Capsicum rhomboideum explained

Capsicum rhomboideum is a perennial member of the genus Capsicum with 2n=2x=26, and is considered a distant wild relative of the chili pepper. Its fruit do not have any pungency, and are a 0 on the Scoville Heat Unit scale.[1] [2] It gets its name from the rhomboidal to elliptical shape of its leaves.[3] It is native to Mexico, Central America, and Andean region of South America.[4] [5]

Plant description

Capsicum rhomboideum is typically a perennial shrub. It is densely covered in trichomes, making it pubescent. It is best identified by its rhomboidal to elliptically-shaped leaves. The flowers have a five-toothed calyx and yellow bell-shaped corolla.[6] The pollen grains are extremely small, 15 μm.[7] Mature fruit of C. rhomboideum are pea-shaped and sized, bright red to black when fresh, and they darken as they dry. They typically bear 2-6 seed per fruit. The seeds are brown.

Genome

The genome of C. rhomboideum is smaller than that of C. annuum. In the specific differentiation, C. rhomboideum likely underwent genome size reduction. Approximately 5% of the genome is heterochromatic. The typical Capsicum has 2n=24, and since 2n=26 in C. rhomboideum, causing it to be reclassified from Capsicum ciliatum in 2001.

Notes and References

  1. DNA Barcoding in a Crop Genebank: The Capsicum annuum Species Complex. Jarret. Robert L.. August 22, 2008. The Open Biology Journal. 1. 1. 35–42. 10.2174/1874196700801010035. free.
  2. Book: Russo, V. M.. Peppers: Botany, Production and Uses. CABI. 2012-01-01. 9781845937843. en.
  3. Lectotypifications, synonymy, and a new name in Capsicum (Solanoideae, Solanaceae). PhytoKeys. 2011-02-11. 1314-2011. 3174431. 22171173. 23–38. 2. 10.3897/PhytoKeys.2.730. Gloria E.. Barboza . free .
  4. FISH and AgNor mapping of the 45S and 5S rRNA genes in wild and cultivated species of Capsicum (Solananceae). Genome. 2015-11-18. 0831-2796. 95–113. 59. 2. 10.1139/gen-2015-0099. 26853884. Marisel A.. Scaldaferro. M. Victoria Romero. da Cruz. Nicolás M.. Cecchini. Eduardo A.. Moscone. 11336/113316. free.
  5. The Evolution of Chili Peppers (Capsicum - Solanaceae): a Cytogenetic Perspective. Moscone. Eduardo. 2007. Acta Hort. 745. 137–170. 10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.745.5. Spooner. 2016-02-20. 2017-03-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20170305142946/https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/pubag/downloadPDF.xhtml?id=17481&content=PDF. dead.
  6. Three New Species of Capsicum (Solanaceae) and a Key to the Wild Species from Brazil. Systematic Botany. 863–871. 30. 4. 10.1600/036364405775097905. Gloria E.. Barboza. Luciano De Bem. Bianchetti. 2005. 85972658. 11336/38870. free.
  7. Pollen phenotyping and performance in rocoto chili (Capsicum pubescens Ruiz et Pav., Solanaceae). Grana. 2015-01-02. 0017-3134. 37–44. 54. 1. 10.1080/00173134.2014.985606. María Laura. Bo. Carolina Carrizo. García. 11336/12419. 85079130. free.

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