Identification of Resistance to Geminivirus and Whitefly in Pepper

Abstract Pepper yellow leaf curl disease caused by geminivirus (Geminiviridae) is a major problem in chili pepper production. The availability of resistant varieties to geminivirus and whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) as its vector has the potential to overcome this problem. The use of resistant varieties has various advantages, namely reducing pest control costs, producing no harmful chemical residues, and being acceptable and usable by farmers in the long term. This study aims to identify genotypes that are resistant to geminivirus and its vector. Nineteen chili pepper genotypes obtained from the Center for Tropical Horticulture Studies of IPB University were examined in this study by conducting field and laboratory tests. Based on the results, several chili pepper genotypes were found to be resistant to whiteflies and geminivirus. However, none of those genotypes had sufficient vector and virus resistance. This study also found that there was a significant correlation between the numbers of surviving imago and pupae with disease incidence, as well as between disease incidence and disease severity. Thus, the resistance to whitefly as a geminivirus vector can potentially reduce disease severity in chili pepper plants.