Genetic analysis for resistance to leaf curl disease in Chilli Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) under specific situations

Leaf curl is a serious viral disease of chilli caused by a group of bigomoviruses dominated by chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLcv). With the aim to study the mode of inheritance of the ChiLcv disease resistance, a resistant genotype DLSSel. 10 was crossed with a susceptible genotype Phule Mukta and F1, F2, B1 and B2 generations were developed. The parents along with the segregating generations were screened under natural conditions as well as challenged inoculation with viruliferous whiteflies carrying predominant ChiLcv. PCR amplification of viral genomespecific marker confirmed the presence of virus in all the tested plants however, only susceptible plants produced symptoms. The F1 plants showed susceptibility under both natural and challenged inoculation conditions indicating that the resistance is of recessive nature. On Chi-square test, it was found that susceptible and resistant plants of the two F2 populations segregated in a ratio of 3 susceptible: 1 resistant plants and the B2 population derived from DLSSel. 10/Phule Mukta//DLS-Sel.10 segregated in a ratio of 1 resistant: 1 susceptible plant suggesting that the Chilcv is goverened by a single recessive gene. The findings of this study will help in breeding for ChiLcv resistance in Chilli.