Susceptibility assessment of bell pepper genotypes to crown and root rot disease

Abstract

Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) is one of the important vegetable crops with valuable food sources, which is used almost around the world. Crown and root rot disease caused by Phytophthora capsici is one of the most important diseases of bell pepper in Iran. The present study was conducted to evaluate the susceptibility of different varieties of bell pepper to crown and root rot disease under glasshouse condition. Fourteen commonly planted genotypes of bell pepper in Iran were evaluated for their susceptibility to infection with the pathogen. For this purpose, disease severity of the chosen genotypes in different growth stages was evaluated. The results indicated that the bell pepper genotypes respond differently to pathogenicity tests. Based on cluster analyses confirmed by the results of SAS analyses, bell pepper cultivars were categorised in five distinct groups.