The Charleston Belle pepper,
developed by the Agricultural Research Service, continues to impress
researchers with its ability to resist major root-knot nematodes afflicting
the southern United States.
A recent ARS study both confirmed the effectiveness and heat tolerance
of Charleston Belles’s resistance gene and found that the gene
benefits nematode susceptible vegetables rotated with the pepper.
In the study, led by plant pathologist Judy Thies of the ARS U.S.
Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, S.C., Charleston Belle dramatically
outperformed its susceptible parent, Keystone Resistant Giant, in
field tests. It repelled nematodes and protected subsequently planted
(double-cropped) susceptible squash and cucumber crops.
Research has showed that Charleston Belle exhibited minimal root galling
from nematode attack. Charleston Belle also helped the double-cropped
cucumber and squash plants produce bigger yields and heavier fruit
than when the two were grown following the keystone variety.
The work was conducted at Clemson University’s Edisto Research
and Education Center in Blackville, S.C. and at the ARS Crop Protection
and Management Research Unit in Tifton, GA. ARS is the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency.
Released in 1997 by ARS Vegetable Laboratry geneticist Richard Fery,
Charleston Belle peppers get their resistance from the N gene, which
was obtained from a resistant pimiento pepper and placed into Keystone
cultivars to create Charleston Belle. The gene controls resistance
to three major root-knot nematode species: southern (Meloidogyne incognita),
peanut (M. arenaria) and javanese (M. javanica).
The pepper’s resistance may aid growers who soon must fight
root-knot nematodes without use of methyl bomide. Plans are in place
for the eventual banning of the product because of its ozone-depleting
properties.
Other independent studies have shown that nematode-resistant vegetable
plants - notably tomatoes - can help shield double-cropped vegetables
from nematode attack. In the ARS study, cucumber yields were 87 percent
heavier and numbers of fruit were 85 percent higher when grown after
Charleston Belle that after Keystone. Squash yields were 55 percent
heavier, with 50 percent more fruit.
For more information, contact NewsService@ars.usda.gov; www.ars.usda.gov/news;
Phone (301) 504-1638; fax (301) 504-1648.
