A line with genetic changes that was obtained from selfed seeds of the scion of an intraspecific pepper graft was used as
a source of new characteristics in this breeding experiment. Five new variant lines and several sublines were bred by the
use of this graft-induced variant strain and two other cultivars. Gradual introduction of the desired quantitative traits
and selection resulted in combinations which significantly outperform the parental lines. Our breeding aim was to combine
the two-lobed fruit shape that is characteristic for the graft-induced variants with thick pericarp, high sugar content, large
fruit size, and significantly reduced or eliminated pungency in the new variants. A bushy plant type, typical for the graft-induced
variants could be maintained in some selected sublines. The use of the three different genotypes resulted in many favorable
combinations of quantitative traits, and lines were selected with the most valuable new characteristics. However, not all
of these expressed the two-lobed fruit apex of the graft-induced variants. Our results reveal that the new characteristics
which are induced by grafting are stable, new traits, and can be used as a novel genetic source in the breeding of pepper.
Capsicum annuum - graft-induced variant - new variant lines - pepper
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.