Is ethyl methane sulfonate induced mutation influence the KasI gene sequence and its expression?

Abstract

A novel Chili pepper G1M1 mutant was produced from chili pepper Genotype 1 induced with 0.01% ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of EMS induced mutation to the sequence of capsaicin synthesis gene KasI and its expression. Genetic profile of KasI genes of mutant plants and controls were analyzed by sequencing method and the results aligned and compared with the sequence of Capsicum annuum KasI (KM037709.1) on the NCBI. Capsaicin content was measured from fruit at 30-35 DPA (day post anthesis) using spectrophotometry method (Ȧ280 nm). The results of this study indicated that the capsaicin content of G1M1 mutant plant did not differ significantly with G1 control, but of G1M1 tended to have higher capsaicin content than control. The KasI gene of G1M1 mutant shows the presence of substitution at some sites which causes the replacement of amino acid composition. This may cause differences in the capsaicin content between plants.