Search

Pepper is widely grown vegetable crops after tomato and watermelon in the world. One of the most important diseases on pepper production is caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). The best way for the control of this disease is to use resistant varieties. This study aimed to improve TSWV resistant lines to use as a parent in long type pepper breeding studies. Three genotypes resistant to TSWV were crossed with the susceptible Serademre 8 used to be commercial. Pedigree method was applied as the breeding method. Three populations were self-pollinated for five generations. The progenies for each of populations were tested against TSWV. Mechanical inoculations were performed in each generation and the selected resistant plants were grown for self-pollination to achieve next generation. Molecular tests were applied to the plants in stages F1 and F5. Virulent strain isolated from infected pepper plants was used as a disease material in the mechanical inoculations. CAPS marker (SCAC568) linked to the TSWV resistance gene (Tsw) was used in the molecular test for verification of mechanical test. In this study, 10 lines resistant to TSWV with good features were developed. Some of the obtained TSWV resistant lines have been transferred to private sector seed companies for use in pepper breeding programs.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), is one of the most important vegetable species produced both in the world and in Turkey. Turkey is in third place in pepper production in the world. There are many viruses affecting and limiting pepper production. Potato Y virus (PVY), a member of the genus potyvirus, is one of the most common viruses infecting pepper crops. Improving resistant pepper varieties against the disease is more advantageous and easy way to control disease in production area. There are 4 races such as PVY0, PVY1 and PVY1-2 in the world. The dominant Pvr4 resistance gene in wild type SCM 334 pepper confers a complete resistance to the three pathotypes of potato virus. In this study, resistant genotype SCM 334 and susceptible long pepper inbred line were crossed to improve resistance in breeding lines. To eliminate the undesirable characteristics of the resistant genotypes, resistant line was backcrossed three times with susceptible genotypes. Mechanical inoculation and molecular methods were used to determine the reaction of backcross progenies to the disease. The dominant CAPS markers were used to determine resistant and susceptible plants and results from the mechanical inoculation method were verified with the CAPS marker. This study is a part of “Improvement of F1 Hybrid Vegetable Varieties and Qualified Lines in Turkey” basic project and financed by Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK-KAMAG 109G029).