- - Breeding technology using cytoplasmic male sterility CMS for high functional leaf-stem variety without any fruit in chili pepper Capsicum spp.

摘要

The present invention relates to a series of breeding techniques using cytoplasmic male sterility in order to breed the leaf-stem F_1 cultivar of pepper which is fruitless and contains increased amounts of functional components. Peppers with edible fruit parts are classified as fruit vegetables, and including Paprika, are consumed worldwide as green chili, red chili, dried chili, and chili powder. Peppers contain a variety of functional substances, including capsaicin, which is responsible for the spiciness of peppers, and carotenoids, which determine the color of peppers, and these substances have been shown to possess remarkable health benefits in terms of anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and anti-obesity effects, and alleviation of hypertension. In recent years, there have been reported new functional materials found in peppers: α-gulcosidase inhibitor (AGI), a functional substance inhibiting post-meal increase of blood sugar levels; and apigenin having memory-improving effects. These substances exist in higher concentrations in the leaves of peppers than the fruits. In this context, in order to develop fruitless pepper cultivars, the present invention has conceived of a breeding method that uses cytoplasmic male sterility, which is a technique conventionally used in F_1 offspring production. Maintainers and restorers are distinguished from breeding lines, and cytoplasmic male sterile lines are backcrossed to develop cytoplasmic male sterile lines with enhanced functionality (high-activity AGI). In addition, by crossbreeding with new functional restorers, leaf-stem F1 cultivars may be developed, and the leaf-stem functional cultivars thus developed may be developed as food or tea, or may be developed as dry powder which is highly useful as food materials in various processed foods such as noodles.