Determination of F1 hybrid seed purity in pepper using PCR-based markers

We present the potential use of two kinds of PCR-based markers, RAPDs (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) and SPARs (Single Primer Amplification Reactions), as tools for hybrid seed purity determination. Five F₁ pepper hybrids (Capsicum annuum L.) and their parents were analyzed with 100 10-mer primers and 10 nucleotide repeat primers. We found at least one useful marker for testing the purity of all hybrids studied. Despite their dominant inheritance these markers could be an efficient implement in the process of quality testing of hybrid seeds. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.