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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Elucidating disease progression, combining ability and heterosis for response to leaf curl virus disease in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.15211
Submitted
23 April 2026
Published
28-09-2026 — Updated on 30-09-2026
Versions

Abstract

Development of chilli hybrids resistant to chilli leaf curl virus disease depends on the identification of desirable general combiners and heterotic hybrids. In the current study, 90 hybrids generated following a line × tester mating design using six cytoplasmic genetic male sterile lines and 15 fertility restorer testers were evaluated for response to chilli leaf curl virus disease (ChiLCVD) at 30, 60 and 100 days after sowing (DAS). The parents and hybrids were field screened for ChiLCVD under a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and an alpha lattice design respectively. Percent disease index (PDI) was computed and used to measure ChiLCVD severity. To assess the disease progression, PDI values were used to obtain the disease progress curve and estimate the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC). Wide variability was observed among parents and hybrids for response to ChiLCVD for each stage. The disease progress curve revealed a decline in ChiLCVD progression for S343 derived hybrids at 60 and 100 DAS. CMS10A and AV99 at 30 DAS and CMS7A and S343 at 60 and 100 DAS were found to exhibit significant general combining ability (GCA) effects in the desirable direction. No hybrid showed standard heterosis at 30 DAS and hybrids involving S343 were recorded with significant standard negative heterosis against ChiLCVD at 60 and 100 DAS. Based on our results, we suggest S343 can serve as a valuable source of dominant resistance for accelerating the development of chilli hybrids against ChiLCVD.

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