Abstract
Twenty-five cultivars and experimental hybrids of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L) were transplanted in commercial pepper fields in Immokalee and Delray Beach, Fla. to evaluate horticultural characteristics and resistance to race 3 bacterial spot of peppers caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. Vesicatoria (Doigde). All cultural and management procedures were based on commercial best management practices. Eighty to 90% of marketable fruits had three or four lobes. Marketable fruit ranged from 894 to 1402 bushels (28-pound)/acre. Entries that had an average of more than 1200 bushels/acre at both locations were PR99R-16 from Pepper Research, 'Crusader' from Syngenta, and lines 8364 and 8338 from Hazera. Due to late natural infection of the field, resistance to bacterial spot did not necessarily correlate with yield and quality measurements. A number of entries had an overall pepper disease ratings 20% but were statistically similar in marketable yields as the top producing entries. Susceptible control 'Jupiter' had a mean foliage disease incident rating of 26% after the final harvest and was surpassed only by 7682 and 8328 from Enza. The most resistant lines with disease ratings of 3% were 5776, 7141, and 8302 from Seminis and 'Telstar' from Hazera.
