Male sterility is used to mass-produce F₁ hybrid seeds in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). In particular, the development of genetic male sterility (GMS)-linked molecular markers may play a crucial role in hybrid breeding of pepper. To date, approximately 20 GMS genes have been identified in pepper. Among these, several molecular markers for the ms₃ gene have been developed in previous studies; however, they are not completely linked and thus have limitations for use in selection. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to develop molecular markers for ms₃ selection using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. Chi-square test was conducted using three F₂ segregating populations, and the results confirmed a 3:1 segregation ratio between male-fertile and male-sterile plants. A total of 128 primer sets were designed by selecting SNPs near the ms₃ gene, and 25 HRM markers were successfully developed. Using 420 individuals from the F₂ segregating population ‘GMS3,’ a high-density genetic linkage map of pepper chromosome 1 was constructed, with eight HRM markers found to be co-segregated with the ms₃ gene. Subsequent experiments using various plant materials validated these eight markers, ultimately identifying two HRM markers, HRM119655681 and HRM135273656, for the final selection. These two markers showed co-segregation between the phenotype and genotype of ms₃ across all plant materials used in the study. The markers developed in this study are expected to be effective for maternal line development and large-scale F₁ hybrid seed production using ms₃ in pepper.

In this study, genotype analysis was conducted using the Fluidigm system with 13 SNP markers related to anthracnose, powdery mildew, phytophthora root rot, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), potyvirus, and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) resistance. A total of 25,350 data points were obtained, 8.2% of which indicated resistance genotypes. Resources having perfect resistance genotype to each disease-related molecular marker set were 58 accessions for anthracnose, 57 for powdery mildew, 246 for phytophthora root rot, and 765 for CMV. There was no resource having a perfect resistance genotype of all three potyvirus-related molecular SNP markers including pvr1, pvr2 (123457), and pvr2 (689). Thirty-seven accessions for pvr1, 349 accessions for pvr2 (123457), and 23 accessions for pvr2 (689) were identified as resources with resistance genotype. No resource with the TMV-resistance genotype was found in this study. The resources with complex resistance genotypes of anthracnose and powdery mildew were 55 accessions, and they were mainly Capsicum baccatum. Among these, seven accessions had a three-disease combined resistance genotype with phytophthora root rot. Thirty-six accessions, 16 accessions, and nine accessions each had resistance genotypes of the three potyvirus-related markers. These resources also had CMV and phytophthora root rot resistance genotypes, and they were mainly Capsicum chinense. The statistical analysis considering the evaluated resistance genotypes, revealed that the anthracnose resistance genotype showed a tendency to be linked with powdery mildew resistance genotype. The potyvirus-related marker pvr1 was positively correlated with Phytophthora root rot markers.

Red peppers (Capsicum spp.) are one of the most widely consumed vegetables in Korea; thus, improving the beneficial properties of peppers may have important public health implications. Peppers contain various active phenolic compounds, including capsaicinoids; therefore, developing cultivars with high levels of these and other functional compounds is of major interest. We analyzed and compared the physiological activities and functional compounds on 15 cultivars of red peppers, including 5 commonly consumed cultivars that were collected from markets in Korea, and 10 important breeding cultivars that were registered with the National Agrobiodiversity Center (RDA, Korea). Comparisons of polyphenol content showed that polyphenol levels were higher in the green stages of the 10 registered peppers than in the same stage of ‘Noggwang Gochu’ peppers collected from the market. Based on ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6- sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, all stages of the 10 registered peppers had higher antioxidative activity than did the green and red stages of ‘Noggwang Gochu.’ Overall, ‘Hongsinho Gochu’ and ‘House Put Gochu’ had the highest antioxidant activity levels and the highest functional content among breeding cultivars. Among landraces, ‘Jeonbuk Wanju’ red peppers had both the highest functional ingredient levels and the highest antioxidant activity levels.

We developed high-quality Korean pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) varieties to compete with imported chili peppers from China. The ‘OH95’ line, which was introduced from Hungary in 1997, was self-pollinated, and the resulting ‘62067L2’ was selected as a pigment-rich maternal line in 2003. However, RSS and LV2319, both developed in 1993, were cross-bred, after which the paternal line ‘62027R3’ was developed by consecutive selections and generation advancement. After the cross combinations were performed, their horticultural characteristics were evaluated for two years, and subsequently, regional adaptation trials were conducted for at three different sites over three years. Of these, a new pepper variety, ‘Jeockyoung’ exhibited an average ASTA value of 175, representing pigment content, which was approximately 43% higher than that of a commercial cultivar ‘Manitta’. In addition, the capsaicinoid content of ‘Jeockyoung’ was 114.4±11.6 mg/100 g, which was slightly higher than that (86.3±2.8 mg/100 g) of the control cultivar. Moreover, regional adaptation trials revealed that the new variety showed regional differences in annual yield; however, the yield was approximately 18% higher than that of the commercial cultivar. Fruit weight, length, and diameter of the new variety were approximately 21.8 g, 14.3 cm, and 2.2 cm, respectively. The flowering period was approximately 101 days after sowing, which was similar to that of the control cultivar. In addition, leaf length and plant height were also not different from those of the control cultivar.