Genetics and gene action for resistance to leaf curl disease in chilli (Capsicum annuum)

Abstract

Leaf curl disease of chilli has become a big menace and destroys the crop every year during kharif season because of which the farmers have abandoned growing the crop in kharif which is the main season of cultivation. Resistance breeding is the only safe and economical solution for this problem. WBC-Sel-5 was identified as a resistant genotype to ChiLCV after 4 seasons of rigorous field evaluation. This resistant line was used to generate F1 and F2 generations with susceptible recipient parent (Phule Mukta). F2 population raised from a cross of susceptible parent Phule Mukta and resistant parent WBC-Sel-5 was screened against chilli leaf curl virus along with parents and F1 in both natural and challenged inoculation using viruliferous white flies carrying chilli leaf curl virus. All the F1 plants were susceptible to leaf curl disease and the F2 population showed susceptible and resistant individuals segregating in 3:1 ratio under both natural and artificial epiphytotic conditions indicating monogenic recessive genetic control of resistance to chilli leaf curl virus disease.