Phylogenetic Relationship Analysis of Capsicum Germplasm Using Morphological Characters and AFLP Markers

Abstract

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among five cultivated Capsicum species were assessed using both mor-phological characters and DNA finger-printing patterns. Based on the clustering analysis using morphological characters withineach species, the accessions of C. annuum were classified into three sub-groups and the other four species into two groups. Fruitshapes and their colours contribute significantly to the varietal grouping in C. annuum, C. frutescens, C. baccatum and C. chinenseexcept C. pubescens, which was characterized by completely diferent plant growth habit from the other four species. According tothe analysis of AFLP DNA polymorphisms, all accessions were divided into the five groups which clearly coincided with five spe-cies. C. annuum was relatively separated from C. frutescens, C. chinense and C. baccatum. C. chinense was most closely relatedwith C. frutescnes, well supporting the previous report of crossability acros Capsicum species. C. pubescens was revealed as themost separated species from the others. The evaluation of Capsicum germplasm by AFLP technique might provide the evolution-ary insight among cultivated species as well as intra-specific variation in Capsicum genus.