Genetic diversity of Capsicum chinensis (Solanaceae) accessions based on molecular markers and morphological and agronomic traits.

We estimated the genetic diversity of 49 accessions of the hot pepper species Capsicum chinensis through analyses of 12 physicochemical traits of the fruit, eight multi-categorical variables, and with 32 RAPD primers. Data from the physicochemical traits were submitted to analysis of variance to estimate the genetic parameters, and their means were clustered by the Scott-Knott test. The matrices from the individual and combined distance were estimated by multivariate analyses before applying Tocher's optimization method. All physicochemical traits were examined for genetic variability by analysis of variance. The responses of these traits showed more contribution from genetic than from environmental factors, except the percentage of dry biomass, content of soluble solids and vitamin C level. Total capsaicin had the greatest genetic divergence. Nine clusters were formed from the quantitative data based on the generalized distance of Mahalanobis, using Tocher's method; four were formed from the multi-categorical data using the Cole-Rodgers coefficient, and eight were formed from the molecular data using the Nei and Li coefficient. The accessions were distributed into 14 groups using Tocher's method, and no significant correlation between pungency and origin was detected. Uni- and multivariate analyses permitted the identification of marked genetic diversity and fruit attributes capable of being improved through breeding programs.

Improvement of a popcorn population using selection indexes from a fourth cycle of recurrent selection program carried out in two different environments.

We estimated genetic gains for popcorn varieties using selection indexes in a fourth cycle of intrapopulation recurrent selection developed in the campus of the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense. Two hundred full-sib families were obtained from the popcorn population UNB-2U of the third recurrent selection cycle. The progenies were evaluated in a randomized block design with two replications at sites in two different environments: the Colégio Estadual Agrícola Antônio Sarlo, in Campos dos Goytacazes, and the Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (PESAGRO-RIO), in Itaocara, both in the State of Rio de Janeiro. There were significant differences between families within sets in all traits, indicating genetic variability that could be exploited in future cycles. Thirty full-sib families were selected to continue the program. The selection indexes used to predict the gains were those of Mulamba and Mock, Smith and Hazel. The best results were obtained with the Mulamba and Mock index, which allowed the prediction of negative gains for the traits number of diseased ears and ears attacked by pests, number of broken plants and lodging, as well as ears with poor husk cover. It also provided higher gains for popping expansion and grain yield than with the other indexes, giving values of 10.55 and 8.50%, respectively, based on tentatively assigned random weights.

Genetic control of agronomically important traits of pepper fruits analyzed by Hayman's partial diallel cross scheme.

Pepper species of the genus Capsicum have been cultivated over centuries, producing both pungent and sweet fruit; the pungency is caused by alkaloids called capsaicinoids. Among the five cultivated species, Capsicum chinense is one of the most popular, being native to the Amazon basin. This species is characterized by a wide variety of fruit sizes, shapes and colors, with different capsaicinoid content. In addition, fruits are rich in vitamins A and C. Despite the importance of this plant as a spice and its medicinal uses, research on its genetic variability and potential for breeding programs is still incipient. We investigated the genetic control of some traits through diallel analysis with the objective of introgressing these traits into cultivated varieties. For the diallel analysis, the progeny of crosses between peppers with pungent and sweet fruits, together with the parents, were grown in pots under greenhouse conditions. The fruits were harvested and analyzed for the traits total fresh fruit mass, total dry fruit mass, percentage dry matter, total soluble solids, vitamin C content, fruit pungency, and number of seeds per fruit. Genetic variability was detected for all traits. In the diallel analysis, the additive-dominant model was considered to be adequate for total fresh fruit mass, percentage dry matter, total soluble solids, and vitamin C content. Additive genetic effects and dominance were found for all traits; consequently, breeding for improvement of these fruit traits would be viable.

In vitro regeneration of cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum, Solanaceae) cultivars for commercial production.

Cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal) is a solanaceous shrub native to the Amazon region that produces an edible fruit. This species has numerous advantages, particularly a high nutritional value and productivity. However, due to irregular germination and rapid loss of seed viability, there are few plantations for production on a large scale. Development of alternative propagation strategies is essential for the production of homogeneous seedlings of genotypes with superior agronomic performance. We developed techniques for in vitro regeneration of the cocona varieties Santa Luzia and Thaís for large-scale production of healthy plantlets. Twenty days after seeding, seedling segments germinated in vitro were used as explant sources. Three successive experiments were performed: one to test the effect of the explant source and combinations of two growth regulators, auxin (indole acetic acid, IAA) and kinetin (KIN), on the morphogenetic response; another to investigate the effect of the combination of growth regulators on the morphogenetic response of hypocotyl segments, and another to evaluate how sucrose concentration affects the development of adventitious shoots. The best shoot induction was obtained using hypocotyl segments and stem apices, while rhizogenesis was greatest in leaves with a petiole. The number of adventitious shoots per explant on hypocotyl segments increased with 10 and 20 mg/L KIN, combined with 0.02 mg/L IAA in the variety Santa Luzia. Sucrose combined with these growth regulator levels increased the average number of calli; these were optimally produced when 45 g/L sucrose and 0.01 mg/L IAA + 20 mg/L KIN were applied. Only sucrose concentration influenced shoot proliferation in the two S. sessiliflorum varieties, with a maximum at 17.5 g/L.