Genomic characterization of the germplasm in peppers (Capsicum- Solanaceae) by fluorescent in situ hybridization.

SCALDAFERRO, M.; SEIJO, G.; ACOSTA, M. C.; BARBOZA, G.; DUCASSE, D.; MOSCONE, E.

Plovdiv

Simposio; First Bulgarian Symposium on Horticulture; 2005

Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute

Capsicum, an economically important New World genus of food, spice, drug and ornamental uses, includes worldwide crops (sweet and hot peppers). In this work we have started a broad genomic characterization programme of peppers germplasm by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the genome organization and evolution in Capsicum, with reference to the origin of the crop species. It is expected to achieve useful information for breeding purpose concerning the cytogenetic diversity of the germplasm and the genomic affinity between the possible donors of valuable alleles and the crops to be improved. Two wild (C. chacoense, C. cardenasii) and three cultivated taxa (C. annuum var. annuum ? two cultivars ?, C. baccatum var. umbilicatum, C. pubescens) are analysed. The combination of the 45S and 5S rRNA gene probes in single FISH experiments brings useful chromosome markers to distinguish cytogenetically species, varieties and cultivars. Our results are discussed with previous findings in the genus. This work was supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (United Nations Organization, Vienna), grant no. RBF 12226.