A Seedling Screen for Phytophthora Root Rot of Pepper, Capsicum annuum. Paul W. Bosland, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces 88003. Donald L. Lindsey, Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces 88003. Plant Dis. 75:1048-1050. Accepted for publication 23 April 1991. Copyright 1991 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-75-1048.

A new method to screen pepper seedlings that can help identify resistance and susceptibility of pepper cultivars to Phytophthora root rot, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is described. The technique was used to successfully screen peppers for PRR resistance at 14 days post-emergence. Individual plants identified as resistant survived to maturity and, therefore, could be used directly in plant breeding schemes. Furthermore, the technique allows screening of large plant populations to segregate genetic material, permitting the plant breeder time- and space-efficient selection of resistant individuals.

Keyword(s): disease resistance, index.