Solanum pseudocapsicum: Wild source of resistance to Chilli leaf curl disease

Abstract The present investigation was undertaken to screen Solanum pseudocapsicum, against chilli leaf curl disease (ChiLCD) which is the most destructive virus disease in terms of incidence and yield loss in chilli peppers. The screening was done both under natural epiphytotic condition and through challenge inoculation using viruliferous whiteflies. The genus, which is perennial in nature and has a life span of about 10 years, was found free of infection under field screening even after four years of continuous exposure to high disease pressure. Under challenge inoculation, S. pseudocapsicum was found asymptomatic upon infection with ChiLCV and ToLCNDV, the two pre-dominant begomovirus prevalent in the study area. S. pseudocapsicum plants exposed to leaf curl disease under field condition was analysed for presence of ChiLCV through PCR and was found to show presence of virus indicating it to be a symptomless carrier of the disease. S. pseudocapsicum has proven to be a source of resistance against ChiLCD.