The present investigation was conducted to develop biochemical and molecular
genetic fingerprints for the four Capsicum annuum cultivars: Bohemian, Cherry, Long·
Red Cayenne and Anaheim, Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was employed to
identify the biochemical fingerprint based on SOS·proteins (sodium dodecyl sulfate)
and two isozyme (peroxidase and esterase) profiles, The gained data of 50S-protein
patterns revealed low level of polymorphism whereas the two isozyme systems were
effective in identifying Ihe four Cap < /em>sicum cultivars. Each cultivar was distinguished by
a unique class pattern, which indicates that isozyme fingerprinting is a reliable
technique to discriminate the four Capsicum cultivars. Extracted DNA from fresh leaf samples was used to identify the molecular
fingerprint of the four cultivars of Capsicum under study. Randomly amplified
polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPO-peR) analysis with frye random
primers (UBC-20, -35, -50, OPS-08 and -09) was performed. The results of RAPD
analysis partial,. discriminate among the four cullivars of Capsicum by one or more
unique bands. Some of Ihe random primers were more successful in identrfying
cultivars (USC-20) than the others, where they generated high number of unique
bands, The similarity indices for all pairs of four groups of Capsicum cultivars scored
from polymorphism across 50S-protein, two isozymes and RAPD analysis were used
to identify the genetic relatlonships among these cultivars, Keywords: Capsicum, pepper, electrophoresis, lsozymes, RAPO-PCR, similarity, INTRODUCTION Genetic fingerprinting studies of Cap < /em>sicum cultivars offer possibilities
for use in classifying and improving Capsicum cultivars. SOS-polyacrylamide
gel electrophoresis of proteins, isozymes and PCR-RAPO (polymerase chain
reacuons-randornly amplified polymorphic DNA) analyses offer reliably rapid
means for establishing genetic profiles and elucidation of genetic
relationships within and between taxa that would help in conservation of new
varieties and save efforts, expanses and time in the breeding programs of
Capsicum. Badr (1995) used SDS-protein profiles to study the relationships
between some taxa of Trifolium. Saeed et ai, (1998) used SDS protein
profiles to discriminate between two jujube cultivars. Afiah at al. (1999)
studied the protein profiles of some wheat cultivars and their F, hybrids. Also
Aly et al. (2000) used grain storage protein to discriminate between nine rice
cullivars. Isozymes have been extensively utilized to deduce similarity indices
and to construct dendrogram trees in many plant taxa. In this regard,
Abdelsalam et a/. (1998) used isozymes to discriminate between some barley
cultivars. Also, Li and Li (1999) used 9 isoenzyme systems to investigate
variation in twelve natural populations of Eucalyptus microtheca from
Australia. Cluster analysis based on the UPGMA (un-weighted pair group
method of arithmetic means) dendrograrn revealed low levels of genetic