Molecular AFLP analysis of the genotypes of pepper Capsicum annuum cultivars

The results of AFLP study of 14 Capsicum annuum cultivars are presented. In spite of 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 determined 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.