GREENHOUSE EVALUATION OF CAPSICUM ROOTSTOCKS FOR MANAGEMENT OF MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA ON GRAFTED BELL PEPPER

The growth, development, and nematode susceptibility of various rootstock genotypes grafted to a commercial bell pepper variety scion were evaluated in a series of greenhouse experiments. Nine rootstocks including 'Caribbean Red Habanero', 'PA-136', 'Keystone Resistant Giant', 'Yolo Wonder', 'Carolina Wonder', 'Charleston Hot', 'Mississippi Nemaheart', 'Carolina Cayenne', and 'Charleston Belle', were grafted to the commercial variety 'Aristotle' as a scion, and inoculated with Meloidogyne incognita. 'Aristotle' ungrafted and 'Aristotle' self-grafted plants were included as controls. Graft compatibility was assessed by measuring plant growth, while nematode infestation was assessed using a gall index, and extraction and quantification of juveniles from roots and soil. Stem weight of the scion 'Aristotle' was impacted by the use of different rootstocks, and root weight of the rootstocks varied, however, no rootstock/scion incompatibility occurred. The rootstocks 'Charleston Hot', 'Carolina Wonder', 'Charleston Belle', 'Mississippi Nemaheart' and 'Carolina Cayenne' were consistently resistant to galling by M. incognita in all experiments, while 'Aristotle' ungrafted, 'Aristotle' self-grafted, 'PA-136', and 'Caribbean Red Habanero' were consistently susceptible to galling. Cultivars 'Yolo Wonder' and 'Keystone Resistant Giant' varied in their responses, with reduced galling in one experiment. Grafting a commercial bell pepper variety scion on nematode resistant rootstock has potential to reduce damage caused by M. incognita and contribute to root-knot nematode management as a component in sustainable crop production systems.