On an experimental basis of the Scientific Center of vegetable, melon and industrial crops (Republic of Armenia) 20 accessions of the world germplasm of Capsicum annuum L. (sweet pepper, chili) provided by the World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) have been studied. The accessions resistant to such diseases as verticillium wilt (Verticillium albo-atrum Reincke), bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum (= Pseudomonas solanacearum), tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), blossom end rot of fruit, and tip-burn have been selected. These genotypes of chili and sweet pepper are the promising initial material in breeding for resistance to common diseases. In collaboration with other breeders, five varieties of peppers were developed and released: sweet pepper cultivars Natalie, Emily, Miles, and chili cultivars Zita and Gita.

The nucleotide sequences of two strains of CMV isolated from cucumber and ageratum in the Primorsk region and one strain from pepper isolated in the North Korea have been studied. The phylogenetic linkages among isolated strains and strains of CMV from Genbank were revealed. The intragroup position of the isolated strains of CMV widespread in the Far East was specified.