Domestication of Chili Pepper Has Altered Fruit Traits Affecting the Oviposition and Feeding Behavior of the Pepper Weevil
The pepper weevil, <i>Anthonomus eugenii</i>, Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most destructive pests of chili pepper. It causes extensive damage on varieties selected for consumption. However, the occurrence of this pest on wild and ornamental peppers remains unknown. We...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/7/630 |
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| author | Yosra Chabaane Muhammad Haseeb Betty Benrey |
| author_facet | Yosra Chabaane Muhammad Haseeb Betty Benrey |
| author_sort | Yosra Chabaane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The pepper weevil, <i>Anthonomus eugenii</i>, Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most destructive pests of chili pepper. It causes extensive damage on varieties selected for consumption. However, the occurrence of this pest on wild and ornamental peppers remains unknown. We investigated the consequences of chili domestication on the feeding and oviposition of <i>A. eugenii</i> on fruits and flowers. We used plants of one wild accession, Bird Eye Pepper, five ornamental varieties (Pops Yellow, Black Pearl, Sedona Sun, Chilli Chilli, and Salsa Deep), and two domesticated varieties selected for consumption (Scotch Bonnet and Jalapeño). First, we characterized the plants according to their fruit and flower sizes, pericarp thickness, capsaicin level, fruit position, and flower color. Then, we evaluated the susceptibility of fruits and flowers to <i>A. eugenii</i>. Overall, domestication increased fruit and flower sizes and pericarp thickness, altered capsaicin levels, and altered fruit position and flower color. Weevils laid more eggs and caused more feeding damage on varieties selected for consumption than on wild and ornamental plants. Our results add to the growing literature on the consequences of crop domestication on herbivores. This knowledge could be integrated into breeding programs to select varieties resistant against the pepper weevil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:36:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1741475230945f3a05eb009847d2bbb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:36:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1741475230945f3a05eb009847d2bbb2023-11-22T04:04:40ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-07-0112763010.3390/insects12070630Domestication of Chili Pepper Has Altered Fruit Traits Affecting the Oviposition and Feeding Behavior of the Pepper WeevilYosra Chabaane0Muhammad Haseeb1Betty Benrey2Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandCenter for Biological Control, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307-4100, USALaboratory of Evolutionary Entomology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandThe pepper weevil, <i>Anthonomus eugenii</i>, Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most destructive pests of chili pepper. It causes extensive damage on varieties selected for consumption. However, the occurrence of this pest on wild and ornamental peppers remains unknown. We investigated the consequences of chili domestication on the feeding and oviposition of <i>A. eugenii</i> on fruits and flowers. We used plants of one wild accession, Bird Eye Pepper, five ornamental varieties (Pops Yellow, Black Pearl, Sedona Sun, Chilli Chilli, and Salsa Deep), and two domesticated varieties selected for consumption (Scotch Bonnet and Jalapeño). First, we characterized the plants according to their fruit and flower sizes, pericarp thickness, capsaicin level, fruit position, and flower color. Then, we evaluated the susceptibility of fruits and flowers to <i>A. eugenii</i>. Overall, domestication increased fruit and flower sizes and pericarp thickness, altered capsaicin levels, and altered fruit position and flower color. Weevils laid more eggs and caused more feeding damage on varieties selected for consumption than on wild and ornamental plants. Our results add to the growing literature on the consequences of crop domestication on herbivores. This knowledge could be integrated into breeding programs to select varieties resistant against the pepper weevil.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/7/630<i>Anthonomus eugenii</i>ovipositionfeeding behaviorchili domesticationplant traitswild chilies |
| spellingShingle | Yosra Chabaane Muhammad Haseeb Betty Benrey Domestication of Chili Pepper Has Altered Fruit Traits Affecting the Oviposition and Feeding Behavior of the Pepper Weevil Insects <i>Anthonomus eugenii</i> oviposition feeding behavior chili domestication plant traits wild chilies |
| title | Domestication of Chili Pepper Has Altered Fruit Traits Affecting the Oviposition and Feeding Behavior of the Pepper Weevil |
| title_full | Domestication of Chili Pepper Has Altered Fruit Traits Affecting the Oviposition and Feeding Behavior of the Pepper Weevil |
| title_fullStr | Domestication of Chili Pepper Has Altered Fruit Traits Affecting the Oviposition and Feeding Behavior of the Pepper Weevil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Domestication of Chili Pepper Has Altered Fruit Traits Affecting the Oviposition and Feeding Behavior of the Pepper Weevil |
| title_short | Domestication of Chili Pepper Has Altered Fruit Traits Affecting the Oviposition and Feeding Behavior of the Pepper Weevil |
| title_sort | domestication of chili pepper has altered fruit traits affecting the oviposition and feeding behavior of the pepper weevil |
| topic | <i>Anthonomus eugenii</i> oviposition feeding behavior chili domestication plant traits wild chilies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/7/630 |
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