Domestication of Chili Pepper Has Altered Fruit Traits Affecting the Oviposition and Feeding Behavior of the Pepper Weevil.

Yosra Chabaane,Muhammad Haseeb,Betty Benrey

doi:10.3390/insects12070630

Yosra Chabaane, Muhammad Haseeb + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070630

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Abstract

Simple SummaryThe pepper weevil is an economically important pest that causes major damage to fruits of chili pepper varieties selected for consumption. However, the impact of this pest on wild and ornamental peppers remains unknown. Therefore, we studied the effect of chili domestication on the feeding and oviposition behavior of pepper weevil when exposed to wild chili, ornamental varieties, and varieties used for consumption. More specifically, we examined how changes in fruit and flower size, fruit thickness, spiciness level, and fruit position as a result of the domestication of chili peppers affected their susceptibility to this specialist pepper pest. In addition, we recorded that fruits and flowers from wild and ornamental plants were less susceptible to pepper weevil attacks than those from chili varieties selected for consumption. Our results have important implications for chili pepper breeders and could guide the selection of new resistant varieties against this pest.The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii, Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most destructive pests of chili pepper. It causes extensive damage on varieties selected for consumption. However, the occurrence of this pest on wild and ornamental peppers remains unknown. We investigated the consequences of chili domestication on the feeding and oviposition of A. eugenii on fruits and flowers. We used plants of one wild accession, Bird Eye Pepper, five ornamental varieties (Pops Yellow, Black Pearl, Sedona Sun, Chilli Chilli, and Salsa Deep), and two domesticated varieties selected for consumption (Scotch Bonnet and Jalapeño). First, we characterized the plants according to their fruit and flower sizes, pericarp thickness, capsaicin level, fruit position, and flower color. Then, we evaluated the susceptibility of fruits and flowers to A. eugenii. Overall, domestication increased fruit and flower sizes and pericarp thickness, altered capsaicin levels, and altered fruit position and flower color. Weevils laid more eggs and caused more feeding damage on varieties selected for consumption than on wild and ornamental plants. Our results add to the growing literature on the consequences of crop domestication on herbivores. This knowledge could be integrated into breeding programs to select varieties resistant against the pepper weevil.

Highlights

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii, Cano) is a pepper (Capsicum spp.) specialist, it is reported to attack other crops in the Solanaceae family such as eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) and the common black nightshade (Solanum americanum Mill.) [1,2].It is a major pest of peppers in Mexico, its place of origin, as well as in the Caribbean and Southern United States, where it was first reported in Texas in 1904 [3,4,5]
We found that chili domestication has increased fruit size and pericarp thickness, altered capsaicin levels by selecting varieties with lower and higher capsaicin content than the wild chili, and changed the fruit position of varieties used for consumption
This study showed that chili domestication has altered morphological and chemical traits in fruits with direct consequences for the feeding and oviposition by the pepper weevil

Summary

Introduction

The pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii, Cano) is a pepper (Capsicum spp.) specialist, it is reported to attack other crops in the Solanaceae family such as eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) and the common black nightshade (Solanum americanum Mill.) [1,2] It is a major pest of peppers in Mexico, its place of origin, as well as in the Caribbean and Southern United States, where it was first reported in Texas in 1904 [3,4,5]. Apart from its natural range, international trade has contributed to the spread of this pest in other. Insects 2021, 12, 630 its natural range, international trade has contributed to the spread of this pest in other countries countries(e.g.,.

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