Evaluation of genetic distances between pepper inbred lines for cultivar protection purposes: comparison of AFLP, RAPD and phenotypic data

We evaluated concordance of AFLP and RAPD markers for estimating genetic di stances of 47 pepper inbred lines belonging to five varietal types. It enab led us to see the efficiency of these markers for identification, estimatio n of distances between Varieties and variety discrimination. Genetic distan ce and multidimensional scaling results showed a general agreement between AFLP and RAPD markers. Based on pattern scores, dendrograms were produced b y the UPGMA method. Phenetic trees based on molecular data were consistent with the classification of variety group. The precision of the estimation o f the genetic distance was given. The molecular genetic distances were corr elated with distances based on a set of discriminating agronomic traits mea sured for identification and distinctiveness tests. The relationship betwee n molecular and morphological distances appeared to be triangular. These re sults and their implications in the cultivar protection purposes of pepper hybrids are discussed.