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LTR-retrotransposons Tnt1 and T135 markers reveal genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of domesticated peppers

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Abstract

Plant genetic resources often constitute the foundation of successful breeding programs. Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most economically important and diversely utilized Solanaceous crop species worldwide, but less studied compared to tomato and potato. We developed and used molecular markers based on two copia-type retrotransposons, Tnt1 and T135, in a set of Capsicum species and wild relatives from diverse geographical origins. Results showed that Tnt1 and T135 insertion polymorphisms are very useful for studying genetic diversity and relationships within and among pepper species. Clusters of accessions correspond to cultivar types based on fruit shape, pungency, geographic origin and pedigree. Genetic diversity values, normally reflective of past transposition activity and population dynamics, showed positive correlation with the average number of insertions per accession. Similar evolutionary relationships are observed to that inferred by previous karyosystematics studies. These observations support the possibility that retrotransposons have contributed to genome inflation during Capsicum evolution.

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Acknowledgments

We are extremely grateful to Christian Parisod, Miki Okada and Kietsuda Leungwilai for their helpful comments and suggestions. This study was funded by the FP6 European Commission EC-QLRT-1999-31502.

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  1. Sheh May Tam

    Present address: School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 46150, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire, UR501, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, 78026, Versailles Cedex, France

    Sheh May Tam, Corinne Mhiri & Marie-Angèle Grandbastien

  2. Unité de Génétique et Amélioration des Fruits et Légumes, UR 1052, INRA, Domaine Saint-Maurice BP 94, 84143, Montfavet Cedex, France

    Véronique Lefebvre, Alain Palloix & Anne-Marie Sage-Palloix

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  1. Sheh May Tam
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  2. Véronique Lefebvre
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Correspondence to Marie-Angèle Grandbastien.

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Communicated by G. Bryan.

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Tam, S.M., Lefebvre, V., Palloix, A. et al. LTR-retrotransposons Tnt1 and T135 markers reveal genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of domesticated peppers. Theor Appl Genet 119, 973–989 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-009-1102-6

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