Abstract

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a common biological phenomenon used in hybrid production of peppers (Capsicum annuumL.). Although severalrestorer-of-fertility(Rf) genes of pepper CMS lines have been mapped, there is no report that theRfgene with clear gene function has been isolated. Here, pepper CMS line HZ1A and its restorer line HZ1C were used to construct (HZ1A × HZ1C) F2populations and map theRfgene. A single dominant geneCaRfHZconferred male fertility according to inheritance analysis. Using sterile plants from (HZ1A × HZ1C) F2populations and bulked segregant analysis (BSA), theCaRfHZgene was mapped between P06gInDel-66 and P06gInDel-89 on chromosome 6. This region spans 533.81 kb, where four genes are annotated according to Zunla-1 V2.0 gene models. Based on the analysis of genomic DNA sequences, gene expressions, and protein structures,Capana06g002968was proposed as the strongest candidate for theCaRfHZgene. Our results may help with hybrid pepper breeding and to elucidate the mechanism of male fertility restoration in peppers.Keywords:pepper;cytoplasmic male sterility;restorer-of-fertilitygene;fine mapping