Response of <i>Capsicum</i> genotypes to the root-knot nematode <i>Meloidogyne enterolobii</i>

Meloidogyne enterolobii is a highly aggressive root-knot nematode (RKN) that causes substantial economic losses to Capsicum species and other crops. Resistant genotypes have been used as an alternative to chemical nematicides; however, available Capsicum cllection, comprising germplasm from Embrapa and commercial cultivars to M. enterolobii, under greenhouse conditions. The treatments comprised 39 C. chinense, 22 C. annuum, aultivars are susceptible to this nematode. Hence, the objective of this study was to screen a Brazilian Capsicum germplasm cond 2 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars (checks). Individual plants were inoculated with 5,000 M. enterolobii eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2), and evaluations were carried out for the gall index, egg mass index, number of eggs per gram of roots, reproduction factor (RF), and reproduction index (RI) at 65 days post-inoculation. The results demonstrated that all plant genotypes exhibited susceptibility to this nematode. However, some genotypes exhibited a lower RF (0.01–4.9) than the tomato ‘Nemadoro’ (RF = 8.4–15.3), thus being classified as low susceptibility according to the RI concept. These findings are important for ongoing efforts to identify novel sources of resistance to RKN and contribute to safer, more sustainable agricultural practices.