Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of pepper genotypes for Tomato Spotted Wilt Orthotospovirus reaction and resistance

Abstract

In order to determine the effects of Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) on the yield and fruit quality parameters of some common local and commercial pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes under greenhouse conditions, mechanical inoculations were performed, and virus infections were tested by DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR after the inoculations. Based on the DAS-ELISA results, 95% of the inoculated plants were found to be positive for TSWV, in accordance with the expected amplicon size (276 bp) obtained by RT-PCR results. Infection of TSWV caused significant (p≤0.05) reduction in fruit number (45.97-100%), fruit weight (66.38-98.77%), fruit width (63.77-96.52%), fruit length (31.97-93.514%), flesh thickness (28.64-82.41%), fruit firmness (5.82-94.43%), fruit colour (1.62-7.79%), and total yield (68.62-100%) in infected plants. The best performance against TSWV was observed on cv. Yalova Çarliston 341, while the lowest was observed on cv. Bora 77 among the tested pepper cultivars Yalova Çarliston 341, Yalova Tatlı Kıl, Yalova Yağlık 28, Mazamort, Sera Demre 8, Üçburun, Geyikboynuzu, Bor Biberi, Bora 77 and 153-227. Moreover, the incidence of Tsw resistance gene was investigated by molecular analysis using CAPS marker SCAC568 with TaqI restriction enzyme digestion; however, Tsw gene could not be detected in any of the tested cultivars except wild type C. chinense and resistant genotype cv.153-227. This study reveals the effects of TSWV in common pepper genotypes and will be important for virus resistant breeding studies.