Molecular AFLP-marking of genotypes of pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivars

The results of AFLP study of 14 Capsicum annuum cultivars are presented. Notwithstanding the known low genomic variation of large-fruited sweet pepper, AFLP analysis proved to be suitable for detecting polymorphism and genotyping pepper cultivars. Nine primer pairs were selected to allow identification of the cultivars under study. Among-cultivar polymorphism detectable with these primers was estimated at 16.5%. A characteristic AFLP pattern was obtained for each cultivar. Several cultivar-specific fragments were revealed for seven cultivars. On the basis of the AFLP data, genetic distances between cultivars were computed and a tree was constructed by means of hierarchic cluster analysis (UPGMA) with the Jacquard coefficient. It was assumed that this information is useful in breeding programs involving the cultivars examined.