Recurrent Parent Phenome Recovery Analysis in Six Different Backcross Populations of Bell Pepper Having Genetic Male Sterile ms10 Gene

We attempted for the first time to transfer genetic male sterile (GMS) ms10 gene from the donor parent MS-12, popular GMS line in India, into the genetic background of six heat-tolerant bell pepper inbreds to develop new GMS lines. In this project, recurrent parent phenome (RPP) recovery was analyzed in each generations of backcrossing using economic phenotypic markers. Phenotypic background analysis revealed that the extent of RPP recovery ranged from 43.59% (MSSM-1) to 66.26% (MSSM-21) and 70.89% (MSSM-17) to 92.09% (MSSM-21) for fruit weight, from 19.0% (MSSM-21) to 55.14% (MSSM-3) and 61.0% (MSSM-21) to 98.75% (MSSM-1) for number of lobes fruit⁻¹, from 55.77% (MSSM-17) to 94.25% (MSSM-2) and 69.83% (MSSM-17) to 98.26% (MSSM-3) for total fruit yield plant⁻¹ in BC₁F₁ and BC₂F₁ populations, respectively. Based on a paired 't' test analysis of the BC₂F₁ population, out of six, MSSM-1 and MSSM-2 generation showed non-significant differences for all 19 traits examined followed by MSSM-3 (18), indicating a successful recovery of recipient phenome after successful introgression of ms10 gene. The chi-square test results of all the BC₂F₂ generations showed that the ratio well fitted to the Mendelian ratio, i.e., 3:1, validated the non-discriminated segregation of the male sterility trait possessing ms10 gene. The GMS phenotype (ms10ms10) was maintained by backcrossing it with the MF heterozygote (Ms10ms10) plant. The GMS lines developed from this project will be utilized in bell pepper breeding programs aimed to identify the best cross combination for their cultivation under north-Indian plains.