Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(8): 2483-2487 2483 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.708.251 Identification of Host Plant Resistance to Leaf Curl in Chilli (Capsicum frutescens L.) Bandla Srinivas* and Beena Thomas Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Kerala Agriculture University, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum, Kerala, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction India is the major producer, consumer, and exporter of chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), contributing almost one fourth of the world production (Krishnamurthy et al., 2013). Bird chilli (Capsicum frutescens L.) or bird’s eye chilli is a stimulating herb renowned for aroma, taste, flavour and pungency. Besides its culinary use, it possesses many medicinal and nutritional values. Bird chilli or cayenne pepper is widely used to treat stomach ulcers, cold, sore throat, fevers and cholesterol aggregation, thus prevents the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Most important thing is that chilli helps to fight prostate cancer by killing prostate cancer cells themselves. Some hot varieties of chilli can be used as a remedy for painful joints and to stop bleeding. Daily use of hot chillies can stimulate blood flow to the affected area and reduce discomfort and inflammation. Thus bird chilli has a beneficial effect on the circulatory system (Kang 1992). Bird chilli (C. frutescens L.) is commercially cultivated only in Mizoram (approximately 140 hectare with annual production of 560 tones) and in some areas of Manipur (approximately 122 hectare with annual production of 488 tonnes) whereas in other areas it is widely grown as a homestead crop (Barua and Barua, 2004). Some major factors responsible for the low productivity of bird chilli are lack of varieties International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 08 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Seventy eight bird chilli genotypes were screened against leaf curl virus. Leaf curl disease scoring was done at 30th, 60th and 90th days after planting (DAP) based on visual symptoms of each observational plant. Initial screening was done under field conditions based on vulnerability index score (0 to 4 scale), disease reaction to each genotype was assigned based on Leaf pubescence which can be observed on the youngest mature leaves and it was classified as sparse (3), intermediate (5) and dense (7). These resistant lines were challenged by growing white fly infected susceptible varieties, out of which ten genotypes performed better, viz. Kumarapuram-I (A50) showed resistance and some of other genotypes showed tolerance viz.A4, A24, A28, A34, A52, A55, A57, A62 and A70. Keywords Capsicum, Host resistance, Leaf pubescence, Leaf curl virus Accepted: 15 July 2018 Available Online: 10 August 2018 Article Info