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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #142384
Title: PEPPER, ORNAMENTAL, CAPSICUM ANNUUM

Author
item Stommel, John
item PAUL, BOSLAND - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Flower Breeding and Genetics: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century (Kluwer)
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2003
Publication Date: 5/11/2006
Citation: Stommel, J.R., Bosland, P.W. 2006. Ornamental pepper, Capsicum annuum. In: Anderson, N., editor. Flower Breeding and Genetics: Issues, Challenges and opportunities for the 21st Century. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer. p. 561-599.

Interpretive Summary: This book chapter presents an overview of ornamental pepper history, taxonomy, plant types and traits, breeding methodology, pest resistance, and crop production. Ornamental peppers exhibit considerable diversity in plant habit and produce leaves and fruit of varying shape and size. Diverse ripe fruit color and varying shades of green to purple leaf pigmentation, offer a myriad of opportunities to develop unique ornamental cultivars. Five cultivated pepper species and numerous wild relatives afford a wealth of material in which novel traits can be identified for use in ornamental pepper cultivar development. Easy seed propagation, heat and drought tolerance, and excellent keeping quality contribute to the success of ornamental pepper cultivars. These attributes have enabled the ornamental pepper to be used as pot plants, cut stems, and bedding and garden plants. New interest in ornamental peppers has stimulated new breeding activities to develop novel cultivars. Knowledge gained from breeding of culinary type peppers affords valuable information for use in developing new ornamental pepper cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are morphologically diverse and admired for their ornamental value. Considerable diversity exists in Capsicum germplasm for fruit and leaf shape and size, as well as plant habit. This morphological diversity, together with diverse ripe fruit color and varying hues of green to purple foliar pigmentation, affords a myriad of opportunities to develop unique ornamental cultivars. Easy seed propagation, relatively short cropping time, heat and drought tolerance, and excellent keeping quality contribute to the success of ornamental pepper cultivars. These attributes have enabled the ornamental pepper to be used as pot plants, novelties, cut stems, and bedding and garden plants. New interest in ornamental peppers has stimulated new breeding activities. Knowledge gained from genetic studies and breeding of culinary type peppers affords valuable genetic information for use in developing new ornamental pepper cultivars.