Unlocking genetic potential in Capsicum species through interspecific hybridisation

Capsicum chinense, Jacq, commonly called habanero-type pepper and Capsicum frutescens L., commonly called wild pepper, have higher capsaicin content and better adaptability to changing climatic scenarios. These two species could be a potential source of variation to improve Capsicum annuum L, the cultivated pepper. Introgression of beneficial genes from wild relatives to cultivated crops through interspecific hybridisation has always been advantageous. The present study explored the possibility of interspecific crosses using three different Capsicum species viz., C. annuum (four genotypes), C. frutescens (two genotypes) and C. chinense (nine genotypes), to develop F1 hybrids in chilli for high capsaicin content. The genotypes of C. chinense and C. frutescens having high capsaicin content were chosen to transfer genes to the cultivated C. annuum genotypes to improve their commercial value. The percent of fruit set was better in C. annuum x C. chinense and C. fruitescens x C. chinense. Seeds were more in C. annum x C. chinense (20 numbers of seeds) than in C. fruitescens x C. chinense with 8number of seeds. Irrespective of the parents involved, there was variation in seed germination in different cross combinations. Percent of germination and seedling survival was less in the crossed fruits. This experiment offers scope for further studies on pollen viability and the introgression pattern can be confirmed using molecular markers.