IDENTIFICATION OF RESISTANCE TO SINGLE AND MIXED INFECTIONS OF PEPPER GOLDEN MOSAIC VIRUS (PepGMV) AND THE HUASTECO PEPPER VIRUS IN CHILI PEPPERS (Capsicum chinense Jacq.).

Abstract

In this study, resistance to single and mixed infections to pepper golden mosaic virus (PepGMV) in Capsicum chinense Jacq. individuals were evaluated. Plant inoculation was carried out by biolistics and grafting. To 140 plants from seven accessions of C. chinense Jacq., inoculations were preformed with PepGMV. Of these plants, 99 were asymptomatic, although the virus was detected by ELISA and PCR techniques. Additionally, resistance to geminivirus (PepGMV and Pepper huasteco virus or PHV) mixed infections, was evaluated in these accessions. Thirty-one plants from the accessions with the best characteristics of resistance to single infections by PepGMV were evaluated, and 15 individuals displayed resistance in different degrees. Resistance to geminivirus mixed infections was grouped as: delayed symptoms, symptom remission and asymptomatic plants. DNA levels of both geminiviruses correlated positively with symptom severity.