Resumen

MOCTEZUMA-BAUTISTA, Karina et al. Etiology of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense) wilt in Tabasco, Mexico. Rev. mex. fitopatol [online]. 2021, vol.39, n.3, pp.503-514.  Epub 13-Dic-2021. ISSN 2007-8080.  https://doi.org/10.18781/r.mex.fit.2103-5.

The objective of this study was to detect the causal agent of habanero bell pepper wilt in four municipalities of Tabasco, in cocoa-growing areas where habanero bell pepper production is being encouraged. Sampling was carried out in four municipalities: Huimanguillo (1), Cárdenas (2), Cunduacan (9) and Centro (3). Samples were sown and isolated for morphological and molecular identification. Six Phytophthora (1) and Fusarium (5) isolates obtained from 15 habanero pepper plantations were tested for pathogenicity. The Phytophthora isolate (CH132) was pathogenic in the pathogenicity test on two-month-old habanero pepper seedlings; however, none of the Fusarium isolates showed pathogenicity. The Phytophthora strain was identified as P. capsici using morphological characteristics and the use of the COI sequence. P. capsici strains were not shown to be pathogenic on cocoa pods. P. capsici was not detected habanero peppers seedlings in the cacao-growing municipalities of Huimanguillo, Cárdenas and Cunduacán in hydrological subzone 1, but P. capsici is present in Acachapa and Colmena, Centro, Tabasco.

Palabras llave : Phytophthora capsici; cacao; morphology; amplification; DNA; COI.