Abstract
Capsicum has been neglected by cytogeneticists when compared to diploids such as tomato or maize. This is probably because Capsicum has only recently become a valuable export and cash crop; because Capsicum chromosomes are not amenable to the sorts of analyses that have generated so much information in maize and tomato; and because too few major genes have been analyses in Capsicum to provide comprehensive linkage maps for use in cytogenetics and plant breeding. This picture is now changing. Isozyme studies are rapidly improving the linkage map. Isozyme markers and doubled haploids are two powerful tools which are being used to analyse complex polygenic characters in Capsicum (Tanksley and Iglesias-Olivas, 1984,; Dumas de Vaulx and Pochard, 1986). The extent of the changes in chromosome structure, primarily equal reciporcal interchanges, which have occurred both within and between species, is also becoming apparent. These studies promise new insights into the course of evolution in Capsicum. Combined with data from genetics, they should generate fundamental information on conservation of linkage groups and conservation of particular chromosomes, as well as practical information on the effect of structural changes on interspecific gene transfer. Finally, the whole field of wide crossing and genetic engineering in Capsicum remains to be explored, and may lead to intersting discoveries about the developmental regulation of gene expression. For example, stem cells of hot pepper, which do not normally accumulate detectable amounts of capasicin, will release capsaicin into the culture medium when grown in vitro (Lindsey and Yeoman, 1984). Potato and tomato have been successfully hybridised via protoplast fusion and there may conceivably be commercial opportunities in wide Stories (probably apocryphal) about how cannibalistic Indians tortured their captives by rubbing chili pepper in their wounds and thereby mrinating their meat before it was cooked may surface in a new guise if the possibility of pre-seasoned potatoes or hot tomatoes becomes a reality. [AS]