AFLP Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Capsicum Genetic Resources in Guatemala

Abstract

The genetic diversity of 74 chili pepper accessions (Capsicum spp.) was evaluated with amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). Thirty‐four accessions were collected from home gardens throughout the Department of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. The remaining accessions were selected from the national ex situ germplasm collection representing the diversity of 12 other departments of Guatemala. Most of the accessions belong to Capsicum annuum L., both cultivated and semicultivated types. A few accessions of C. chinense Jacq., C. frutescens L., and C. pubescens Ruiz & Pavon were also included. The analysis of banding patterns (68 polymorphic bands) were obtained with three AFLP primer combinations (+3/+4 and +4/+3 selective bases) and allowed the discrimination of all but two of the accessions examined. It also made it possible to conclude that the genetic diversity found in the home gardens of Alta Verapaz is representative of the total genetic diversity of Capsicum in Guatemala. This is the first time that molecular markers have been used to assess crop genetic diversity maintained in home gardens and to evaluate their importance for in situ conservation of genetic resources.

Longitudinal analysis of maize diversity in Yucatan, Mexico: influence of agro-ecological factors on landraces conservation and modern variety introduction

“…Several previous case studies at the community level in Mexico (Perales et al, 2000;Perales et al, 2005;Latournerie-Moreno et al, 2006;Brush and Perales, 2007;Bellón and Hellin, 2011;Tuxill et al, 2010) and elsewhere (Brush, 2004;Guzman et al, 2005;Bisht et al, 2007;Rana et al, 2007;Jarvis et al, 2008;Bezançon et al, 2009;FAO, 2010;Jackson et al, 2010;Mulumba et al, 2012;Zimmerer, 2013) have demonstrated the persistence of landraces for climatic, ecological, cultural or social reasons. This trend is reaffirmed by the data from Mexico's national effort for maize diversity recollection (CONABIO, 2014).…”

Genetic variability in domesticated Capsicum spp as assessed by morphological and agronomic data in mixed statistical analysis

“…The characterization and the evaluation of the Capsicum domesticated species are particularly interesting for gene bank curators, since a wide variability, not yet fully known and exploited, is available in these species (Guzmán et al, 2005;Sudré et al, 2006;Ince et al, 2009). Despite the accuracy in estimating genetic divergence among accessions by molecular markers, knowledge of the phenotype given by morphological and agronomical descriptors is still important.…”

Nuevas herramientas en la lucha contra las virosis del pimiento

“…Otros estudios analizaron la diversidad genética de distintas especies del género Capsicum en zonas muy concretas. Por ejemplo, en el Departamento de Amazonas (Colombia) y en el Departamento de Alta Verapaz (Guatemala) (Toquica et al, 2003;Guzman et al, 2005). Sin embargo, la distribución de la variabilidad genética a nivel molecular dentro de C. chinense, C. frutescens, C. baccatum y C. pubescens no ha sido muy estudiada, al estar representada cada especie con un pequeño número de entradas.…”

“…They might be hybrids, gene flow could be occurring as these species live together in the lower Andean land region and interspecific crosses are highly viable (Pickersgill 1971;Walsh and Hoot 2001;Guzman et al 2005). Although C. chinense and C.…”

“…Most of the accessions were collected from home gardens, which shows that they are an important option for conservation of genetic resources because of their genetic diversity (Guzman et al 2005). It is necessary to implement strategies to gather and conserve Capsicum germplasm from South America, as it is necessary to study its characteristics, distribution and diversity.…”