Study on the Profile of Capsanthin-Capsurobin Synthase (Ccs) Gene responsible for Carotenoid Synthesis in Chili Pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) Mutants G1M6 M2 Generation

Abstract The Capsanthin-capsorubin synthase (Ccs) is one of the enzymes that play a role in carotenoid pigment bio-synthesis. Mutations in the Ccs gene cause the formation of yellow or orange fruit colour instead of red. This study aims to analyze the genetic profile of the Ccs gene and its effect on the carotenoid content of the chili pepper mutant G1M6 M2generation. The profile of the Ccs gene was analyzed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) continued with sequencing methods.The carotenoid content was measured from chili fruit harvested at 35 and 65 days after planting. Comparison of the partial sequence of Ccs gene of the mutants and the Capsicum annuum var. Landrace, showed a substitution of adenine into guanine in the 124 bp nucleotide base sequence and the cytosine nucleotide substitution to thymine in the 556 bp nucleotide base sequence. However there was no difference between the Ccs gene sequence of the chili pepper G1M6/13, G1M6/7, G1M6/8 compared to the control plant (G1K1). The consistency showed by these sequence did not reflect the carotenoid content. Carotenoid content in the three mutant plants varied compared to control plants. The G1M6/8 mutant had higher carotenoid content, while the G1M6/13 mutant had a lower carotenoid content compared to the control plant. Since there was no differences on the partial sequence of the Ccs gene observed, the deviation of carotenoid content between mutant and control plants maybe governed by other part of the gene.