Bacterial Spot Resistant Pepper Trials in Florida

Cultivars and experimental hybrids of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) were transplanted in commercial pepper fields during the 2009–10 growing seasons in two locations in South Florida. The objectives of the study were to evaluate horticultural characteristics and resistance to bacterial spot of peppers caused by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria (formally Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria and Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria). Cultivars tested included standard commercial varieties with race 1, 2, 3 bacterial spot resistance and newer cultivars and lines that incorporated additional resistance to bacterial spot races 4, 5 and 6. Both studies were conducted in commercial pepper fields containing naturally occurring levels of X. euvesicatoria inoculum. In these trials, it was demonstrated that cultivars containing the added resistance to race 4, 5 and/or 6 significantly reducing bacterial spot infection rates and increased yields compared with varieties with only resistance to bacterial spot races 1, 2 and 3.