Morphological and DNA marker analysis of fruit size and shape in selected accessions and commercial cultivars of Capsicum in Sri Lanka Chamikara M.D.M.1, Ishan M.1, Karunadasa S.S.1, Perera M.K.D.I.1, Rajapaksha P.I.1, Lelwala R.V.1, Kasthuriarachchi V.D.W.1, Jeyakumar D.T.1, Weebadde C.K.2, Sooriyapathirana S.D.S.S.1,* 1Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 2Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA *Email: sunethss09@gmail.com
Online published on 29 March, 2016. Abstract With the advancement of molecular biology, breeding is now practiced with marker assisted selection. Therefore the objectives of the present study were to characterize the morphology and validate previously recorded fruit size and shape linked microsatellite markers using an Ex situ Capsicum collection in comparison to the commercial cultivars. Five microsatellite markers (HpmsE045, CAeMS010, GPMS178, CAMS451 and CAMS493) were used to genotype all 49 accessions using PCR and bands were size separated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. According to the fruit shape, six groups were identified namely Triangular, Elongated long, Elongated short, Spherical sharp-end, Spherical blunt-end and Rectangular. The plant height had a negative correlation with the number of fruits of the plant at first harvest. Number of seeds per fruit and the fruit diameter were significantly associated with the fruit weight (P<0.05). Microsatellite marker analysis revealed 44 alleles explaining very high level of genetic diversity (in the range of 62% to 87%). Out of the 44 alleles, 15 alleles were found to be significantly affecting on fruit size traits and 23 alleles were associated with fruit shape. These markers information could be used in future breeding programs and genetic studies of chili pepper. Top Keywords QTL, genetic diversity, Capsicum. Top |