An EST-based linkage map reveals chromosomal translocation in Capsicum

To facilitate marker-assisted breeding and analysis of the structure and/or organization of Capsicum (pepper) genomes, this study utilized expressed sequence tags (ESTs) to develop single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Three different types of PCR-based markers derived from pepper ESTs were developed: intron-based polymorphic markers (IBPs), conserved ortholog sets (COSIIs), and eSNPs (EST–SNPs). For scanning and detection of SNPs, high-resolution melting analysis was performed and the resultant markers were used for linkage analysis. A total of 512 markers, comprising 214 IBP, 143 COSII, 48 eSNP, and 107 previously reported markers, were mapped on 12 linkage groups (LGs) of the “AC99” F2 population. This newly constructed interspecific map (AC2) covered 2,335.6 cM with an average marker interval distance of 4.5 cM and was aligned directly with another interspecific map (AF) for validation. Most LGs showed collinear relationships, except for the alignment of chromosomes 1 and 8 of the AC2 map to LG P1 of the AF map. Using our newly developed SNP markers, we generated chromosome-specific markers, and the previously predicted reciprocal translocation event between chromosomes 1 and 8 was revealed between wild and cultivated Capsicum by fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis. The results from this study will promote subsequent evolutionary studies of Capsicum species.