• HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
Friday, August 1, 2025
BIOENGINEER.ORG
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
No Result
View All Result
Bioengineer.org
No Result
View All Result
Home NEWS Science News Health

Understanding peppers and chilis from around the world

Bioengineer by Bioengineer
February 21, 2019
in Health
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on RedditShare on Telegram

A comprehensive multinational review of Capsicum species: ‘Capsicum–An Abbreviated Compendium’

GRIFFIN, GEORGIA–A comprehensive and multinational review of peppers/chilis (Capsicum species) with academic and scientific input from points across the globe, such as Argentina, Brazil, Taiwan, Mexico, Italy, Hungary, Austria, and the United States sets out to explore various aspects of interest concerning this horticulturally important crop.

Robert Jarret of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Plant Genetic Resources Unit, coordinated the efforts of the 18-member team as they delved into the phenomenon of the global embrace of the breadth and diversity of Capsicum.

Their revelatory findings are illustrated in a comprehensive article entitled “Capsicum – An Abbreviated Compendium” published in the current issue of The Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.

Capsicum is a major vegetable and spice crop worldwide. Global production of both fresh and dried fruit continues to increase steadily in terms of area harvested and total yield. Today, Asia currently contributes approximately 65% of the global production of pepper, whereas the Americas, Europe, and Africa each contribute 13.3%, 11.9%, and 10.1%, respectively.

Various topics are addressed within this review, including recent additions to and clarification of Capsicum taxonomy, Capsicum genetic resources, cytogenetic studies, the use of gene mutations to elucidate carotenoid biosynthetic pathways and their regulation, capsaicinoid biosynthesis, and recent advances in whole-genome sequencing and assembly.

Archaeological data allude to the use of Capsicum species as a spice as early as 5500 BCE. The crop was first introduced into Europe by Christopher Columbus during his travels in the 15th century. It later spread to countries in Africa and Asia by way of the flourishing trade routes of Spain and Portugal operating at that time. As it spread around the world, it was quickly adopted and served as a spice and gave rise to many regional varieties.

The increasing value of the pepper crop coincides with its role in international trade. However, the genetic variability with the genus Capsicum manifests itself in its ability to acclimate and produce a crop in a wide range of environments. This is reflected in the number of countries in which it is produced. Fresh pepper is cultivated in approximately 126 countries and dried pepper in approximately 70 countries.

Although developed countries continue to be the main producers of pepper crops, its cultivation provides an important source of income for small producers in many developing countries. The estimated global value of the fresh and dried pepper crops is approximately $30 billion and $3.8 billion, respectively.

Genebanks are viewed as the providers of the raw materials upon which crop improvement activities often depend. Collections of pepper germplasm are available to provide seed of various fruit and plant types and taxa for crop improvement and related research activities. Two of the largest collections of Capsicum germplasm are those of the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan and the USDA in Griffin, Georgia. The WVC and the USDA currently maintain active collections of 8264 and 4953 accessions, respectively.

Capsaicinoids are compounds unique to the genus Capsicum and are responsible for the pungency (heat) of pepper fruit. Aside from their value as a spice, capsaicinoids have well-established medicinal and antimicrobial properties and can affect seed dispersal and survival. Advances in the understanding of the molecular biology of the capsaicinoid biosynthetic pathway often have focused on the identification of new candidate genes, the characteristic of key previously identified genes, and the exploration of possible mechanisms of regulation.

Progress has been evident in conserving and characterizing genetic diversity in Capsicum. However, no thorough assessment of diversity has yet been undertaken. Field studies supported by molecular and cytological/karyological analyses continue to provide new information that advances the understanding of broad taxonomic and genetic relationships.

The potential of the information presented in this review, to augment crop improvement activities, is substantial given adequate resources to employ this information and to improve and expand upon it.

Jarret adds, “In today’s hyper-focused world of specialization, this review article attempts to provide the reader with a multi-disciplinary overview of international research efforts with Capsicum. It is hoped that this review will inform the reader and also inspire increased interest and collaboration among scientists to address the many questions regarding the botany, physiology, genetics, genomics, etc., of this important crop plant (and its related taxa) that remains to be answered.”

###

The complete article is available on the ASHS Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science electronic journal web site at: https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS04446-18. Or you may contact Robert Jarret of USDA’s Agricultural Research Service at [email protected] or call him directly at (770)228-7303.

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticulture Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticulture research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org.

Media Contact
Michael Neff
[email protected]
703-836-4606
http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/JASHS04446-18

Tags: Agricultural Production/EconomicsAgricultureFood/Food ScienceGeneticsNutrition/Nutrients
Share12Tweet8Share2ShareShareShare2

Related Posts

blank

Niclosamide Nanohybrid Trial for Mild-Moderate COVID-19

August 1, 2025
blank

HADHA Controls JAK/STAT3 in Glioblastoma via Metabolism

August 1, 2025

Study Finds Medicare Could Cut $3.6 Billion in Costs Without Impacting Older Adults

August 1, 2025

Intestinal CD4−CD8− T Cells Act as Tolerogenic APCs

August 1, 2025
Please login to join discussion

POPULAR NEWS

  • Blind to the Burn

    Overlooked Dangers: Debunking Common Myths About Skin Cancer Risk in the U.S.

    60 shares
    Share 24 Tweet 15
  • Dr. Miriam Merad Honored with French Knighthood for Groundbreaking Contributions to Science and Medicine

    46 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 12
  • Study Reveals Beta-HPV Directly Causes Skin Cancer in Immunocompromised Individuals

    37 shares
    Share 15 Tweet 9
  • Sustainability Accelerator Chooses 41 Promising Projects Poised for Rapid Scale-Up

    35 shares
    Share 14 Tweet 9

About

We bring you the latest biotechnology news from best research centers and universities around the world. Check our website.

Follow us

Recent News

Niclosamide Nanohybrid Trial for Mild-Moderate COVID-19

HADHA Controls JAK/STAT3 in Glioblastoma via Metabolism

Study Finds Medicare Could Cut $3.6 Billion in Costs Without Impacting Older Adults

  • Contact Us

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Home Page 1
    • Home Page 2
  • News
  • National
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.