Parasite-resistant Peppers Green Alternatives To Chemical Pesticides

[bapuj...@gmail.com]

ScienceDaily (Nov. 17, 2008) — Root-knot nematodes are extreme
parasites. These microscopic, omnipresent worms cause major damage to
horticultural and field crops in sub-tropical regions, resulting in
significant financial losses to growers and gardeners.
Until recently, fumigation of the soil with methyl bromide before
planting was the primary method for controlling root-knot nematodes in
valuable vegetable crops. Methyl bromide (MeBr) is an odorless,
colorless gas that has been widely used as a plant pesticide. Since
the discovery that the substance has severe negative effects on the
environment—it depletes the stratospheric ozone layer—the use of
methyl bromide has been phased out in the U.S.

To combat parasites like root-knot nematodes without the use of
chemical pesticides, scientists are focusing more research on
developing new, parasite-resistant varieties of vegetables. Dr. Judy
Thies, a research plant pathologist at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, was part of a team of
scientists who developed the Charleston Belle variety of bell pepper,
the first nematode-resistant bell pepper.

In a study published in the February issue of the American Society for
Horticultural Science's journal HortScience, Dr. Thies and her
colleagues tested the stability of two types of bell peppers,
Charleston Belle and Carolina Wonder. Thies explained, "These two
types of pepper cultivars are the only nematode-resistant varieties
available to commercial growers and home gardeners. Since a large
percentage of bell pepper production in the U.S. occurs in the
Southeastern U.S., and in particular Florida, we tested the peppers
for resistance to nematodes in sub-tropical climates to determine if
the cultivars were stable when grown in Florida under high soil
temperatures. It is important to know whether the peppers' resistance
to parasites breaks down when peppers are grown in hot climates."

Good news for growers and gardeners: study results showed that
nematode-resistant varieties such as Charleston Belle and Carolina
Wonder are viable alternatives to methyl bromide for managing southern
root-knot nematode in bell pepper in sub-tropical environments. To
increase the availability of parasite-resistant vegetables, commercial
seed companies are currently developing nematode-resistant hybrid bell
peppers using both Charleston Belle and Carolina Wonder.

Ref: http://www.sciencedaily.com