The aim of this study was to determine if hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generated by glucose oxidase (GO) induces apoptosis or necrosis of BJAB cells and which radical is the direct mediator of cell death. We found that GO produced H2O2 continuously in low concentrations, similar to in vivo conditions, and decreased proliferation and cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. The GO-mediated cytotoxicity resulted from apoptosis, and was confirmed by monitoring the cells after H33342/Annexin V/propidium iodide staining. Decreases of mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular glutathione level were found to be critical events in the H2O2-mediated apoptosis. Additional experiments revealed that H2O2 exerted its apoptotic action through the formation of hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton rather than the Haber-Weiss reaction. Moreover, intracellular redox-active iron, but not copper, participated in the H2O2-mediated apoptosis.

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), one of the most important traits in crop breeding, is used for commercial F(1)-hybrid seed production in peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). A nuclear gene, Restorer-of-fertility (Rf), can induce normal pollen production in CMS plants resulting in fertility. Since the first report of fertility restoration in peppers, various inheritance modes have been suggested, including the presence of a third haplotype of the locus. The pepper Rf gene has not been cloned, and calculated genetic distances of linked markers have varied between research groups. A more precise allelic test and additional genetic mapping are needed to accurately select recombinants for use in marker-assisted backcrossing (MAB). Therefore, the reliability and application of these markers for allelic selection of the Rf gene was tested. Two different F(2) populations, Buja and Tamna, were used for the construction of a linkage map. From these linkage groups, anew closely linked flanking marker of the Rf gene were identified. Previous allelic testing revealed the existence of a third haplotype, Rfls(7701), which can function as dominant (Rf) or recessive (rf). In a previous report, Rfls(7701) was considered to be linked to unstable male sterility (MS). However, our results suggest that unstable MS was induced by a gene residing at another locus rather than by Rfls(7701) haplotype- linked allele.

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is one of the most important viral diseases in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), and several genes for resistance were reported in Capsicum spp. In Korea, a single dominant gene that is resistant to CMV Fny and CMV P0 has been used for breeding. Recently, a new strain (CMV P1) was reported that could infect cultivars resistant to both CMV Fny and CMV P0. Therefore, breeding of more robust CMV-resistant cultivars is required. In this study, we surveyed the inheritance of CMV P1 resistance and analyzed the location of the resistance loci. After CMV P1 inoculation of various germplasms and breeding lines, one accession (ICPN18-8) showed no visual symptoms at 15 dpi (days post inoculation) but was susceptible after 45 dpi, and one resistant line (I7339) showed resistance until at 45 dpi. The latter line was used for tests of resistance inheritance. A total of 189 F2 plants were examined, with 42 individuals showing resistance at 15 dpi and a phenotype segregation ratio close to 1:3 (resistant:susceptible plants). In a lateral ELISA test at 45 dpi, 11 plants showed resistance, and the segregation ratio was changed to 1:15. These results indicate that resistance in C. annuum 'I7339' is controlled by two different recessive genes; we named these resistance genes 'cmr3E' and 'cmr3L,' respectively. To locate these two resistant loci in the pepper linkage map, various RAPD, SSR, and STS markers were screened; only nine markers were grouped into one linkage group (LG). Only one RAPD primer (OPAT16) was distantly linked with cmr3E (22.3 cM) and cmr3L (20.7 cM). To develop more accurate markers for marker-assisted breeding, enriching for molecular markers spanning two loci will be required. Additional key words: linkage group, RAPD