Summary of report: Condiment paprika breeding and hybrid seed production

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Summary of full report

Condiment paprika breeding and hybrid seed production

by P. J. Sharp

July 2007

RIRDC Publication No 07/116 RIRDC Project No US-116A

Executive Summary

What this report is about

This report is a two-year continuation of the RIRDC project US-98A: Condiment Paprika: Breeding, Processing and Commercialisation (Stage 1). Condiment paprika, which is the dried and ground flesh of seed of speciality types of Capsicum species, is a globally traded commodity. During the project, breeding lines were advanced, especially by single seed descent; selections were made; new germplasm with specific traits were introduced into the breeding program; work started on the use of male sterility for hybrid seed production; and one line was approved for Plant Breeders Rights (PBR).

Who is the report targeted at?
The report is intended to inform current and potential growers and other breeders of paprika of our progress towards the goal of providing them with superior material that will potentially enable the development of a paprika industry in Australia.

Objectives
The objectives of the project were as follows:
1. To breed PBR cultivars suitable for mechanical harvesting

these lines should have a high proportion of the total yield in the first harvest
in addition they should have a high dry matter content, and high pigment content

2. Develop the single seed descent method for paprika, for rapid generation advancement

3. Investigate the use of male sterility as a method of hybrid seed production.

Methods Used
The breeding program initially used standard plant breeding technology: crossing, segregation of subsequent generations from the hybrids produced, combined with selection. The selection employed was mainly visual observations of the plant type in the field, with selection for upright plants with pendulous (hanging & swinging freely) paprika-type fruits, where the majority of fruits ripened at the same time. These characteristics are aimed at good machine-harvestability. In addition, interspecific crosses with wild Capsicum species were undertaken to attempt to transfer two other traits of potential benefit for machine harvesting, high detachability, and the snap-off trait. High detachability refers to the easy removal of the fruit from the green fleshy calyx, while the snap-off trait relates to a fruit ‘stem’ that breaks easily.

A rapid breeding technique, single seed descent, was also tried. This is where single seeds from populations are grown each generation in very small containers in the glasshouse, so that only a few fruits are formed quickly. This technique allows three generations to be grown per year: two in the glasshouse and one in the field.

An important non-visual characteristic for selection of paprika is the pigment concentration in the fruit. This is measured by an Australian Spice Trade Association (ASTA) determination. The breeding program developed a methodology to measure this at the Plant Breeder’s Institute-Cobbitty (PBICobbitty).

An associated PhD student supported by RIRDC researched aspects of male sterility. Male sterile mutants were induced by gamma rays and chemical treatment. Male sterile genes were also sourced from other researchers. These were evaluated for fertility and for the presence of genes that restore the fertility of sterile lines. One gene selected was a good candidate for hybrid production. DNA molecular marker technology was used to search for markers closely linked to this male sterility gene.

Such markers might enable more efficient selection for sterility for the production of the female parents in any hybrid seed production system.

Results
Breeding
Continuation of the conventional breeding material enabled three lines to be selected with good paprika characteristics (high dry matter percentage and extractable pigment content), and of these, one gained Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) protection.

The single seed descent (SSD) method worked well. It enabled interspecific cross material to progress quickly to field trial; where the promising material with paprika-like quality and also with the two extra traits of detachability and snap-off were identified.

Other results The male sterile work identified a number of male sterility genes of potential use. Particularly, male sterile 3 gene (ms3), had the characteristics needed, being uniformly male sterile with a high frequency of lines that can ‘restore’ the fertility.

The DNA marker work was successful in that a single marker was identified that was closely linked to the ms3 gene, but the presence of the marker was associated with the fertile type of the gene.

The Implications for Stakeholders
Improved cultivars and germplasm arising from this project are available for evaluation by stakeholders. The new interspecific material should be further advanced for the production of advanced paprika cultivars for possible commercialisation. The hybrid system developed by the PhD student has the possibility of allowing a commercial hybrid seed production operation to be set up in Australia, following further development. This would not have to be restricted to paprika, but could be applied to all Capsicum species crops.

Recommendations
1. The new cultivars, once protected by PBR, should be promoted to the industry.
2. A commercial partner should be sought to undertake the bulking up and commercialisation of the new PBR-protected cultivars.
3. Further work should be undertaken on the potential of hybrid seed production.

Links

Last updated: July 2007
Copyright RIRDC
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/NPP/07-116bsum.html