Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a globally important crop with significant genetic diversity and economic value. Modern breeding faces critical challenges including disease resistance, fruit quality improvement, and climate adaptability. This study introduces a Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population derived from eight founder lines, each selected for their distinct phenotypic attributes. The founders and the progeny were phenotyped using 22 agronomic descriptors, covering key traits such as fruit shape, length, diameter, color, weight, and resistance to viral pathogens including Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV), Potato Virus Y (PVY), Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), and Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMV), providing an opportunity to dissect the genetic basis of these traits. Through whole-genome resequencing (~27x coverage) of these founder lines, we identified approximately 29.6 million polymorphisms, including SNPs, InDels, and structural variants. By incorporating resequencing data from eight traditional Italian landraces such as ‘Cuneo,’ ‘Quadrato di Carmagnola,’ and ‘Corno di Toro,’ several selective sweeps associated with fruit weight, diameter, and resistance to PVY were identified. The integration of genomic and phenotypic data will facilitate the identification of candidate genes and markers, accelerating the development of superior pepper cultivars. The development of this MAGIC population, as collaboration between academy and industry, exemplifies the potential of public-private partnerships to bridge the gap between research and practical breeding applications.
A MAGIC Population for Pepper Breeding
Martina M.;Barchi L.;Gaccione L.;Acquadro A.
;Portis E.
2025-01-01
Abstract
Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a globally important crop with significant genetic diversity and economic value. Modern breeding faces critical challenges including disease resistance, fruit quality improvement, and climate adaptability. This study introduces a Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population derived from eight founder lines, each selected for their distinct phenotypic attributes. The founders and the progeny were phenotyped using 22 agronomic descriptors, covering key traits such as fruit shape, length, diameter, color, weight, and resistance to viral pathogens including Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV), Potato Virus Y (PVY), Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), and Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMV), providing an opportunity to dissect the genetic basis of these traits. Through whole-genome resequencing (~27x coverage) of these founder lines, we identified approximately 29.6 million polymorphisms, including SNPs, InDels, and structural variants. By incorporating resequencing data from eight traditional Italian landraces such as ‘Cuneo,’ ‘Quadrato di Carmagnola,’ and ‘Corno di Toro,’ several selective sweeps associated with fruit weight, diameter, and resistance to PVY were identified. The integration of genomic and phenotypic data will facilitate the identification of candidate genes and markers, accelerating the development of superior pepper cultivars. The development of this MAGIC population, as collaboration between academy and industry, exemplifies the potential of public-private partnerships to bridge the gap between research and practical breeding applications.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
