Screening of chilli genotypes for resistance against Polyphagotarsonemus latus banks and evaluation of morphological and biochemical traits

Field screening of indigenous and exotic germplasm of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) was carried out to identify sources of resistance to the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks. Twenty accessions selected from the preliminary screening with 407 genotypes were evaluated to assess the morphological and biochemical traits of resistance viz., leaf trichome density and total phenol content. The accessions IC572481, EC596952, and EC378688 were identified as resistant based on % leaf curl index and total phenol content in leaves, while EC391082, EC599959 and IC572504 were classified as moderately resistant. Total phenol content in the leaf was observed to show a significant positive correlation with the leaf curl index (r =0.78 at P < 0.001), while the leaf trichome density did not have any influence.