A major recessive gene associated with anthracnose resistance to Colletotrichum capsici in chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is an important disease in many Asian Countries. Recently, it was found that a local Korean variety, C annuum 'Daepoong-cho', had resistance to C. capsici. Inheritance of resistance to C. capsici was analyzed in segregating populations derived front a cross of 'Yeoju' x 'Daepoong-cho'. An allelism test was carried out in F-1 and F-2 progenies derived from the cross of 'Daepoong-cho' x 'AR'. 'AR' is all anthracnose-resistant breeding line derived front C. chinense Jacq. 'PBC 932'. Detached mature green fruits were inoculated using the microinjection method. Disease response was evaluated using disease incidence, overall lesion diameter, and true lesion diameter at 7 days after inoculation. The segregation ratios of resistance and Susceptibility to C. capsici in F-2 and BCR Population,, derived from the cross of 'Yeoju' x 'Daepoong-cho' were fitted to the I : 3 and I : I Mendelian model, respectively. This indicates that the resistance of 'Daepoong-cho' to C. capsici is controlled by a single recessive gene. The results of the allelism test indicated that the two resistant lines. 'Daepoong-cho' and 'AR', possessed the same resistance gene to C. capsici, even though the resistance genes of these two lines originated from different Capsicum species, C. annuum and C. chinense.