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Salinity has limited conventional vegetable cultivation, especially in semi-arid regions. In this regard, the use of elicitors that act to induce tolerance to salt stress, such as salicylic acid, has emerged as a promising alternative. This study evaluated the effects of foliar spraying with salicylic acid on the mitigation of salt stress on the morphophysiology and production of bell pepper cv. All Big. The study was conducted in a greenhouse in Campina Grande - PB, Brazil, adopting a completely randomized design, in a 4 x 4 factorial arrangement, corresponding to four levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (0.8; 1.6; 2.4; and 3.2 dS m-1) and four concentrations of salicylic acid (0; 1.2; 2.4 and 3.6 mM), with three replicates. The foliar application of salicylic acid at a concentration of 1.6 mM attenuated the effects of salt stress in gas exchange, growth, mean fruit weight, and total production per plant, and decreased the percentage of intercellular electrolyte leakage of sweet pepper cv. All Big plants, at 80 days after sowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution describes biological and molecular features of an isolate of the chrysanthemum stem necrosis orthotospovirus (CSNV) found naturally infecting sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.). High‐throughput sequencing resulted in three contig sequences of 2948, 4829 and 8959 nucleotides for CSNV‐Ca small, medium and large RNAs, respectively. They shared 98.4%, 99.3% and 99.1% nucleotide identities, respectively, with the corresponding nucleotide sequences of a CSNV isolate from Slovenia. The virus was mechanically transmitted to sweet pepper and some additional test plants, and RT‐PCR confirmed the infection with specific primers for CSNV. Additionally, transmission electron microscopic analysis of ultrathin sections prepared from symptomatic sweet pepper fruit tissue showed orthotospoviruses‐like particles in elements of the endoplasmic reticulum. Studies are needed to evaluate the occurrence of CSNV infecting sweet pepper in commercial crops, to assess yield damage and develop recommendations for management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivation and commercialization of Capsicum pepper have great importance in Brazil. This work assessed the influence of omission of macro and micronutrients on the growth and mineral nutrition of sweet pepper plants (Capsicum chinense Jacquin). The research was carried out in a greenhouse with washed sand as substrate. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replications and eight treatments: complete (control), omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, and micronutrients (B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn). The plants were submitted to the treatments when they reached an average height of 20 cm and the nutrient solution was supplied by percolation in plastic pots and renewed every 15 days. Nutrients omission affected negatively plant growth as a whole. The omission of N, Ca, and micronutrients greatly reduced sweet pepper yield. The C. chinense plants presented the sequence by dry matter production of shoots and roots in descending order: COMP > OP > OS > OK > Omg > ON > Oca > OMicro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the results of the two Brazilian national pesticide residue monitoring programs obtained from January 2010 to December 2020. A total of 35,321samples of 44 different food crops were analyzed, of which 55.3% tested positive for at least one compound, with pear, peach, strawberry and sweet pepper having over 90% of the analyzed samples containing residues. Approximately one-third of the positive samples had at least one irregularity, of which 86.7% due to the presence of non-authorized pesticides for the crop, 26.3% exceeding the maximum residue level, and 13.1% showing both irregularities. A total of 191 different compounds were detected, primarily organophosphorus (OP) (37.4% of positive samples, of which over 60% of cereal/flour, potatoes, and peanuts). Chlorpyrifos, acephate, pirimiphos-methyl, and methamidophos were the main OPs detected. Triazoles were present in 27.2% of the positive samples, mainly rice, and pyrethroids in 22.4% of the positive samples, mainly in popcorn. Dithiocarbamates were present in 19.7% of the positive samples, predominantly in apples, and 5.0% of the positive samples contained N-methyl carbamates, mainly in sweet peppers. Carbendazim was the most detected pesticide (30% of positive samples), mainly in papaya (18.2% of samples containing this pesticide). About 60% of positive samples contained multiple residues, primarily in sweet pepper, pear, strawberry, and orange (over 80% of positive samples). Compared to the previous decade (2001–2010), these results indicated increased percentages of positive, irregular and of samples containing multiple residues. Dithiocarbamates were no longer the most detected pesticide group, while carbendazim remained the most detected pesticide in both periods. • 35,321 samples of 44 different food crops were analyzed. • 55.3% tested positive, of which 34.1% irregular, mostly for non-authorized use. • Organophosphorus and triazole compounds were the main classes detected. • Carbendazim was the most detected pesticide (30% of positive samples). • About 60% of positive samples contained multiple residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsicum is represented by peppers and sweet peppers and comprises a group with remarkable genetic variability. Different cultivated Capsicum peppers of Brazil were evaluated by using CMA3 and DAPI specific fluorochromes. There was high polymorphism of highly GC-rich CMA heterochromatic bands among the analyzed species, ranging from six (BAGC 114; C. annuum) to 26 blocks (BAGC 81; C. baccatum). Heterochromatin percentage ranged from 3.14% (BAGC 114; C. annuum) to 8.72% (BAGC 81; C. baccatum), corroborating the variation in the number of heterochromatic bands, particularly those distributed in the terminal and subterminal regions of the chromosomes. The information reported in this paper supports the cytogenetic characterization of the domesticated peppers accessions belonging to the Capsicum Germplasm Active Bank of the Federal University of Piauí (BAGC-UFPI). Moreover, the present data helped to better understand the karyotype features of peppers and provide additional information that could contribute to the improvement and maintenance of Capsicum genetic breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) cryptic species complex is composed of important pest insects, with cryptic species Mediterranean (MED) and Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) having caused severe yield reduction on crops worldwide. The former was reported in Brazil in 2014, while the latter was first reported in the country in the 1990s. Although farmers have highly adopted insecticide application for B. tabaci management, its efficacy may vary among host plants and cryptic species. Cyantraniliprole is a new anthranilic diamide insecticide with a mode of action that activates the insect ryanodine receptor (RyR). In this context, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cyantraniliprole spraying on the oviposition and performance of MEAM1 and MED cryptic species in tomato and sweet pepper plants. Cyantraniliprole caused high adult mortality for both cryptic species on sweet pepper (> 94%), while its efficacy was moderate for MEAM1 (~ 56%) and low for MED (~ 12%) on tomato. MED laid more eggs on sweet pepper and tomato treated with water and cyantraniliprole, respectively, than MEAM1. Additionally, cyantraniliprole reduced the hatchability of MED and MEAM1 on sweet pepper and tomato, respectively. Moreover, MED showed better performance than MEAM1 regardless of the treatment and host plant, except on tomato treated with water. Our results indicate that cyantraniliprole efficacy changes according to B. tabaci cryptic species and host plant. These findings will be important for redesigning cyantraniliprole doses for B. tabaci management in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Accessions of peppers and sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) of Embrapa Clima Temperado genebank (Pelotas - RS) integrate Capsicum genetic resources. However, it is necessary to know how much these genotypes are different, so they can be harnessed and used in breeding programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize genetic diversity among C. annuum accessions which belongs to Capsicum Embrapa Clima Temperado genebank. Twenty accessions were characterized through 36 multicategorical morphologic descriptors. Genetic diversity was assessed using Tocher grouping method and UPGMA. Three groups of accessions were formed by Tocher. Both methods were in agreement with the isolation of P77, due to its exclusive morphological traits. The study shows moderate genetic variability among 20 accessions of C. annuum studied and introduced accession with ornamental features, which can be incorporated in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional status of sweet pepper cultivated in soils treated with different types of biofertilizer. Use of liquid biofertilizers is one of the practices of organic agriculture that aims to achieve balanced plant nutrition. As a result, higher yield levels are expected, with no significant cost increases. The aim of this work is to verify the nutritional status of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in response to the application of different rates and sources of biofertilizer. The experiment was carried out at Sítio Macaquinhos, in the municipality of Remigio, Paraíba State, Brazil. Treatments were distributed in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement, representing the two biofertilizer sources and five calcium rates (0; 0.65; 1.30; 1.95 and 2.60 g pit-1 of calcium). Pits were spaced 1 × 0.50 m apart, filled to the top with 2 L of cattle manure and 1 L of vegetable ash. The pure form and agrobio biofertilizers were prepared 30 and 60 days before the sowing date, respectively. In the beginning of the flowering stage, s weet pepper plants were nutritionally deficient in nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, but were balanced in phosphorous, sulfur and potassium. In spite of higher levels of macro and micronutrients in agrobio, it was established at the end of the experiment that the results on plant mineral composition were similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bemisia tabaci comprises a complex of cryptic species, of which MEAM1 (known as B biotype) and MED (known as Q biotype) are the most invasive and widely distributed ones. In Brazil, MEAM1 was first reported in the 1990s, while MED was first reported in 2014. The goal of this study was to understand the behaviour of the newly introduced MED cryptic species in Brazil and to predict the susceptibility of soybean, cotton, common bean, tomato and sweet pepper to it in the absence of insecticides. We investigated the performance as well as the competitive displacement of these cryptic species in the selected hosts. The best performance of MED was observed on common bean, followed by sweet pepper, propitiating the emergence of a large number of adults and a higher survival rate (±60 and 50% for MED, respectively, while for MEAM1, 20% was reached). In addition, MED displaced MEAM1 in sweet pepper and common bean after four generations (after 120 days, all insects were 100% MED). By contrast, MEAM1 displaced MED only in tomato after four generations. The competitive displacement and the performance results were the same, indicating the most suitable host for each species. Both MED and MEAM1 are well adapted to cotton and soybean plants, and no advantage was observed for one particular species in the absence of insecticides. Common bean and sweet pepper are excellent hosts for B. tabaci MED cryptic species, requiring increased attention by the producer. The year-round common bean cultivation in Brazil could contribute to the adaptation of MED to open field production in Brazil and, consequently, to the migration to other crops such as soybean and cotton, to which MED is also well adapted. Further management studies with these cryptic species in Brazil, including insecticide experiments and biological control assays, are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]