'Truhart-NR', A Root-knot Nematode-resistant, Pimento-type Pepper

Abstract

'Truhart-NR' is a new pimento-type pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) released 20 Oct. 2009 by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 'Truhart- NR' is a pimento-type cultivar that is homozygous for a dominant gene conditioning a high level of resistance to the southern root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne incognita (Chitwood) Kofoid and White], the peanut root-knot nematode [M. arenaria (Neal) Chitwood], and the tropical root-knot nematode [M. javanica (Treub) Chitwood]. 'Truhart- NR' is being released as a replacement for 'Truhart Perfection', a widely adapted and long popular pimento-type cultivar that is highly susceptible to root-knot nematodes. Origin In 2000, a recurrent backcross breeding procedure was initiated to incorporate the dominant root-knot nematode resistance gene (N) into the classical pimento-type "Perfection" genetic background (Fig. 1) (Fery and Dukes, 1996; Hare, 1957). The donor parent of the N resistance gene was 'Mississippi Nemaheart' and the recurrent parent was 'Truhart Perfection'. 'Mississippi Nemaheart' was released by Mississippi State University in 1966 (Hare, 1966). Although 'Mississippi Nemaheart' itself is the product of a recurrent backcross breeding procedure (10 backcrosses) that used 'Truhart Perfection' as the recurrent parent, it was never used widely by industry because it was considered by many to produce a weak plant. 'Truhart Perfection' was released by the Georgia Experiment Station in 1943 (Cochran, 1943); it is susceptible to root-knot nematodes. 'Truhart Perfection' is an inbred selection from the original Perfection cultivar that was released by S.D. Riegel and Sons of Experiment, GA, in 1912 (Cochran, 1943). Both 'Perfection' and 'Truhart Perfection' were predominant cultivars for Georgia's large pimento pepper industry for a number of decades after their release; 'Truhart Perfection' is still recommended for use by specialty crop growers in several southern states. The 'Truhart Perfection' accession that was used as the recurrent parental line for the current release was derived from a sample of foundation seed increased at the Georgia Experiment Station in 1988. 'Truhart- NR' was derived from a single BC2F3 plant grown in 2006.