**6. Genes of** *Capsicum*

Annotated gene sequences are crucial for breeding and developing varieties for tolerance and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and enhancing Capsicum's agronomic and nutritional traits. NCBI record during the time of this writing showed a total of 1181 annotated Capsicum genes (duplicate copies are included). Specifically, *Capsicum chacoense* has *132 annotated genes, followed by Capsicum galapagoense* (132), *Capsicum eximium* (132), *Capsicum frutescens* (131), *Capsicum baccatum var. baccatum* (131), *Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum* (131), *Capsicum baccatum var. praetermissum* (131), *Capsicum pubescens* (131), and *Capsicum lycianthoides* (130).

Boswell [104] looked at the inheritance of 16 phenotypes in pepper and discovered seven gene symbols for purple foliage and stem color, blunt fruit apex, bulged fruit base, pendent fruit position, red mature fruit color, strong purple foliage and stem color, and non-clasping fruit calyx [104, 105]. Data was merged from six different maps from the US, Israel, and France to construct an integrated *Capsicum* genetic map with six distinct progenies and 2262 genetic markers spanning 1832 cm [105, 106].

The first *Capsicum* gene nomenclature and symbols were published in 1865 [105]. Lippert and colleagues increased the number of genes on the list to 75 [105]. Daskalov published a gene list in Bulgarian with around 90 genes [105]. Greenleaf developed a gene list for pepper breeding based on Lippert and others' gene lists and included several extra gene symbols for pepper breeders' use [105, 107, 108]. This gene list includes morphological features, physiological traits, sterility, resistance to diseases, nematodes, and herbicides among *Capsicum's* 292 known genes [105, 108]. The *Capsicum* and Eggplant Newsletter Editorial Board (CENL) proposed the criteria for *Capsicum* gene nomenclature in 1994 to help standardize and articulate the gene symbols [105]. A list of known genes using these rules, reallocating some gene symbols, and standardizing confusing symbols were compiled [105, 109]. Ninety-two genes have been added to Daskalov and Poulos' gene list [105, 109]. The suggested gene symbols complied with the *Capsicum* gene nomenclature guidelines for those features tested

for inheritance according to CENL [105, 109]. An attempt was made to fix inaccuracies in earlier lists' gene symbols and descriptions [105].

Since Webber (1912) explored the inheritance of various phenotypes of *Capsicum* genes [105]. The inheritance of 16 features in pepper identifies seven gene symbols for seven distinct phenotypes [104]. Following Boswell's work, pepper inheritance research grew in popularity, with more essential features connected with the increased global significance of pepper production and more induced or spontaneous mutants being produced [104, 105].

More efforts to tag identical genes with molecular markers have been made since the late 1980s [110]. In addition, efforts were made to clone and describe the genes [110].
