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Does hotter mean healthier?
February 04, 2009LAS CRUCES, NM-Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is a major plant disease that affects many crop species worldwide, including chile peppers in New Mexico. Farmers' observations suggested that Phytophthora capsici caused less damage in pepper crops of the hot pepper varieties than low-heat pepper varieties.
A study published in the October 2008 issue of HortScience by the research team of Mohammed B. Tahboub (postdoctoral researcher), Soumaila Sanogo (plant pathologist and team leader), Paul W. Bosland (chile pepper breeder), and Leigh Murray (statistician) set out to determine whether or not the severity of Phytophthora blight would be greater in low-heat than in hot chile peppers.
The most effective means for controlling Phytophthora blight are chile pepper cultivars that are genetically resistant to the disease. Some resistant lines have been identified, but currently there are no cultivars that are resistant to the blight in all environments.
Chile pepper fruit become infected during prolonged periods of heavy rain and high humidity in flooded and poorly drained fields. Prior to this study, there had been no systematic assessment of the relationship of chile pepper heat level to chile pepper response to Phytophthora capsici. If such a connection could be found, information might have been revealed that would assist breeding programs intended for developing disease-resistant cultivars of pepper.
Based on documented field observations in New Mexico, Arizona, and South Carolina, the researchers hypothesized that peppers that produce high-heat fruits would be more resistant to Phytophthora blight than low-heat varieties. The study was conducted by observing infection on both the root and fruit of different varieties of peppers included.
The results of the study concluded, however, that there was no relationship between the heat level of the pepper and the plant's resistance to Phytophthora blight. For example, while the disease was slowest to develop on the roots of one variety of jalapeño, it was quickest to develop on the fruit of the same plant.
Conversely, the disease was faster to develop on roots and slower on fruit of all other cultivars. As the root of the plant contains no heat-inducing agents but the fruit does, the slow development on the root and rapid development on the fruit of the jalapeño indicates that heat level is not a factor.
The results of this study indicate that factors other than heat level may be involved in fruit response to Phytophthora capsici. Genetic differences and cuticle thickness of the plants and fruits are among other issues that could be relevant, but further study is warranted.
American Society for Horticultural Science
Chile pepper fruit become infected during prolonged periods of heavy rain and high humidity in flooded and poorly drained fields. Prior to this study, there had been no systematic assessment of the relationship of chile pepper heat level to chile pepper response to Phytophthora capsici. If such a connection could be found, information might have been revealed that would assist breeding programs intended for developing disease-resistant cultivars of pepper.
Based on documented field observations in New Mexico, Arizona, and South Carolina, the researchers hypothesized that peppers that produce high-heat fruits would be more resistant to Phytophthora blight than low-heat varieties. The study was conducted by observing infection on both the root and fruit of different varieties of peppers included.
The results of the study concluded, however, that there was no relationship between the heat level of the pepper and the plant's resistance to Phytophthora blight. For example, while the disease was slowest to develop on the roots of one variety of jalapeño, it was quickest to develop on the fruit of the same plant.
Conversely, the disease was faster to develop on roots and slower on fruit of all other cultivars. As the root of the plant contains no heat-inducing agents but the fruit does, the slow development on the root and rapid development on the fruit of the jalapeño indicates that heat level is not a factor.
The results of this study indicate that factors other than heat level may be involved in fruit response to Phytophthora capsici. Genetic differences and cuticle thickness of the plants and fruits are among other issues that could be relevant, but further study is warranted.
American Society for Horticultural Science
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Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide by Donald C. Erwin (Author), Olaf K. Ribeiro (Author) This book presents an overview of Phytophthora diseases. Taking into account the needs of graduate students, scientists, and agricultural professionals, this volume integrates guides to literature, background information, physiology and genetics, the effect of environmental factors on disease, control by biological and cultural means, resistant cultivars, fungicides, and techniques for recognizing, identifying, and isolating Phytophthora pathogens. Featured are detailed descriptions of 59 species, including photomicrographs and drawings, and discussion of related diseases, their development and control, and distribution. Generously illustrated and printed on high-quality enamel stock, this volume will be welcome by plant scientists and libraries worldwide. | |
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Phytophthora: Webster's Timeline History, 1861 - 2007 by Icon Group International (Author) Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Phytophthora," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Phytophthora in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Phytophthora when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social... |
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PHYTOPHTHORA INFESTANS by E. BANNON, L.R. COOKE, T. KEANE & E.O. SULLIVAN L.J. DOWLEY (Author) | |
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Contributions a l'Etude du Phytophthora Cambivora, by A. ALLAIN (Author) | |
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Phytophthora: Its biology, taxonomy, ecology, and pathology by American Phytopathological Society (Publisher) | |
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Investigations Of The Potato Fungus Phytophthora Infestans by L.R.; Giddings, N.J. & Lutman, B.F. Jones (Author) | |
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Potato and Potato Blight (Phytophthora infestans): An entry from Macmillan Reference USA's Encyclopedia of Irish History and Culture by Matthew Lynch (Author) This digital document is an article from Encyclopedia of Irish History and Culture, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. The length of the article is 400 words. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Home to a fifth of the world's population and the largest democracy in the world, India holds a prominent place in current events yet remains misunderstood. Encyclopedia of India provides an authoritative source for information on this important region, encompassing the history, cultures, geography and religions of India from ancient times to the present day.... | |
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Tabular Key to the Species of Phytophthora (Mycological papers) by D.J. Stamps (Author), F.J. Newhook (Author), G.M. Waterhouse (Author), G. Hall (Author) |
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