Characterization and evaluation of salmon-colored biquinhotype pepper progeniesCapsicum chinense peppers are mostly native to Brazil and the biquinho (beaked)-type C. chinense pepper, aromatic and nonpungent, has been increasing in importance in the Brazilian fresh and pickled pepper market. Despite the increasing demand, a few cultivars are available to growers and breeding programs are required in order to offer interesting cultivars to producers and consumers. This paper reports breeding efforts made on a segregating red-fruited biquinho population which combined stratified mass selection and selfing for two generations before obtaining 17 inbred lines. The 17 progenies were characterized considering 11 morphological traits, and evaluated for fruit production under field conditions. Additionally, capsaicin content was determined using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Based on the results, three progenies were selected and considered to have high potential: CNPH 35.103 was considered promising for future release as a cultivar due to high yield (1.4 kg/ plant), strong aroma and thick walls; and CNPH 35.094 and CNPH 35.099 were also high yielders and presented capsaicin content close to zero.

RESUMOA pimenta cumari, Capsicum baccatum var. praetermissum e C. baccatum var. baccatum, é uma espécie semidomesticada, endêmica das regiões Sudeste e Centro-Oeste do país. Apesar da sua importância econômica, principalmente para a agricultura familiar, e da sua ampla variabilidade, ainda não existe uma cultivar dessa espécie disponível no mercado brasileiro. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar acessos de pimenta cumari do Banco de Germoplasma de Capsicum da Embrapa Hortaliças com base em características morfoagronômicas e identificar acessos promissores que possam dar origem a um programa de melhoramento genético. Verificou-se a existência de grande variabilidade entre os acessos analisados, tendo sido encontradas diferenças para a maioria das variáveis. O material mais precoce, CNPH 4065, floresceu aos 81 dias após a semeadura e o mais tardio, CNPH 2957, aos 126 dias. O número de flores por axila variou de 1 a 3. Já em relação à pilosidade, a quantidade de plantas muito pilosas foi de 6,25%; pilosidade moderada 6,25%; pouca pilosidade 12,50% e sem pilosidade 75,00%. A estimativa da produtividade variou de 8 a 340 gramas por planta e a incidência de viroses indicou o PepYMV como o mais frequente, tendo sido encontrado em 33% das plantas analisadas. Os acessos CNPH 4065, CNPH 3824, CNPH 3993, CNPH 2964 e CNPH 2948 foram considerados promissores para o uso em programa de melhoramento. Palavras-chave:Capsicum baccatum, precocidade, variabilidade. ABSTRACT Preliminary morpho-agronomic characterization of cumari hot peppersThe cumari hot pepper, Capsicum baccatum var. praetermissum and C. baccatum var. baccatum, is a semi-domesticated species, endemic to the Southeast and Midwest regions of Brazil. Despite its economic importance, especially for small farmers in family agriculture systems, no cumari cultivars are available in the Brazilian market. This research aimed to evaluate 16 cumari accessions of the Capsicum Germplasm Bank of Embrapa Vegetables based on morpho-agronomic features, and identify promising accessions for further breeding programs. Genetic variability was found among accessions and differences were observed for the majority of the characteristics. The earliest genotype, CNPH 4065, set flowers 81 days after sowing and the latest, CNPH 2957, at 126 days. The number of flowers per axil ranged from 1 to 3. Pubescence, a relevant plant characteristic associated to insect resistance was found as follows: highly pubescent plants 6.25%; moderately pubescent 6.25%; almost glabrous 12.50%; and glabrous 75.00%. Yield was estimated in between 8 grams/plant and 340 grams/plant. PepYMV (33% of the total number of plants) was the most prevalent virus infecting cumari hot peppers in the field. Five accessions (CNPH 4065; CNPH 3824; CNPH 3993; CNPH 2964; CNPH 2948) were considered as promising to be used in cumari breeding programs.

The orange-fleshed Biquinho pepper type cultivar BRS Tui was developed by Embrapa Hortaliças to meet the demands of fresh fruit and processing agroindustry of preserves, jellies, flavored oils and vinegar markets. Its fruits are very aromatic, tasty, and crunchy. It is resistant to important diseases, and presents high yield, uniformity and fruit quality. Moreover, ‘BRS Tui’ fruits are sweet and serve consumers who do not consume hot peppers because of their pungency.