Evaluation of Bell Pepper Genotypes for Resistance against Major Diseases and Horticultural Traits

Shimla Mlrch [Capsicum annuum L.), a member of Solanaceous family, is an important off season vegetable crop of district Solan, Hlmachal Pradesh. In H.P., capsicum (including chilies) are grown in an area of 601 ha with an annual production of 7813 tons/ha. Since the crop is grown during summer-rainy seasons, many foliar and fruit diseases affect the crop resulting in significant yield losses. Ten hybrids/varieties of capsicum were evaluated at Horticultural Research Station, Kandaghat during Kharif 2008 to assess their genetic potential for resistance to major diseases viz., fruit rot & leaf blight, bacterial spot and cercospora leaf spot and important horticultural traits. Out of the ten varieties evaluated, Kandaghat selection and Indra recorded the maximum yield of 400.5 and 370 q/ha, respectively whereas, California Wonder (check) exhibited a minimum yield of 250q/ha. Kandaghat Selection was found to be moderately resistant to fruit rot 6s leaf blight and moderately susceptible to bacterial spot while, Indra was found to be moderately susceptible to both the diseases as compared to California Wonder, which was found to be highly susceptible to these diseases. All the genotypes were susceptible to highly susceptible in their reaction against cercospora leaf spot.