Novel sources of resistance to powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica (Lév.) Arnaud) in pepper

Peppers, a worldwide crop, are threatened by different pathogens. Powdery mildew, biotroph fungal infection, can cause several damages directly on vegetative parts and indirectly fruits. Despite some sources of resistance have been described, commercial genotypes only with partial developed due to the complex nature such variable genetic expression, which depends stage plants. In this paper 49 accessions from Capsicum species origins tested. Plants were grown in growth chambers inside mini greenhouses. Repeated inoculations under pepper leaves applied spraying suspension 104 conidia ml-1. Readings made at 30 60 days after inoculation (DAI). Total number (TL), total affected (LA), maximum area (MAA) most damaged leaf scored. addition, composite infection index (CII) was calculated basis three mentioned traits. Inoculated plants showed more severe symptoms DAI than DAI. Different response patterns observed: suffering high shedding others local hypersensitive response, indicating gene action. The use CII prevented bias disease response. present work, four highly tolerant identified, including two chiltepins, C. annuum wild relatives, Ag-01 Ag-02, A-06 A-23.