Characterization studies of some local pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) populations

In this study, morphological characterization was carried out on 26 different populations of pepper, conserved in Aegean Agricultural Research Institute National Gene Bank, collected from Marmara, Black Sea, Eastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia regions in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and on 3 different standards pepper varieties belonging to the same institute. Characterization studies were made by using the IPGRI descriptor list published for pepper and UPOV property document of the same species. All populations were characterized in terms of 54 morphological features. In the study; the minimum, maximum, average values and frequency percentage of examined characters were determined. A wide variation was observed because examined populations included many types of pepper. It was determined that 50% days to flowering were 38-55 days, 50% days to fruiting were 44-61 days, fruit length was 3.5-23.6 cm, fruit width was 1.3-6.5 cm and number of locules was 2-4. Prior to ripening; 10 yellow, 19 green fruits were observed and among ripe fruits; the color was determined as 1 orange and 1 pale orange, 2 dark red and 25 red. In terms of fruit shape, the samples included all pepper types contained in descriptor list except bell type pepper. This study indicates that genetic diversity of pepper is high in Turkey. Principal component (PC) analysis extracted 9 autonomous PC axes containing 85.35% of the total multivariate variation. Average linkage cluster analysis extracted 3 different groups and pepper samples were identified according to this analysis.Keywords: Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), morphological characterization, National Gene Bank