Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Thirty-seven local and fourteen exotic hot pepper (Capsicum spp.) genotypes were screened under natural field conditions for resistance to two quarantine fruit pests; the fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the false coddling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) at Makerere University Research Institute Kabanyolo for two seasons. The genotypes were grown in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Data on pest occurrence and damage; and fruit traits (fruit weight, length, width, flesh penetrability, and fruit wall thickness) were subjected to analysis of variance. The 51 genotypes showed variation in pest infestation and fruit traits. Five local genotypes (UG-WE02-1014, UG-WE02-0711, UG-EA06-0515 and UG-WE02-1608) and one exotic (CAP0408-12) showed resistance to fruit fly infestation. Fruit fly infestation correlated highly with fruit weight (r=0.59, p<0.001) and width (r=0.63, p<.001), among others. Similarly, FCM infestation positively correlated to fruit weight (r=0.50, p<0.001) and width (r=0.50, p<0.001). The identified hot pepper genotypes with resistance to fruit fly and FCM can be used in hot pepper improvement programs.
Authors: Peter Ssekkadde, Cláudia Ribeiro, Mildred Ochwo-Ssemakula, Phinehas Tukamuhabwa, Jeninah Karungi
Institutions: Makerere University, Embrapa Hortaliças
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W3204703364