PA-560, a Root-Knot Nematode Resistant, Yellow-Fruited, Habanero-Type Pepper

Efforts to develop a yellow-fruited, Habanero-type pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) that is highly resistant to root-knot nematodes were completed with the official release of PA-560 on October 20, 2009.  PA-560, an advanced breeding line, is the product of a backcross/pedigree breeding procedure to incorporate a root-knot nematode resistance gene from the Scotch Bonnet-type accession PA-426 into a yellow-fruited, Habanero-type pepper.  PA-560 was derived from a single F3 (BC4F3 x BC4F3) plant grown in 2005.  It 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].   PA-560 has a compact plant habit and produces a lantern-shaped, yellow-colored fruit.  The results of replicated field studies conducted at Charleston, S.C., indicate the yield potential of PA-560 is comparable to that of traditional Habanero-type cultigens.  A typical fruit weighs about 7.6 - 8.0 g and is 2.37 – 2.49 cm wide x 4.43 – 5.54 cm long; the fruit wall is thin (1.43 – 1.60 mm).  The fruits are extremely pungent (326,710 Scoville heat units), and a typical fruit has three locules (average number of locules: 3.3).  The root-knot nematode resistant PA-560 is recommended for use as a parental line by pepper breeders interested in developing yellow-fruited, root-knot nematode resistant cultivars of Habanero-type peppers.  The dominant nature of the gene conditioning the root-knot nematode resistance trait would make PA-560 useful as an inbred parent for development of root-knot nematode resistant F1 hybrids.