Recover of wild peppers (Capsicum chacoense Hunz.) in Central valley of Catamarca, Argentina. Phenotypic characterization and selection by agronomical traits and fruit quality

MURÚA CARRIZO F.; ASPRELLI P. D.; PERALTA I.E.

Cornell

Congreso; SOL INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MEETING 2020; 2020

Sol Genomics Network

Capsicum chacoense is native to South America distributed in Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay, and highly appreciated as food condiment by local communities in northwestern Argentina. Fruits of “aji de monte” or “uchuquita” are harvested in their natural habitats and commercialized regionally. Traditional harvesting consists in the extraction of productive branches or the whole plant, which is the main reason for the degradation and possible loss of this valuable plant genetic resource. This concern drives a more comprehensive study about the potential for use of this wild pepper species and its conservation status. In 2020 the recovery of germplasm began in 14 locations in the central valley of Catamarca, where “uchuquita” forms small populations associated with trees, shrubs and cactaceous species of the Monte plant community (Prosopis spp., Sarconphalus mistol, Celtis spp., Geoffroea decorticans, Parkinsonia praecox, Larrea spp., Pachycereus pringlei, Cereus forbesii). In each population an ecological characterization was made and fruits of at least 10 plants were collected. Part of the recovered seeds are maintained in a germplasm bank, while others were selected to produce plants for cultivation in field trials. Preliminary results show a good adaptation of the plants to agronomical management. Phenotypic characterization includes 20 quantitative and qualitative variables comprising the seedling, vegetative and reproductive stages, as well as fruit pungency due to capsycinoid alkaloids, since preliminary studies have shown variability in populations. An integrative study of Capsicum chacoense, including cultural traditions, allows germplasm conservation strategies and promotes its use in horticultural production and breeding programmes.