Genetic diversity of chili pepper mutant (Capsicum frutescens L.) resulted from gamma-ray radiation

Abstract

Abstract Genetic variation is an important source for plant breeding activities. Efforts to develop genetic variation are among others carried out by mutation techniques including mutation induction with gamma-ray radiation. The purpose of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity of chili pepper as a result of mutation induced by gamma-ray radiation based on morphological characters, capsaicin content, and RAPD profile. Chili pepper seeds genotype G1 were irradiated with two doses of gamma-ray 200 and 400 Gy. Analysis of morphological characters refers to the descriptor Capsicum spp. The capsaicin content of the fruit was measured using a spectrophotometric method. Genetic diversity was analyzed through profiling and scoring of RAPD DNA bands represented in the form of a UPGMA dendrogram using the NTSYS 2.10e program. Statistical analysis of quantitative morphological characters and capsaicin content were conducted using SPSS 24.0 program. Gamma-ray radiation can induce variations in morphological characters. The radiation dose of 400 Gy was more effective in producing mutant variants with the highest characters of plant height, canopy width, stem diameter, fruit length, and number of fruits. Gamma-ray radiation did not significantly increase the capsaicin content of the fruit (P 0.05). Mutant G1 chili pepper showed morphological and molecular variations. The mutant group separated from the control showed that the mutants experienced a significant change in several characters.