Pepper plant

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to seedless pepper (SLP); and more specifically, it pertains to male sterile pepper plants having unique characteristics including the capability of growing edible seedless fruits, wherein the “seedless” trait is controlled by a genetic determinant independent of exogenous factors.

1 . A method of producing a seedless pepper fruit, the method comprising:
 a) providing a male-sterile  Capsicum annuum  pepper plant comprising a seedless trait and which grows seedless pepper fruits independent of the pollination and fertilization process, wherein the seedless trait is controlled by a genetic determinant and is independent of exogenous treatment with parthenocarpy-inducing plant hormones, and wherein the pepper plant comprises the genetic determinant conferring the seedless trait of the pepper plant 255-1, which genetic determinant is present in the hybrid C. annuum pepper designated AR07-F1-166-b, representative seeds of AR07-F1-166-b deposited with NCIMB, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, Scotland, UK under accession number NCIMB 41560;   b) allowing the pepper plant to grow a seedless pepper fruit; and   c) harvesting the seedless pepper fruit.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the seedless pepper fruit is characterized by being at least 95% seedless. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the seedless pepper fruit is a sweet pepper fruit selected from the group consisting of a dulce-type pepper fruit, a bell pepper fruit, a big rectangular pepper fruit, a conical pepper fruit, a long conical pepper fruit, and a blocky-type pepper fruit. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the seedless pepper fruit in the mature stage is evergreen, yellow, orange, ivory, brown, purple or red. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the seedless pepper fruit is red pigmented in the mature stage and dark green pigmented in the premature or unripe stage. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the male-sterile  C. annuum  pepper plant comprising a seedless trait and growing seedless pepper fruits is an inbred, a dihaploid or a hybrid. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the male-sterile  C. annuum  pepper plant comprising a seedless trait and growing seedless pepper fruits is the hybrid C. annuum pepper designated AR07-F1-166-b. 
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a seedless  Capsicum annuum  pepper plant, the method comprising:
 a) providing a seed of an F1 hybrid  C. annuum  pepper fruit made by crossing a seedless male-sterile  C. annuum  pepper plant as a female line and a seed-bearing male-fertile  C. annuum  pepper plant as a male line, wherein said seedless male-sterile  C. annuum  pepper plant used as a female line comprises a seedless trait and grows seedless pepper fruits independent of the pollination and fertilization process, and wherein the seedless trait is controlled by a genetic determinant and is independent of exogenous treatment with parthenocarpy-inducing plant hormones, and wherein the seedless male-sterile  C. annuum  pepper plant comprises the genetic determinant conferring the seedless trait of the pepper plant 255-1, which genetic determinant is present in the hybrid  C. annuum  pepper designated AR07-F1-166-b, representative seeds of AR07-F1-166-b deposited with NCIMB, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, Scotland, UK under accession number NCIMB 41560;   b) germinating the seed of an F1 hybrid pepper fruit of (a) and growing a mature, fertile C. annuum pepper plant therefrom;   c) inducing self-pollination of the C. annuum pepper plant grown in (b), allowing a seed-bearing pepper fruit to form, and harvesting fertile seed therefrom, and   d) growing  C. annuum  pepper plants from the harvested seed of c) and selecting a  C. annuum  pepper plant that grows seedless pepper fruits.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the seedless pepper fruits are characterized by being at least 95% seedless. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least 60% of the pepper fruits grown on the seedless pepper plant are at least 95% seedless. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least 40% of the pepper fruits grown on the seedless pepper plant are 100% seedless. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the seedless  C. annuum  pepper plant grows a sweet pepper fruit selected from the group consisting of a dulce-type pepper fruit, a bell pepper fruit, a big rectangular pepper fruit, a conical pepper fruit, a long conical pepper fruit, and a blocky-type pepper fruit. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a mature fruit of the seedless  C. annuum  pepper plant is evergreen, yellow, orange, ivory, brown, purple or red. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the seedless  C. annuum  pepper plant grows seedless pepper fruits that are red pigmented in the mature stage and dark green pigmented in the premature or unripe stage. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the male-sterile  C. annuum  pepper plant comprising a seedless trait and growing seedless pepper fruits is an inbred, a dihaploid or a hybrid.