Fumiya Kondo (2nd-year doctoral student, Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding) at Shinshu University revealed through genetic analysis that the chili pepper cultivar ``Shishito'' loses its pungency due to the influence of two genetic loci.
"Shishito" is a variety that is characterized by almost no spiciness even though it is a chili pepper.The mechanism behind the loss of pungent taste has not been clarified until now.
In this study, we tried to elucidate the mechanism of the loss of pungency of 'shishito' by creating a hybrid group of 'shishito' and the pungent variety 'takanotsume'. To investigate how the loss of pungency in 'green pepper' is inherited, pungency intensity (capsaicinoid content) was investigated in the hybrid population, and the pungency intensity was continuously distributed from low to high.From this, it was clarified that the loss of pungency of ``green pepper'' is a quantitative trait controlled by multiple loci.This result is different from the genetic trait of common non-spicy peppers such as green peppers and paprika, in which one gene eliminates the pungency.
Next, we searched for the loci involved in the loss of pungency by quantitative trait locus analysis, and found that the main loci related to the intensity of pungency were located at the ends of chromosomes 3 and 7.These were named Shql3 and Shql7, and as a result of investigating the effects of the two loci on the pungency intensity, it was found that progeny with genotypes derived from ``shishito'', respectively, were progeny with genotypes derived from ``hawk's claw''. It was found that the pungent taste was significantly weaker than
It is said that it is difficult to adjust the strength of hot pepper in the current breeding of chili peppers, but by using the two loci found in Shishito peppers as indicators, it is possible to develop varieties that match the taste preferences of consumers. It is said that there is a possibility that it can be done.In the future, we will proceed with the elucidation of the causative genes involved in the pungency determination for application to the breeding of hot peppers.
