In Cuba, there is a necessity for pepper lines (Capsicum annum L.) that are well adapted and have multiple resistances to the main viral diseases of big fruits. These cultivars should be used as progenitors in obtaining F1 hybrids with higher quality phenotypes that are more commercially competitive. Therefore, the objective of this work was to characterize the effi ciency of the selection in pepper lines derived from four sub-populations. Genetic and statistical parameters were studied to optimize selection in a group of 27 lines, cultivated in a Red Ferralitic soil. Viral resistance was found for Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) (subpopulation LIRAC), Tobacco etch virus(TEV) (sub-population LIRAE), Potato virus Y (PVY) (sub-population LIRAP) and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) (sub-population LIRAV). The virus identifi cation was performed previously in the INRA-Monfavet, France. These results suggest that existent genetic resources of C. annuum in Cuba permit the development of multiple lines of resistance, adapted to the local climatic conditions and commercially acceptable productive values in pepper.