ASHS 2025 Conference

Seed increase is an essential step in germplasm management, enabling the effective use of genetic resources in breeding, evaluation, and conservation. This study focused on multiplying seed stocks and assessing phenotypic diversity in a globally sourced collection of 485 Capsicum accessions. The collection comprises accessions belonging different species of Capsicum including C. annuum (473), C. chinense (4), C. baccatum (3), C. chacoense (1), C. flexuosum (1), C. frutescens (1), C. galapagoense (1), and C. rhomboideum (1). Evaluated accessions were obtained from diverse genebanks (domestic and international), and collaborative breeding programs that comprises landraces, heirlooms, breeding lines, and exPVPs. To ensure sufficient seed availability, 352 accessions were grown in a greenhouse during summer 2024 and an additional 133 accessions were grown during winter 2024. Simultaneously, twelve agronomic and morphological traits, six pre-harvest (e.g., germination rate, plant vigor, internode number and length) and six post-harvest (e.g., fruit size, pericarp thickness, yield) were recorded. Significant phenotypic variation was observed across varietal groups. Bell and mini bell peppers showed high germination rates (>65%) and marketable yields, with bell types producing the heaviest fruits (79.8 g) and thickest pericarps (5.2 mm). Banana peppers exhibited the longest fruits (13.8 cm) and high plant vigor, while mini bells were completely resistant to lodging. These findings highlight both successful seed multiplication and the phenotypic richness of the collection, offering a valuable resource for pre-breeding, core collection development, and trait-specific selection.