommendedN rate, and irrigation of scheduled using CF values of 0.25,0.50, 1.00, 1.25, and 1.00 for period 1-2, 3-4, 5-11, 12, and13 WAT, respectively.

Contact Information: Eric Simonne, HorticulturalSciences Dept., University of Florida, 1241 Fifield Hall,Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, Phone: 352-392-1928 x 208Fax: 352-392-5653, Email: [email protected]

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Utility of Resistant Bell Pepper forManaging Southern Root-knotNematodes in Southeastern U.S.

J.A. Thies1, R.L. Fery1, D.W. Dickson2, R.F. Davis3,and J.D. Mueller41USDA, ARS, Charleston, SC; 2University of Florida,Gainesville, FL; 3USDA, ARS, Tifton, GA; 4EdistoResearch and Education Center, Clemson University,Blackville, SC, USA

Southern root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita)significantly reduce production of bell peppers (Capsicumannuum L.) in the U.S. and worldwide. Pre-plant soil fumi-gation with methyl bromide is currently used to control root-knot nematodes in peppers. However, methyl bromide use isbeing restricted due to its negative effects on atmosphericozone. We studied the utility of resistant cultivars for man-aging root-knot nematodes in bell peppers in theSoutheastern U.S. Resistance of two bell pepper cultivars,Charleston Belle and Keystone Resistant Giant, which are

near-isogenic for the N gene that conditions resistance to M.incognita was evaluated in field tests in South Carolina,Georgia, and Florida. Charleston Belle (NN) was highlyresistant; root galling was minimal at all test sites. KeystoneResistant Giant (nn) was highly susceptible; root galling wassevere in all tests. Reproduction of M. incognita was 64% to99% (P ≤ 0.05) less on ‘Charleston Belle’ than ‘KeystoneResistant Giant’. ‘Charleston Belle’ produced 35% (P ≤0.05) and 50% (P ≤ 0.006) heavier fruit yields than‘Keystone Resistant Giant’ in Blackville, SC andGainesville, FL, respectively.

These results demonstrate that resistance conferred bythe N gene for root-knot nematode resistance is effective inbell pepper in the Southeastern U.S. Resistant bell peppercultivars should provide a viable alternative to methyl bro-mide for managing southern root-knot nematode in bell pep-per in sub-tropical environments.

Contact Information: J.A. Thies, U.S. VegetableLaboratory, USDA, ARS, 2700 Savannah Highway,Charleston, SC 29414-5334, Phone: 843-402-5300Fax: 843-573-4715. Email: [email protected]

29

Preservation and Utilization ofCapsicum Germplasm

Allan K. StonerUnited States Department of Agriculture, AgriculturalResearch Service, Beltsville, Maryland

Plant germplasm is the raw material that is essential forplant breeding and many other types of research. Extensivecollections of Capsicum germplasm are maintained by sci-entists and in genebanks throughout the world. These collec-tions include 20 that reportedly contain more than 1000Capsicum accessions, and another 30 that contain between100 and 1000 accessions. The U.S. National PlantGermplasm System (NPGS) preserves more than 4,700accessions of 16 Capsicum taxa in its active collection at thePlant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit in Griffin,Georgia. The collection is comprised of breeding lines,modern and obsolete cultivars, landraces or farmers vari-eties, and wild relatives of the cultivated pepper. Duplicatesamples of more than 80% of the accessions are also held in

long-term storage at the National Center for GeneticResources Preservation in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Sixty-threedescriptors are used to describe the U.S. collection, althoughrelative little characterization or evaluation of the materialhas been carried out. During the past 17 years, the NPGS hasdistributed over 44,000 samples of Capsicum germplasm torequesters. New accessions are regularly acquired by dona-tions and through plant exploration and added to the NPGScollection. Within the U.S., and globally, greater efforts needto be devoted to the more complete characterization andevaluation of the existing ex-situ Capsicum collections andto assuring the proper maintenance of their genetic integrityand long term viability. Additional attention also needs to bedevoted to the collection and preservation of the total genet-ic diversity contained in the Capsicum genepool.

Contact Information: Allan K. Stoner, USDA ARS,National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 10300Baltimore Ave, Bldg 003 BARC-WEST, Room 101,Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, PH: 301-504-6235Fax: 301-504-5536, Email: [email protected]

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Forming of Somatic Embryoids ofCapsicum annuum L., Induction,Expression and Inheritance

Timina O.O.1, Tsykaliuk R.A.1, Orlov P.A.21Transnistrian State University, Tiraspol, Moldova;2Institute of Genetic and Cytology of the National Academyof Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, Belorussia

The mechanism of switching the development programfrom gametophyte into sporophyte and linked with thisswitch the differential gene expression are still not knownwell and are the question for discussions. The process ofembryoidogenesis of C. annuum in vitro was studied by us,based on the precondition that there are switch genes ofgametophyte way to sporophyte in some genotypes. We pro-posed the model in which switch genes belong to regulatorgenes with trigger action, their functioning is inducted byhormones and is characterized by penetrance, expressionand specification. The results showed that C.annuum hasdirect and indirect embryoidogenesis, as well as factorswhich stimulate this process: the maximum sensitiveexplants (immature zygotic embryo), elaborated content ofmedium and the role of genotype. The type of inheritance ofdirect switch of gametophyte way to sporophyte is domi-nant). Screening of C. annuum gene pool (more than 50

samples) on the character direct switching of hametophyte way to sporophyte showed that switch genes were distrib-uted among the populations of different genotypes and theirpenetrance varies from 0 to 23%, which is due mainly to dif-ferent degree of dominance and epistatic and complementa-ry gene interactions.

Data obtained are confirmed by allelism test and regres-sion-cluster analysis of diallel cross 1/2p(p-1) of 5 geno-types. At least four switch genes were determined; theirexpression depended on genetic background and wasrevealed in different number of forming somatic embryoidsper explants (and varied from 1 to 140). The research ofspecification of switch genes, showed that they belong toearly genes, which start their action in explants of immaturezygotic embryos in torpedo phase of major genotypes, at thesame time the direction of their work depends on the time ofswitching. The direction of activation can be the subject forbreeding, resulting in stable lines with different expressionof the character. The filed of actions of switch genes was dis-tributed differently according to genetic background ofgenotypes and was directed on formation of albinos and nor-mal plants, with predominance of albinos. There’s a necessi-ty for developing methods, which modulate the functioningof the switch genes towards the needed effect.

Contact Information: Timina O.O., Transnistrian StateUniversity, Tiraspol, str. 25 October, 128, laboratory“KOHOL”, Moldova, MD3300 Email: [email protected]

Pepper Cultivar Trials in NorthernNew Jersey

W.H. Tietjen1, P.J. Nitzsche2 and W.L. Kline3

Rutgers University - New Jersey Agricultural ExperimentStation - Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Warren1,Morris2, and Cumberland 3Counties

Field trials were conducted at the Rutgers Research andExtension Farm, Pittstown, NJ in 1999-2002 to compareyield and horticultural characteristics of Phytophthora toler-ant cultivars (Aristotle and Paladin) and commercial peppersfor the fresh market. The peppers were planted in doublerows on raised black plastic mulch beds. The cultivars werearranged in a randomized block design with three replicates

of 16 plants per replication for harvest. Paladin and Aristotlehave excellent horticultural characteristics for the fresh mar-ket. However, under cool, wet environmental conditionshave the potential to develop skin separation or silvering insome years. In 1999, Paladin produced the most extra largepeppers especially in early harvests and the highest totalmarketable yield. Enterprise, Wizard and Crusader producedthe highest total in 2000. Paladin and Crusader were themost productive cultivars in 2001. Crusader was most pro-ductive in 2002 followed by Aristotle and Paladin.

Contact Information: William H. Tietjen, RutgersCooperative Extension of Warren County, County Route519 South, Belvidere, NJ, 07823, USAPhone: 908- 475-6505, Fax: 908-475-6514Email: [email protected]

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Isolation of Molecular Markers for TwoRecessive Resistances to Races 4 & 6 ofXanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria

C. E. Vallejos1, L. E. Olsen1, R. Rodrigues2,D. Schultz1, V. Jones1, G. Minsavage3, J. B. Jones3

and R. E. Stall3.1Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida,Gainesville FL 32611, USA; 2Dept of Crop Science andPlant Breeding, Universidade Estadual do NorteFluminense, Brasil; 3Dept. of Plant Pathology, Universityof Florida, Gainesville FL 32611, USA

Resistance to bacterial spot from accessions PI 271322and PI 163192 were introgressed into an ‘Early CalWonder’line that carried Bs1, Bs2, and Bs3 (‘ECW123’), to yield‘ECW12346’ as this new line was resistant to race 4 and 6 ofXanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria. An F2 progenybetween ECW123 and ECW12346 was screened with race6. Phenotypic classification of the progeny indicated thepresence of two recessive genes with additive gene action.These results were confirmed via progeny tests. A single F3family fixed at one locus with the resistance allele, and at theother with the susceptibility allele was crossed to each of

parent to produce F2 progenies segregating for each of therecessive resistances.

The lines ECW, ECW123, ECW12346, 134LF-1 (linederived from PI271322), PEP13 (line derived fromPI163192) and15-2 (F3 family used in the top cross) werescreened with AFLP primers to identify markers that couldbe linked to the resistance genes.

Twelve markers were identified for rrx-A and nine forthe second locus, rrx-B. Segregation analysis of each F2 pop-ulation (n=100) with a race 6 strain revealed a ratio of 3 sus-ceptible: 1 resistant (76:24 for rrx-A, and 79:21 for rrx-B).A standard segregation and linkage analysis was conductedwith one the F2 progenies to determine the precise map posi-tion of rrx-A and rrx-B. Linkage to rrx-A was detected forfive out of 12 AFLP makers identified via the AFLP screen.In contrast, linkage to a single AFLP marker was detectedfor rrx-B

Recessive resistances are expected to be more stable,and not easily overcome by new strains as the dominantgenes. The availability of markers for these recessive resist-ance genes will facilitate their introgression into modernpepper cultivars.Contact Information: C. E. Vallejos, Dept. ofHorticultural Sciences, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL 32611, USA. Phone: 352-392-1928 x 321Fax: 352-392-5653; E-mail [email protected].

Creation of Sweet Pepper Hybrid withIncreased Content of ββ-carotene

Timina O.O.1, Timin O.Y.21 Transnistrian State University, Tiraspol, Moldova; 2 AllRussian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Crops,Moscow region, Zhuckowsky, Russia

A vegetable pepper is one of the most important sourcesof vitamin C, but the β-carotene content, the predecessor ofvitamin A, is not very high in most commercial varieties andhybrids and fluctuates in the range 0,1-2,1mg/100g of rawproduct. That is why we tried our best to create an earlymaturing hybrid of vegetable pepper with the increased con-tent of β-carotene and resistance for verticillium wilt suit-able for growing in unheated greenhouses and open ground.The set tasks were solved by the methods of classical genet-ics and breeding on the provocative wilting background inthe conditions of pepper monoculture. The definition of β-carotene content was done with the help of HPLC method.The estimation of β-carotene content in C. annuum genepool has been done, the donors of character have beenrevealed. (Some donors were given to us by Prof. S.Daskalov) The investigations of the phenotypic stability andplasticity of the character in some donors, as well as theinheritance of the character in F1, and correlative depend-ence of both vitamins content on separate stages of ontoge-

nesis in fruits and leaves have been done. Crosses of donorswith maternal lines possessing masculine sterility of ms3type and subsequent selection on the provocative wiltingbackground have been resulted in sterile stable analogouswith a high β-carotene content. After investigation of com-bined ability of new sterile lines we chose the most perspec-tive L-1\03 on the basis of which the hybrid Vitamin wascreated. The hybrid is mid-season, the duration of the peri-od from mass germination to fruit industrial ripeness is 95-115 days, even-maturing. The plant is medium-tall, com-pact, pyramid-shaped, 45-60 cm high. The leaf is green,medium-large, elongated, egg-shaped. The yielding capaci-ty is 5.5-8.5 kg/m2 in shortening period of cultivation. Fruitsare with pleasant pepper aroma, medium large with massabout 70-90 g, fruits are conoid, light-green color in thephase of technical ripeness, red-orange in the biological one.The surface is smooth, pericarp flesh is 5-6 mm. Fruits con-tain 150-200 mg/100 g of raw product of ascorbic acid and6,0-9,0 mg/100 g of β-carotene. Edible qualities are verygood. The hybrid is tolerant to verticillium wilt and is suit-able for growing outdoors as well as indoors. The hybrid isalso good for use fresh, and is very good as raw material forcooking pepper chips and vegetable juice, enriched by natu-ral vitamins.

Contact Information: Timina O.O., Transnistrian StateUniversity, Tiraspol, str. 25 October, 128, laboratory“KOHOL”, Moldova, MD3300 Email: [email protected]

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Urea Formaldehyde Based PolymerImproves Bell Pepper Yield in RaisedBed Experiment

J.M. Wargo, S.L. WertzGeorgia-Pacific Resins, Inc, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The effect on bell pepper yield of a single application ofNitamin™ 30L liquid fertilizer was compared to multipleapplications of urea in a raised bed experiment in DecaturGA. Nitamin liquid is a water-soluble urea formaldehydepolymer with 60-65% of the liquid as polymer (slowly avail-able nitrogen) and up to 35% of the liquid as quick releasenitrogen. In the Nitamin treatment, plants received the com-mercially recommended dose of 200 lbs N/acre in a singleapplication. The total amount of nitrogen applied in the urea

treatment was twice this amount, and was split in six appli-cations over the course of the study. In the initial stages ofthe experiment, the Nitamin plants were greener, healthierand larger than those fertilized with urea. Subsequently,plants fertilized with Nitamin liquid had higher yield thanurea fertilized plants. While growth of the urea treated plantsappeared to catch up with the Nitamin fertilized plants, theeffects of the early stress were clearly evident in the loweryield. The large yield difference in this study may be partlydue to the fact that an excessive amount of rainfall during thetrial period likely exacerbated the amount of urea lostthrough leaching. In contrast, leaching loss with the Nitaminfertilizer appears to have been minimal.

Contact Information: James Wargo, Georgia-PacificResins, Inc., 2883 Miller Road, Decatur, GA, 30035Phone: 770-593-5938, Fax: 770-322-9973Email: [email protected]

Harvest Date for Machine Harvest ofNew Mexican Red Chile (Capsicumannuum) Affects Quality and Yield

S. Walker1 and P. Bosland2

New Mexico State University, 1Department of ExtensionPlant Sciences, and 2Department of Agronomy andHorticulture, Las Cruces, NM, USA

Currently, much of the red chile crop in the southwest-ern United States is machine harvested. The harvest periodfor red chile begins in late September and may continuethrough January. Changes in pod and plant integrity areespecially dramatic following the first killing frost. Thisstudy examined the differences in quality and yield betweenearly (pre-frost) and late (post-frost) machine harvested redchile.

Results were compared for early and late harvest andfor four different red chile varieties, ‘Sonora’ (Seminis SeedCo.), ‘NuMex R Naky’ ‘B-18’ (Biad Chile Company), and‘NuMex Garnet’. The experimental field was direct seededin a completely randomized design with two replications.The first harvest was accomplished on October 14 (prior tofrost), while plants and pods were still succulent. The sec-ond harvest was conducted in December, late in the seasonfollowing a killing freeze. The pods and plants were dry andbrittle. Plant characteristics were measured prior to each

harvest. Measurements included plant height and width,height to and degrees of main branching angle, number ofbasal branches, and force required to remove pods fromplants. The harvest was performed using a single row, smallplot Boese machine harvester with an inclined double-helixpicking mechanism. Following the harvest, yield was deter-mined, as well as yield loss from pods left on the plant ordropped to the ground. Harvested samples sorted to deter-mine ratios of marketable red pods, debris, and diseasedpods.

No significant difference was observed in the early har-vest yield among the four varieties. In the late harvest, yieldsfor ‘B-18’ and ‘NuMex Garnet’ were significantly less thanthose of ‘NuMex R Naky’ and ‘Sonora’. Pods left on theplants after harvest was significantly greater in ‘Sonora’ and‘NuMex R Naky’ in the early harvest, reducing the harvest-ed yield. For the late harvest, no difference was foundamong the four varieties in the amount of chile left on theplants. Pod attachment (stem-to-plant) became significantlyless in ‘Sonora’ and ‘NuMex R Naky’ for the late harvest.Unfortunately, the amount of debris increased significantlyin all four varieties for the late harvest.

Contact Information: S. Walker, New Mexico StateUniversity, Department of Extension Plant Science, MSC3AE, P.O. Box 30003, Las Cruces, NM 88003Phone: 505-646-5280, Fax: 505-646-8085Email: [email protected].