Morphological characterization of Maax pepper (Capsicum annuum var. Glabriusculum) and Pico Paloma pepper (Capsicum frutescens)

Resumen

Objective: To morphologically characterize two wild species of Capsicum annuum Var. Glabriusculum (Maax pepper) and Capsicum frutescens (Pico Paloma pepper).

Methodology: Two seed compounds were evaluated, one from Maax pepper and another from Pico Paloma pepper, collected in Campeche, Mexico. Both ecotypes were evaluated ex situ in the 2016 and 2017 cycles, under greenhouse conditions. The evaluation was carried out jointly with eight other ecotypes in a randomized block design with three repetitions. The morphological characterization was based on the Capsicum descriptor of the IPGRI. The ecotypes were characterized and compared based on descriptive statistics.

Results: The main differential characteristics were: shape, length, and width of the cotyledonous leaf; shape and margin of the leaf; number of flowers per axil; color and spot of corolla; number of fruit’s locules, and seed surface.

Conclusions: The morphological characterization allowed to establish differences between the two genotypes; contributing to the knowledge of ex situ growth characteristics.