Evaluation of crucial factors for implementing shed-microspore culture of Indonesian hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars

A shed-microspore culture protocol was developed in Wageningen for producing doubled haploid plants in several genotypes of Indonesian hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). For transfer of technology to Indonesia, three factors were studied that appeared crucial for successful implementation in practice. First, application in the culture medium of a combination of the antibiotics timentin and rifampicin at the concentrations of 200 and 10 mg/l, respectively, prevented bacterial contamination from the donor explants. Second, in vitro application of colchicine (100 μM) during the first week of culture was highly effective in increasing the percentage of doubled haploid plants. Third, a comparative analysis of the ploidy level of plants regenerated from shed-microspore-derived embryos using chloroplast counts in guard cells of leaf stomata and flow cytometric measurement of leaf nuclear DNA content, revealed that the first procedure is a reliable and an easy to use method for ploidy determination with hot pepper.     

DNA profiling of Capsicum landraces of Manipur

Seven chilli landraces of Manipur belonging to three cultivated species of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens, and Capsicum chinense) form economically important food crops of the region. The genotypes were characterized using ten random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The cluster analysis based on Jaccard's similarity coefficient calculated by UPGMA method differentiated the genotypes into two main cluster groups. One cluster represented the C. annuum genotypes while the other cluster represented the C. frutescens and the C. chinense genotypes. C. chinense genotypes were more close to C. frutescens genotypes. Genetic variation between the C. frutescens genotypes was more than among the C. annuum genotypes and the C. chinense genotypes were the least similar ones.     

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation on key growth parameters and fruit yield of pepper plants grown at high salinity

This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation by Glomus clarum on growth and fruit yield of pepper (Capsicum annum cv. 11B 14) grown at high salinity. The experiment was conducted in pots containing a mixture of perlite and sand (1:1, v/v) under glasshouse conditions. Treatments were: (1) no added NaCl without arbuscular mycorrhizae (NS-AM), (2) no added NaCl with arbuscular mycorrhizae (NS + AM), (3) added 50 mM NaCl without arbuscular mycorrhizae (S1-AM) and (4) added 100 mM NaCl without arbuscular mycorrhizae (S2-AM), (5) added 50 mM NaCl with arbuscular mycorrhizae (S1 + AM) and (4) added 100 mM NaCl with arbuscular mycorrhizae (S2 + AM). The NaCl treatments reduced pepper shoot and root dry matter, and fruit yield compared with the non-saline treatments. The concentrations of N, P and K, in the leaves were significantly reduced by salinity stress, however, mycorrhizal colonisation of the salt-stressed plants restored leaf nutrient concentrations to the levels in non-stressed plants in most cases. AM inoculation improved pepper growth under salt or saltless conditions and reduced cell membrane leakage.     

Effects of salinity on nitrate,total nitrogen,soluble protein and free amino add levels in tomato plants

The effects of salinity on nitrogen compounds were studied in three tomato (L. esc- ulentum Mill.) genotypes of different salt tolerance. The plants were grown under controlled conditions, and the salt treatments (0, 70 and 140 raM NaCl) were applied for three (Harvest 1) and ten (Harvest 2) weeks. The effects of salinity on total N and particularly N03 concentrations depended partly on the NaCl level and duration of the stress, but mainly on the different degrees of salt tolerance of the genotypes. In Harvest 1, the most tolerant genotype (GC-72) showed the highest N03 increase in the roots and no decreases in stem and leaf with increasing salinity; the intermediate-tolerant genotype (P-73) showed a similar response to that of GC-72 only at 70 mM NaCl. However, the most sensitive genotype (Volgogradskij) showed the greatest reductions in stem and leaf N03 concentrations with salinity. With longer durations of stress the different responses between the more tolerant genotypes were less evident; only Volgogradskij continued to show the highest decreases in stem and leaf N03 concentrations. A restriction of N03 transport from the root to the shoot was noted in the plants of the more tolerant genotypes treated for three weeks. This capacity for retention disappeared when the salinity induced reductions in the total N03 contents in the plants, as in the harvest 2. There was an inverse relation between N03 and Cl accumulations in shoots of all genotypes and its slope decreased with the salt sensitivity of the genotype. There was no relation between the leaf protein content and the salt tolerance of the tomato genotypes. In Harvest 1, a higher accumulation of amino acids, especially proline, was found in the leaves of the more tolerant genotypes at 140 mM NaCl. However, in Harvest 2, a similar accumulation of leaf proline was found in all genotypes, independent of their salt tolerances, and the other amino acid contents remained similar or else decreased with salinity.     

A new form of genetic female sterility in Capsicum annuum L.

During evaluation of genotypes of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), a female-sterile mutant was observed in one line. The mutant also exhibited flat stem and rosette branching-habit. The stamens were functional and pollen fertility was normal. Style and stigma were petaloid and non-functional. A single recessive gene caused the sterility and the other aberrant characteristics. The possible use of this mutant in a hybrid seed production programme in pepper is indicated.     

Responses of eight chile peppers to saline water irrigation

Salt tolerance of five cultivars of Capsicum annuum L. Early Jalapeno, Golden Treasure, NuMex Sweet, NuMex Joe E. Parker, and Santa Fe Grande, two cultivars of C. chinense Jacq. Habanero and Pimienta De Chiera, and one accession of C. annuum, NMCA 10652, were evaluated in a field study. Seedlings were transplanted in late May to field raised beds containing loamy sand soils in a semi-arid environment. Plants were well irrigated throughout the experiment. Three saline solution treatments, prepared by adding NaCl, MgSO₄, and CaCl₂ to tap water at different amounts to create three salinity levels of 0.82 dS m⁻¹ (control, tap water), 2.5 dS m⁻¹, and 4.1 dS m⁻¹ electrical conductivity (EC), were initiated on 15th June and ended in late August. Among the eight varieties, NMCA 10652 had the highest survival percentage at 100% in the 4.1 dS m⁻¹ treatment, followed by ‘Early Jalapeno’, ‘NuMex Sweet’, ‘Pimienta De Chiera’, ‘Santa Fe Grande’, ‘Golden Treasure’, and ‘NuMex Joe E. Parker’. ‘Habanero’ had the lowest survival at 28%. Compared to control, final shoot dry weight of the plants irrigated with saline solution at 4.1 dS m⁻¹ was reduced by 92% in ‘Habanero’, followed by ‘Golden Treasure’ at 80%. For fruit fresh weight in 4.1 dS m⁻¹ vs. control, ‘Habanero’ had the highest reduction at 86%, followed by ‘Golden Treasure’ at 74%, while NMCA 10652 and ‘Santa Fe Grande’ had the least at 26% and 19%, respectively. NMCA 10652, the most tolerant to salinity, had the lowest leaf Na⁺ accumulation, while ‘Habanero’, the most sensitive to salinity, had the highest Na⁺ in the leaves. For leaf Cl⁻, ‘Early Jalapeno’ had the highest, while ‘Habanero’ had the lowest Cl⁻ accumulation in the leaves. Generally, sensitive varieties accumulated more Na⁺ and/or Cl⁻ in leaves, except for ‘Early Jalapeno’, which was relatively tolerant to salinity but had high Na⁺ and Cl⁻ accumulation in leaves.     

Fruits are more sensitive to salinity than leaves and stems in pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.)

The effects of NaCl stress on plant growth, gas-exchange, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), rate of lipid peroxidation, and accumulation of Na⁺ ion and sugar were investigated in leaves and fruits of pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.). Especially, the gene expression of l-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH), which is the last enzyme of ascorbic acid (AsA) biosynthesis, and the relationships between AsA level and Na⁺ concentration in plant tissue were investigated with increasing salinity. Plants were treated with three treatments: the control (0 mM NaCl) and two salinity levels (50 and 100 mM NaCl) for 21 days under greenhouse conditions. Plant growth was markedly restricted due to the reduction of photosynthetic rate and the increase of Na⁺ accumulation in leaves with the increasing intensity of NaCl stress. Salinity had more effect on fruit growth comparing to leaf growth, suggesting that fruits could be more sensitive to salinity than leaves. In comparison with the control, salt stress significantly increased lipid peroxidation (as measured as malondialdehyde content) but decreased SOD activity in both fruits and leaves although the effect was larger in fruits; and the rate of the decrease in SOD activity was greater than that of the increase in lipid peroxidation. The AsA concentration transiently increased first 7 days but it slightly decreased from the initial level in the end of treatment day 21. The change in GalLDH gene expression was similar to AsA concentration. The accumulation of Na⁺, the reduction of AsA level at severe salinity stress were greater in fruits than in leaves; and AsA level had a negative relationship with Na⁺ concentration in both leaves and fruits. These results suggest that the difference in salt sensitivity between fruits and leaves in pepper plants can be related to the difference in inhibition of AsA synthesis, which in turn is probably due to the toxicity of extreme accumulation of Na⁺.     

Growth,sex expression,pollen germination and yield in pepper as affected by chlorflurenol

Four-week old plants of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivar ‘Jawala’ were sprayed with an aqueous solution of chlorflurenol at concentrations of 50, 100, 150 or 200 mg/l. Chlorflurenol reduced the growth of the main shoot and the area of the leaf, weakened apical dominance, increased the growth and number of lateral branches, and reduced the growth and number of stamens. Induction of stamenless (pistillate) flowers was an interesting effect. The size, viability and germination of pollen grains were reduced by chlorflurenol. It caused an appreciable promotion in fruit-set up to a concentration of 150 mg/l and a drastic reduction at 200 mg/l, accompanied by increase and decrease of yield, respectively. Parthenocarpy was observed at 100, 150 and 200 mg/l.     

Causes of defoliation and low survival rate of grafted sweet pepper plants

We investigated the cause of defoliation in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants after grafting. Grafted plants of old-stage sweet pepper showed a higher defoliation rate than young-stage grafted plants. Old-stage grafted plants had lower stomatal resistance and water potential than young-stage plants, and showed poorly developed xylem connections at the graft site. Foliar application of abscisic acid (ABA) to the grafted plants increased stomatal resistance and water potential, decreased the defoliation rate, and promoted graft take among old-stage plants. Our results indicated that low stomatal resistance under low humidity induces water stress, defoliation, and low survival rate in old-stage grafted sweet pepper plants. ABA treatment increased stomatal resistance, water potential, and survival rate, and decreased the defoliation rate among old-stage sweet pepper plants.     

Agronomic characteristics and carotenoid content of five Bola-type paprika red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars

The production of sweet paprika in Spain uses exclusively fruit of Bola-type Capsicum annuum L. This work describes the evaluation of the agronomic behaviour of five new cultivars of the Bola-type paprika red pepper, selected in the Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDA), and grown in Extremadura for 3 years. The colour and the pigment content of the paprika elaborated following the traditional procedure of La Vera were also studied.     

NaCl胁迫对酸枣幼苗离子吸收与分配的影响

以酸枣水培幼苗为试验材料,研究了不同浓度NaCl胁迫对其活性氧、细胞膜透性、根系活力、不同器官Na+、K+、Ca2+和Mg2+离子含量的影响。结果表明：NaCl处理6 d,50、100 mmol ? L-1处理酸枣叶片无萎蔫症状,150、200 mmol ? L-1处理叶片萎蔫。在150、200 mmol ? L-1 NaCl处理下叶片H2O2积累增加,50、100、150、200 mmol ? L-1 NaCl处理下均有积累。随着NaCl处理浓度的升高,根、茎、叶中Na+含量均显著增加,叶片中K+、Ca2+和Mg2+含量显著下降,根和茎的K+和Mg2+含量变化不显著,Ca2+在200 mmol ? L-1NaCl处理下显著下降。根、茎、叶中K+/Na+、Ca2+/Na+、Mg2+/Na+均显著下降,但是根的K+/Na+值始终大于1。总之,NaCl胁迫下,维持根和茎中相对稳定的K+、Mg2+水平、保持根部K+/Na+比值 > 1,是酸枣幼苗对盐胁迫的一种适应。     

Screening Capsicum species of different origins for high temperature tolerance by in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube length

Successful fruit set depends on several reproductive processes including pollen germination and tube growth processes. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of temperature on pollen germination characteristics and to identify species/genotypic differences in Capsicum using the cumulative temperature response index (CTRI) concept. Pollen was collected from plants of seven genotypes from five Capsicum species, adapted to various parts of the world and grown outdoors in large pots. The pollen was subjected to in vitro temperatures ranging from 15 to 50 °C at 5 °C intervals. Pollen germination and tube lengths were recorded for all species after 24 h of incubation at the respective treatments. Species/genotypes differed significantly for in vitro pollen germination percentage and pollen tube length with mean values of 78% and 734 μm, respectively. The mean cardinal temperatures (T_min, T_opt, and T_max) averaged over genotypes, were 15.2, 30.7, and 41.8 °C for pollen germination and 12.2, 31.2, and 40.4 °C for pollen tube growth. The CTRI of each species/genotype calculated as the sum of eight relative individual stress response values, such as maximum pollen germination, maximum pollen tube length; T_min, T_opt, and T_max temperatures of pollen germination, and pollen tube lengths, identified species tolerance to high temperatures. Capsicum annum cv. Mex Serrano from Mexico was identified as tolerant, C. chacoense cv. 1312 and C. spp. cv. Cobanero from Argentina and Guatemala, respectively as intermediate and C. frutescens cv. Early Spring Giant from China, C. annum cv. Long Green from South Korea, C. spp. cv. NM89C130 and C. pubescens cv. 90002 from Guatemala as sensitive to high temperatures. The tolerant species/genotypes can be used in breeding programs to develop new genotypes that can withstand high temperature conditions both in the present climate and particularly in a future warmer climate.     

不同辣椒品种种子萌发期耐低温性的研究

为确立辣椒种子萌发期耐低温性鉴定的指标和条件,探讨低温对不同类型辣椒种子萌发的影响,本试验以不同的辣椒品种为材料,测定不同温度下种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数以及这3项指标的相对值。结果表明,18℃培养下的相对发芽指数、14℃培养下的相对发芽率可作为辣椒种子萌发期耐低温性鉴定的指标,18℃可作为筛选耐低温品种的压力条件;早熟品种种子对低温的耐受性较中熟和中晚熟品种强;线椒品种种子对低温的耐受性较好,甜椒最弱。     

Responses of pepper to deficit irrigation for paprika production

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production is normally carried out under irrigation as the crop is very susceptible to water shortage. Deficit irrigation strategies in pepper for paprika could increase production and facilitate mechanical harvest and, at the same time, save water. We conducted a field experiment that imposed water deficits, either during ripening (T1) or throughout the season (T2), and compared them to a fully irrigated control (T3). Stem water potential varied from −0.6 MPa in T3, early in the season to −1.5 MPa in T2 prior to harvest. Applied irrigation water for T1, T2, and T3 was 456, 346 and 480 mm, respectively. Water deficits depress leaf area and biomass production but did not affect the proportion of flowers that set fruit. Dry fruit weight in T2 at harvest was 66% of T3, but did not differ significantly between T1 and T3. However, commercial yield (based on colour production) was significantly higher in T3 than in the other two treatments, as the late water deficits imposed in T1 delayed harvest. We concluded that water deficits, either sustained or applied at fruit ripening, required for mechanical harvest do not hasten ripening and are detrimental to commercial yields and that pepper plants should be well supplied with water until harvest for maximum paprika production.     

NaCl胁迫下苹果幼树叶片膜透性、脯氨酸及矿质营养水平的变化

以2年生盆栽富士苹果树(砧木为平邑甜茶)为试材,研究了NaCl胁迫对其叶片膜透性、脯氨酸及矿质营养含量的影响,结果表明:0.3%盐胁迫处理的电导率在中前期高于对照,1%盐处理中期高于对照;盐胁迫后半期0.3%NaCl处理的脯氨酸含量高于对照。NaCl胁迫下,苹果体内各器官Na+含量大小的顺序是:根>新梢>主干韧皮部>叶>主干木质部,在0.1%NaCl胁迫下,新梢和叶片中的Na+没有明显变化,根、主干韧皮部和主干木质部含量明显提高,在0.3%NaCl胁迫下各器官中Na+含量明显提高,地上部叶片、主干韧皮部和新梢中Na+含量提高幅度最大。NaCl胁迫对各器官的N、P、K+含量没有明显影响,但胁迫下N/Na+、P/Na+和K+/Na+比值不同程度的降低,从而使树体内的元素平衡受到破坏,导致树体受害。N、K+含量在叶片中含量最高,P在新梢中含量最高,N、P、K+在主干木质部中含量均最低。     

Variation in nutrition along time and relative chlorophyll content of Leucospermum cordifolium cv. ‘High Gold’, and their relationship with chlorotic sypmptoms

Foliar samples, SPAD-502 measurements (both along the growing season), and soil samples were taken from protea plants (Leucospermum cordifolium), cultivar ‘High Gold’ cultivated in six commercial plantations of La Palma Island (Canarian Archipelago). Soil data (pH, available P, Ca, Mg, K and Na, and EC) ranged within normal levels for proteas, though O.M. was high. Drainage decreased the potential problem that could be caused by the high clay content of the soils. Leaves showed high concentrations of N, K, Mg, and Na, while Ca and Cu were normal. On the other hand, Fe and Zn presented some low foliar levels, while Mn values fluctuated depending upon the different plantations. N contents were higher in spring, and those of K, Ca, Mg, and Na increased with time. Relative chlorophyll contents (SPAD-502 measurements) were compared with macro- (N, P, Na, K, Ca, Mg) and micro- (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) foliar levels. Results showed no positive correlation between leaf chlorophyll and N content. Higher leaf N concentrations were observed in chlorophyll deficient than chlorophyll sufficient leaves at one site and vice versa at another site. In contrast, lower Mn, Fe and Ca concentrations, the last corresponding with higher ratios of N/Ca were observed in chlorophyll deficient than chlorophyll sufficient leaves at several sites. It is concluded that amendment of soils with Mn, Fe and Ca may prevent the development of chlorophyll deficiency symptoms, associated with diminished photosynthetic capacity, in this important commercial cultivar.     

Gas exchange and antioxidant response of sweet pepper to foliar urea spray as affected by ambient temperature

This paper analyses the effect of different air temperatures (10, 20 and 30 °C) on the response of sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Herminio) to foliar urea applications after growing plants for 20 day with and without nitrogen (N) applied to the growing substrate. Leaf CO₂ assimilation, chlorophyll fluorescence, root respiration, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzymes were analysed. Spraying plants with urea increased leaf CO₂ assimilation of N-deficient plants when applied at 20 or 30 °C, compared with non-sprayed plants. When plants were sprayed with urea at 10 °C chlorophyll fluorescence of leaves was similar to that of plants that were supplied with full N in the nutrient solution. Root respiration was not affected by urea sprays whilst leaf NO₃⁻ concentration was increased by urea but only when it was sprayed at 10 or 20 °C. Lipid peroxidation and ascorbate peroxidase in N-deficient plants were reduced significantly by urea sprays, especially when plants were sprayed at 20 °C with N-limitation in the growing substrate. This study shows that N-limitation in the growing substrate induces a temperature-dependant increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaves of pepper and applications of foliar urea can be optimised, when applied at the appropriate temperature, to partly replace the N supplied to the roots of sweet pepper.     

外源ABA对NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗不同离子含量的影响

研究了外源ABA对NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗不同器官中Na+、Cl-、K+和Ca2+含量的影响。结果表明,NaCl胁迫下,黄瓜幼苗体内Na+、Cl-含量升高;叶片中K+、Ca2+含量下降,Na+/K+、Na+/Ca2+增大,SK、Na、SCa、Na降低。外源ABA减少了叶片、根中Na+、Cl-的积累,抑制了叶片K+、Ca2+含量的降低,提高了K+、Ca2+的吸收和运输选择性。外源ABA可通过调控盐胁迫下植株体内的离子平衡,提高黄瓜幼苗的耐盐性。     

Sampling for mineral content in leaves of guava cultivar ‘Lucknow-49’

A continuous increase in dry matter content in leaves of guava (Psidium guajava L.) was observed when their age increased, and also from the base to the top of the shoot. While the N, P, K, Zn and Cu content decreased, the levels of Ca, Mg, Na and Mn increased when age of leaf increased. With regard to position of leaves on the shoot, the levels of N, Ca and Mg increased from base to top, while the reverse was true for P, K, Na, Zn and Mn. No definite pattern was observed for Cu. Stabilization of all constituents was observed in 5-months old leaves borne on position V from the base of shoot. Thus, while considering the nutrient status of a tree as a whole, leaves of this age and position should be sampled. However, in certain cases the range of period and position for leaf sampling varied with the different elements, e.g. for Ca, 1- to 2-months old leaves should be sampled, while for Mn, leaves should be taken from positions II–IV of the shoot.     

Identification of host plant resistance to pepper leaf curl virus in chilli (Capsicum species)

Three hundred and seven genotypes belonging to four cultivated and one wild species of Capsicum were screened against pepper leaf curl virus (PepLCV) causing devastating leaf curl disease of chilli (Capsicum annuum). Initial screening was done under field conditions based on coefficient of infection (CI), disease reaction to each genotype was assigned. Subsequently, selfed progenies of eight symptom-less and highly resistant lines were challenged by viruliferous white fly under glasshouse conditions, out of which only three genotypes, viz. GKC-29, BS-35 and EC-497636 showed no symptom. Using scion and root stalk of susceptible genotype (Pusa Jwala), these three putative symptom-less genotypes were further challenged by grafting and alternate grafting. The resistant reactions of GKC-29, BS-35, EC-497636 were confirmed because even after 50 days of successful grafting/alternate grafting, no viral symptom appeared on all the grafted plants of these genotypes. When subjected to PCR amplification with degenerate primers deigned to detect gemnivirus like PepLCV, the three symptom-less genotypes did not show any amplification, suggesting that the resistant reaction in three identified symptom-less resistant sources was because of the absence of viral genome and they are not symptom-less carrier.