QTL Analysis for Capsaicinoid Content and Morphological Traits in Capsicum annuum

Agriculturally important traits for breeding such as growth habit, yield, and pungency level are controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in pepper (Capsicum spp.). In this study QTL analysis was performed to detect genetic regions which are responsible for morphological traits and capsaicinoid contents. An ultra-high density linkage map containing 3,301 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers was constructed using 120 F₉ recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Perennial (C. annuum) and Dempsey (C. annuum). The RILs were characterized by 17 morphological phenotypes including plant height, leaf length, flowering time, fruit weight. Capsaicinoid contents of RILs were also measured for two consecutive years. A total of 257 QTLs for 17 morphological traits and 34 QTLs for capsaicinoid content were detected. Morphological traits QTLs could explain 7 – 61% of phenotypic variations and capsaicinoid QTLs could explain 7 – 32% of variations. SNP markers will be developed for detected QTLs.