Have you ever wandered through the aisles of a grocery store and noticed the variety of peppers available — everything from sweet bell peppers to spicy hot jalapeño peppers? Until recently, much of that variety has been exaggerated and poorly understood. But this is due to change, as Prof. Steven Tanksley, plant breeding and genetics, and his collaborators at DNA LandMarks publish the first completed pepper genome sequence online.

Tanksley and DNA LandMarks — a genomics unit of the Plant Science division of the BASF Group — started their collaboration five years ago when DNA LandMarks provided Tanksley with its private library of pepper genetic markers.

“This is the first complete genetic map of the pepper genome based on a set of common genes shared by tomato, potato, eggplant and other species in the nightshade family, as well as the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.” Tanksley stated in a press release issued by DNA LandMarks.

Charles Pick, business development manager of DNA LandMarks, commented that his company was very excited to work with Cornell — an institution he considered to be a leader in the field of genetic mapping — when Tanksley asked for their collaboration.

DNA LandMarks contributed a series of key genetic information, including DNA primer sequences used in jumpstarting DNA replication and favorable assay conditions that helped anchor the numerous yet disconnected sequences.

Pick highlighted the importance of the markers provided by the company, adding that “more markers lead to higher resolution in genetic mapping. Pepper is a worldwide crop [and] pepper breeders will use this resource,” regardless of where the crop is being produced.

Joachim Richert, CEO of DNA LandMarks, commented that the completion of the map “will help molecular scientists and plant breeders around the world to be more successful [because] a reliable, well-anchored genetic map is the foundation for effective marker-assisted breeding in any crop.” The completed map is publicly available online to researchers by Cornell University.

“The availability of this map should facilitate both applied and basic research in pepper,” Tanksley suggested.