Screening chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes for resistance to broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks) and analysing the geographic distribution of resistance

Field screening of indigenous chilli germplasm wascarried out to identify sources of resistance to the mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks. Among the 71 accessions screened, four (IC342390, IC572492, IC337281 and IC344366) were identified as resistant; 12 were found to be moderately resistant; 39 were susceptible and 16 were highly susceptible to P. latus. The GIS mapping and diversity analysis showed that the genotypes sourced from Sonipat (Haryana) and Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) were found to be having the highest range of Shannon diversity index while the genotypes collected from Nainital (Uttarakhand), Kullu and Lajaul&Spiti districts (Himachal Pradesh) and Kasaragod (Kerala) recorded the highest co-efficient of variation for their reaction tomite infestation in chilli.