In the face of a grave threat to the global chili industry, WorldVeg is taking decisive action against the invasive black thrips, a menacing insect pest devastating crops across India. As the second largest vegetable crop in the country with some 2 million tonnes produces annually, grown over more than 700,000 hectares, the importance of chili to India’s farmers and the national economy cannot be overstated. Black thrips was first reported in India in in 2015, and over the past three years has caused widespread damage to chili crops in across many states in the country, from Gujarat in the west to Assam in the east, and south to Tamil Nadu.

Renowned for its expertise in vegetable research and development, WorldVeg has been at the forefront of efforts to address the crisis. Through extensive research and field trials, the Center has identified nine tolerant lines that show promise in combating the effects of black thrips on chili crops. The culmination of these efforts was showcased at a demonstration field day event on 30 November 2023 – a pivotal moment in the fight against black thrips – where more than 50 private seed companies associated with the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA), a private seed industry association, had the opportunity to evaluate these resistant lines.

Resistant and tolerant lines were identified through artificial infestation experiments at WorldVeg headquarters in Taiwan. These are being evaluated for their levels of resistance and performance under field conditions in Hyderabad, a hotspot for the pest. The tolerant lines (of two pepper species, Capsicum annuum and Capsicum chinense) have also undergone genomic sequencing, that provides a basis to understand the relatedness among the lines, and the genetic factors contributing to resistance. Based on emerging results, a recurrent selection program has been initiated to enhance resistance levels, with plans to map the quantitative trait loci (QTLs), gene characterization, and to develop molecular markers associated with host resistance.

During the field day, Derek Barchenger, WorldVeg pepper breeder, explained the process. “Through repeated experimentation in controlled conditions and this field trial validation, we are confident that we have high levels of tolerance to multiple species of thrips, including black thrips. These tolerant lines provide a strong foundation for a recurrent selection breeding program, which will facilitate a better understanding of the genetic basis for resistance, and the development of highly resistant chili cultivar that will ultimately limit farmers’ losses.

A significant step towards reducing thrips losses in India is the launch of the ‘Developing host resistance to thrips in chili” project proposal through the APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium. This aims to address critical questions surrounding thrips resistance, including information on thrips diversity, to support the breeding of more resistant cultivars to minimize losses for smallholder farmers in India and worldwide.

“The work of WorldVeg underscore the organization’s dedication to advancing agricultural research and fostering global collaboration to address pressing challenges” said Aravazhi Selvaraj, India Country Director at the WorldVeg South and Central Asia regional center. “Our commitment is rooted in addressing the primary requirements of farmers, and we are dedicated to serving and supporting farming communities by striving to overcome their challenges, such as those posed by crop pests and diseases.”

Vinaynath Reddy, Communication Specialist, World Vegetable Center – South Asia/Central Asia