CHARACTERIZATION OF 110 GENOTYPES OF CHILIS AND PEPPERS (Capsicum sp.) IN DIVISA AND AZUERO, PANAMA. 1999-2000.

Abstract

The peppers and chilis are produced for the fresh market and industry. This crop is cultivated in low lands of Cocle, Veraguas, Herrera, Los Santos y Panama as well as the high lands of Chiriqui. IDIAP through its breeding program, identifies and generates new cultivars with characteristics demanded by the market. A total of 110 genotypes provided by REDCAHOR were evaluated in the experimental stations of Divisa (INA) and Los Santos (Azuero; 12-16 msnm, latitud 7º57' y longitud 80º25'. This research was carried out from january to may of 1999 to characterize and identify genotypes tolerant to Ralstonia solanacearum, geminivirus and to select potential progenitors for the breeding program. Furrows of 5-6 m long were planted with 12-15 plants, 40-50 cm between plants and 1.20 m between furrow. Drip irrigation was used in Azuero and by forrow in Divisa; weeds were controled by herbicides (Round up + Paraquat, 3.0 lt/ha + 1 lt/ha) and manual; plants were fertilized with 14 qq of N-P-K (12-24-12) and 3 qq of urea (30-45 days after transplant (dat). Insect pests were controled by insecticide Ambush (150 cc/ha), Eviset (40 g/ha) and Dipel 81 (1.0 lt/ha). The results indicate that days to flowering ocurred between 31-70 dat, days to crop between 61-90 dat, the taste goes from sweet to spicy, the fruit form were round, conical, lengthened, flattened type paprika; the fruit color were green, red, yellow and orange; the petals color varies from white to violet; the anthers color varies from yellow to violet; the peduncle was smooth and fruit locule varies in number. The bacterial wilting and virus symptons were detected in some genotypes. The study allows to characterize a great number of genotypes usefull for different purposes in the breeding program.