Crossing and Breeding Chile Peppers

(how to create your own hybrids!)

Capsicum crossability matrix

a. petalsb. stigmac. pistild. stamense. blossom endf. calyxOk, enough about the science, let's get into some action!Here's a simple way how to breed your own varieties by mixing yourfavorite varieties.First, make a decision about the varieties you'd like to test.At first, it's good to select varieties which have as different pods as possible,that way you'll be able to see the differences between the properties more easily.Also, it's good to select the varieties within the same species first, it'smuch easier to learn that way compared with the mixed species.1. Select a flower from the variety you want to use as a male with the breeding.Here's C. annuum var. 'Malawi Bird's Eye'2. Then, select a flower from the variety you want to use as a female with the breeding.C. annuum var. 'Cayenne' works as a female here.3. Use forceps to remove the petals from the closed female flower bud.3. Half of the petals removed.4. All petals removed.5. Ok, now it's time to start emasculating!Use forceps to pick off the stamens, butbe very careful not to damage the pistil on the middle of the blossom end.Magnifying glass might be useful here, especially with smaller-floweredvarieties.6. Removing the last stamen.Now you can see pistil left on the flower.This flower is a pure female now.It would be a good thing to emasculate more flowers from thisplant to increase the change of succeeding with pollinating.7. Then, use a cotton stick to collect some pollen from the stamensof the variety you're using as a male.8. Transfer the pollen to the stigma (tip) of the pistil, andwe're almost done!(Pollinate all of the emasculated flowers you have on this plant.)9. Final stage is to label the cross.The first variety name on the label will tell which one is the female.Within the next week or so the flowers will fall off if the cross won't take.In other case, you'll have the seeds for your cross after the pod has matured!After germinating the crossed seeds you'll be able to see the results of the cross.If this isn't interesting and fun, then what is?

This table shows the end results possible with various crosses of different pepper species.

F

L

O

W

E

R Male Parent

Female Parent bacca-

tum praeter-

missum frutes-

cens chinense annuum galapa-

goense chaco-

ense tovarii pubes-

cens eximium carde-

nasii W

H

I

T

E

baccatum HF PF NG NG NG — NG — — — — praeter-

missum PF HF — IV IV — — — — PF — frutes-

cens NG — HF PF NG — — — — — — chinense NG NG PF HF PF — NG — — — — annuum NG IV PF PF HF IV IV — — — — galapa-

goense NG — — IV NG HF EC — — — — chaco-

ense IV IV — NG NG — HF — — — — P

U

R

P

L

E tovarii NG I IV EC — — IV HF — NG — pubes-

cens IV IV EC IV — — IV — HF HF NG eximium NG PF NG IV IV — IV NG HF HF HF carde-

nasii NG IV NG — IV — IV — HF HF HF

NG = F1 hybrids germinate normally

EC = F1 hybrids raised by embryo culture

IV = fruits/seeds set, but F1 seeds inviable

PF = F1 hybrids partially fertile

HF = F1 hybrids highly fertile

— = no data, or perhaps "does not cross" (original publication does not specify)



(Reproduced from Figure 3, Genetic Resources of Capsicum,

International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, 1983 [Crop Genetic Resources Centre, Plant Production and Protection Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations])