Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to determine the genetic relationship between bentazon tolerance exhibited by the pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars Bohemian Chili and Santaka, and to evaluate the importance of cytoplasmic factors in expression of the tolerance in `Bohemian Chili.' Greenhouse evaluation of parental and F2 populations of the cross `Santaka' × `Bohemian Chili' indicated that the major dominant gene conditioning bentazon tolerance in `Bohemian Chili' is probably the Bzt gene that conditions bentazon tolerance in `Santaka' or a gene closely linked to the Bzt locus. Field evaluation of F1 and F2 progeny populations of the cross `Bohemian Chili' × `Sweet Banana' in both `Bohemian Chili' and `Sweet Banana' cytoplasms demonstrated that cytoplasmic factors do not affect the expression of the bentazon tolerance gene in `Bohemian Chili.' We conclude that `Santaka' and `Bohemian Chili' are equally satisfactory sources of a bentazon tolerance gene for use in pepper breeding programs. Chemical name used: 3-(1-methylethyl)-(1H)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide (bentazon).
Cultigens frequently are tested for eventual monoculture production conditions in trials with different cultigens in adjacent rows. We determined the effect of using different cultigens of pickling and fresh-market cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in bordered (three-row) and unordered (l-row) plots. Cultigens contrasted in characteristics important in competitive effects: plant architecture (tall vs. dwarf), anthracnose resistance (susceptible vs. resistant), and sex expression (monoecious vs. gynoecious). In all four test years, there was no significant interaction of border with center row in unordered vs. bordered plots, with three exceptions: there was a significant reduction in yield of M 21 in 1982 when bordered by `Calypso' (a large-vined genotype), and a reduction in yield of `Southern Belle' in 1984 when bordered by `Calypso' or SMR 58. In most cases, there was an increase in yield if the border genotype had short vines. We concluded that. in most cases, trials can be run using unordered plots without significant effect or yield.