Validation of SCAR markers, diversity analysis of male sterile (S-) cytoplasms and isolation of an alloplasmic S-cytoplasm in Capsicum

Abstract

Abstracts Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is increasingly being utilized for hybrid seed production of hot pepper ( Capsicum annuum ). Two CMS specific sequenced characterized amplified regions (SCARs), viz., atp6 607 and coxII 708 developed elsewhere were validated in an array of genotypes possessing male sterile (S-) and normal/male fertile (N-) cytoplasms and their feasible uses in CMS based pepper hybrid breeding have been elaborated. A set of eight maintainer and restorer inbreds were crossed on four CMS lines possessing two independently isolated and commercially utilized S-cytoplasms (Peterson's and Reddy's). Based on fertility restoration/maintenance reaction of 32 resulted F 1 s and on the presence of two SCARs ( atp6 607 and coxII 708 ) in both the S-cytoplasms, it has been concluded that although two S-cytoplasms were isolated and commercially utilized independently, they are genetically same or similar. Through inter-specific hybridization between C. chacoense and C. annuum , a new alloplasmic S-cytoplasm in the genus Capsicum has been isolated and the CMS F 1 has been advanced to CMS BC 1 F 1 .