Evaluation of Pepper Cultivars Under Greenhouse Conditions for Resistance to a Defoliation Strain of Tobacco Mosaic Virus. E. C. K. Igwegbe, Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Anambra State, Nigeria. O. K. Ogungbade, Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Plant Dis. 69:899-900. Accepted for publication 4 March 1985. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-69-899.

Sixty-five pepper (Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens) selections representing 40 breeding lines from the United States and 25 entries from local sources were screened under greenhouse conditions for resistance to the Nigerian defoliation strain of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV-D). None of the U.S. or local pepper selections was immune to the virus. Initial reactions in all selections consisted of development of necrotic spots and subsequent abscission of all or most inoculated leaves. Subsequent systemic symptoms ranged from mosaic/mottle (moderately resistant reaction) to plant death (very susceptible reaction). Of the 65 pepper selections tested, 8 (12.3%), 41 (63.1%), and 16 (24.7%) gave resistant, moderately resistant, and very susceptible responses, respectively. In general, older plants survived inoculation with TMV-D better than younger ones.