Morphological Characterization of Anther Derived Plants in Minipaprika (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

This study was done to characterize the anther derived regenerants (R1) including haploids and spontaneous diploids of minipaprika (cvs.``Vine sweet-red`` ``Vine sweet-yellow`` and ``Vine sweet-orange``) in glasshouse. Eleven haploids (three, seven and one from red, yellow and orange, respectively) and sixteen spontaneous diploids (five, nine and two from red, yellow and orange, respectively) were grown in plastic pot with three (red, yellow and orange) anther donor (R0) F1minipaprika varieties. Regenerants were characterized for their plant and fruit characters as well as their fruit color and shape. The homozygosity of spontaneous diploid plants of each population was assessed using simple-sequence repeat (SSR) marker analysis. Haploid plants were characterized by reduced plant height, small leaves, short petiole and internode and small flower bud and all haploids showed the sterility and vice-versa in spontaneous diploid lines. The fruit biometrical traits exhibited greater variation within the spontaneous diploid plants and average value of quantitative traits is lower than standard varieties. MR-4 gave the highest yield (150.5 g) per plant followed by MY-6 (140.0 g) and MY-8 (130.5 g) and the lowest in MY-5 (31.5 g). Morphological marker such as fruit color further determinedthe microspore origin of androgenic diploids obtained in anther culture of ``Vine sweet-red``. Of the fifteen spontaneous diploid plants, fourteen plants were identified as doubled haploids using microsatellite markers (SSR), and these homozygous lines are recommended to use in minipaprika breeding program.