In situ MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF WILD PEPPERS (Capsicum spp.) IN TABASCO, MÉXICO

Abstract

Wild pepper (Capsicum spp.) plants in the State of Tabasco, México can be differentiated by their morphological characteristics. This research was performed on 89 wild pepper plants collected from 48 communities in 14 municipalities of Tabasco State from January to September 2013, to evaluate their in situ morphological diversity. Plant, fruit and flower traits were evaluated for each sampled plant. In Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum species the morphotypes ‘Amashito’, ‘Ojo de cangrejo’ and ‘Garbanzo’ were described, while for C. frutescens L. only the ‘Pico paloma’ morphotype was detected. Principal components and cluster analysis of the 12 selected variables divided the collections into two groups based on fruit and leaf variables. The first group included 43 collections of the C. annuum var. glabriusculum characterized by round-shaped fruits, small white corolla and one flower per axil; the second group comprised 46 collections of the C. frutescens L. characterized by elongated fruits, white greenish corolla and two or three flowers per axil. A gradual and continuous variable differentiation was found within each group which allowed to differentiate subgroups. The morphological diversity in wild pepper plants from Tabasco State is a valuable resource that must be preserved for future uses.