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PubMed2026

A chromosome-scale genome of Capsicum pubescens provides insights into candidate terpene-associated gene clusters and pan variation of terpene synthases.

A chromosome-scale genome of Capsicum pubescens and comparative pan-TPS analysis support structural characterization and gene-level prioritization of a chromosome-9 terpene-associated candidate locus in this accession. Capsicum pubescens is one of the five domesticated Capsicum species, mainly cultivated in mid- to high-elevation regions of the Americas. Despite its distinctive morphology and fruit traits, genomic resources for C. pubescens remain less developed than those for the widely cultivated C. annuum. Here, we assembled a chromosome-scale reference genome for accession HNUCP0001, spanning 3.70 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 278.01 Mb. Comparative genomics revealed 679 significantly expanded gene families enriched in sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis. Genome-wide biosynthetic gene-cluster mining identified multiple terpene-associated candidate loci, which were subsequently prioritized using genome-derived structural criteria and Capsicum pubescens-specific expression evidence. Subsequently, we curated the terpene synthase (TPS) repertoire and, across 16 Capsicum genomes, resolved 36 TPS orthogroups with pronounced presence/absence variation, highlighting dynamic lineage-specific diversification. Together, these analyses establish HNUCP0001 as an accession-specific genomic resource and provide a comparative framework for prioritizing terpene-associated TPS genes and candidate BGCs in Capsicum. These candidate loci, together with accession-level transcriptomic and metabolomic evidence, offer testable hypotheses for future functional studies of specialized terpenoid metabolism in C. pubescens.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed2026

Engineering cold stress resilience in capsicum annuum through functional genomics and precision breeding.

This review synthesizes the molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance in pepper, integrating multi-omics data,genome editing, and precision breeding strategies to accelerate the development of cold-resilient cultivars. Cold stress is a significant environmental factor that affects the growth, productivity, and fruit quality of Capsicum annuum by impairing membrane integrity photosynthesis and cellular redox homeostasis. Although pepper has several endogenous cold-responsive regulators such as CaNAC035 and CabHLH035, along with antioxidant defense systems, its cold tolerance remains limited due to low transcriptional activation of key regulators, functional redundancy among cold-responsive genes, and the polygenicity of cold tolerance. These complexities, combined with low genetic diversity and linkage drag, have hindered the improvement of cold-resistant cultivars through conventional breeding. This review brings together the recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cold stress perception, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, metabolic reprogramming, and phytohormone interactions in pepper. Precision Breeding 2.0 is a new innovation that combines the integration of multi-omics-based target identification with next-generation genome-editing techniques, allowing precise and multiplex engineering of complex and interconnected regulatory networks instead of single genes. We cover new approaches such as engineering the DREB/CBF pathway, allele-specific editing and targeted disruption of negative regulators to enhance the pathway(s) involved in cold response. Moreover, we propose a roadmap for integration of transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, high-throughput phenomics, and speed breeding to accelerate the identification, validation, and deployment of superior alleles to boost cold tolerance. This review provides a foundation for developing climate-resilient pepper cultivars by connecting functional genomics with precision genome engineering approaches to maintain productivity under variable environmental conditions.

Capsicum↗

PubMed2026

Molecular mechanisms and agronomic strategies for thermotolerance in chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).

Heat stress is a primary environmental constraint on chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) productivity and fruit quality across global agricultural systems. Elevated temperatures adversely affect plant growth, flowering, fruit set, pod morphology, physiology, and metabolism. The severity of these impacts varies with the duration and intensity of heat exposure and with the stage of plant development. Reproductive development is especially vulnerable, resulting in compromised fruit formation and a decline in productivity. Heat stress disturbs photosynthesis, cellular structure integrity, and membrane stability through oxidative stress. Chili plants counter heat stress through complex molecular networks that encompass activation of antioxidant systems, heat shock protein (HSP) synthesis, osmolyte biosynthesis, and stress-responsive transcription factor expression. Recent advancements in genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics have elucidated fundamental regulatory pathways governing thermotolerance, highlighting the importance of heat-responsive genes, including CaHSPs, CaWRKYs, and CaNACs. This comprehensive review integrates contemporary understanding of physiological, biochemical, and molecular heat stress responses in chili pepper. Additionally, it evaluates potential agronomic and breeding strategies to strengthen crop adaptation to escalating global temperatures.

Capsicum↗

PubMed2026

Grafting and biodynamic nanosilica-induced physiological and transcriptomic modulation of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) under drought stress.

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is an economically important vegetable crop cultivated worldwide. Increasing drought stress associated with climate change has severely reduced chilli productivity. Although grafting and silicon-based nanomaterials have each been investigated independently as drought mitigation strategies in Solanaceae crops, this study represents, to our knowledge, the first investigation of their combined physiological, yield, and genome-wide transcriptomic effects in chilli under experimentally validated drought stress. Biodynamic nanosilica (BNS) is an α-quartz nanoparticle preparation (20-200 nm) derived from the biodynamic agricultural preparation BD501 through a vortex-triturating process, and distinct from chemically synthesised nanosilica in preparation method and surface bioavailability, applied as a foliar spray at 50 mg L-1. Five treatments were established: well-watered (WW), drought (D), grafting + BNS + drought (G+B+D), grafting + drought (G+D), and BNS + drought (B+D), each with three independent biological replicates. Under moderate-to-severe drought conditions (DSI 62-64%; VWC ~12% v/v at 14 days), the combined G+B+D treatment significantly improved plant height (3.05-fold over D), leaf relative water content (83% vs 49% in D), net photosynthetic rate (2.0-fold over D), water-use efficiency (+40%), and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD: 3.1-fold; CAT: 2.8-fold over D), while reducing lipid peroxidation by 76%. Root architecture was also substantially enhanced, with a 4.1-fold increase in root length and a 3.1-fold increase in root surface area relative to D. Fruit yield increased by 79% relative to drought-stressed non-grafted plants. Transcriptomic analysis using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 identified 1,051 DEGs (431 upregulated, 620 downregulated; FDR < 0.05, |log2FC| > 1). Integrated transcriptomic-phenotypic concordance analysis revealed enrichment of MAPK signalling, ABA-mediated regulation (including ABA binding and (+)-ABA 8'-hydroxylase activity), and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis as the enriched pathways. Protein-protein interaction network analysis further revealed coordinated regulation of redox homeostasis, drought-responsive hormone signalling, and water transport gene modules in the combined treatment. These findings demonstrate that integrating grafting with biodynamic nanosilica is a promising strategy to enhance drought resilience and productivity in chilli, offering a sustainable approach for vegetable production under drought.

Capsicum↗

PubMed2026

Systematic identification pepper CaE2F transcription factor reveals the role of CaDPb in drought stress response.

The EARLY 2 FACTOR (E2F) transcription factor (TF) family plays a pivotal role in regulating plant development and adaptations to environmental stresses. However, the physiological function of E2Fs in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) are not well elucidated. In this work, we conduct a comprehensive genome-wide annotation of the E2F family within the Zunla-1 pepper genome and further explore the biological roles of CaDPb in response to drought stress. Through systematic bioinformatics analysis, we identify a total of nine CaE2F genes within the Zunla-1 genome, categorizing them into three distinct subgroups. Additionally, we discover multiple cis-regulatory elements in the CaE2F promoter regions associated with responses to plant hormones and drought stress. Public RNA-seq datasets reveal distinct expression profiles of CaE2F genes across various pepper tissues and their responses to environmental stimuli and plant hormones. Subsequently, the CaDPb gene is further functionally verified in drought response. Our findings indicate that TRV2:CaDPb silenced pepper plants are more sensitivity to drought. Furthermore, we show that CaDPb participates in the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the expression of drought-responsive genes, and the modulation of stomatal aperture. Taken together, our findings provide a comprehensive characterization of E2F genes in pepper and offer insights into the biological function of CaDPb in pepper drought stress response.

Capsicum↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification of CHY zinc finger and RING finger (CHYR) genes in pepper and functional characterization of CaCHYR5 in response to Phytophthora capsici infection.

CHY zinc finger and RING finger (CHYR) proteins play crucial roles in the growth and development, as well as stress response. To date, no systematic or comprehensive analysis of the CHYR gene family has been performed in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). In this study, we identified 8 CaCHYR genes (CaCHYR1-CaCHYR8), which were classified into 3 groups based on phylogenetic relationships. CaCHYR members within the same group exhibited similar distributions of conserved motifs and exon-intron structures. Chromosomal localization analysis showed that 8 CaCHYR genes were unevenly distributed on 6 chromosomes. Segmental duplication, rather than tandem duplication, was found to be the major contributor to the expansion of this gene family. CaCHYR genes feature a variety of cis-elements involved in developmental processes, phytohormone responses, and stress adaptation. Expression analysis based on RNA-seq data revealed that CaCHYR genes exhibited distinct spatial expression patterns across different tissues and in response to Phytophthora capsici infection (PCI), and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) further confirmed that three of them (CaCHYR2, CaCHYR3, and CaCHYR5) exhibited altered expression under PCI. Furthermore, transient overexpression of CaCHYR5 in pepper leaves increased susceptibility to PCI, suggesting its potential negative regulatory role in pepper defense against P. capsici. Collectively, these findings reveal the expression patterns and regulatory functions of pepper CHYR genes in growth and development, laying a groundwork for breeding pepper cultivars tolerant to PCI.

Phytophthora capsici infection (PCI)↗

PubMed2026

Evolution and domestication-trait associations of ultra-long centromere haplotypes in pepper plants.

Centromeric and pericentromeric regions of most eukaryotic genomes are highly repetitive and strongly recombination-suppressed, confounding efforts to resolve genetic variation, population structure and phenotypic associations. Pepper (Capsicum annuum) centromeres are nearly devoid of satellite repeats, facilitating assembly and population-level comparison of centromeric regions. Here we integrate 9 near-complete genome assemblies, CENH3 ChIP-seq profiles from 26 diverse accessions, and resequencing and phenotypic data from ~400 cultivated and wild accessions to investigate population-level diversity and phenotypic relevance of pepper peri/centromeric regions. Functional centromere positions are largely fixed on 8 of 12 chromosomes, whereas the remaining 4 carry distinct centromeric epialleles shaped mainly by centromere repositioning and pericentromeric inversions. Pepper centromeres are embedded within ultra-long centromere-spanning haplotype (cenhap) blocks, ranging from 29.8 to 112.9 Mb and collectively covering 23.96% of the genome; each block contains only 1-4 major haplotypes. Some cenhaps may act as supergene-like units and are strongly associated with fruit traits, probably because recombination-suppressed intervals harbour multiple fruit-related genes, including OFP and F-box genes. F2 segregation assays further reveal transmission distortion of chromosomes carrying alternative cenhaps. Together, these findings highlight peri/centromeric regions as underrecognized reservoirs of agronomically important variation.

Centromere↗

PubMed2026

A Novel Approach to Engineering Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Infectious Clones by Disarming Key Nodes in Antiviral Defenses.

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is an economically devastating pathogen that rapidly overcomes genetic resistance in major crops. Reverse genetic systems are crucial for investigating plant-virus interactions and resistance-breaking mechanisms, and developing these tools for segmented ambisense RNA viruses remains a crucial challenge. Current TSWV clones rely on extensively modified Asian isolates requiring co-delivery of multiple replication helpers and viral silencing suppressors. Streamlining these systems for regionally significant strains with minimal genetic alterations is essential. Here, we developed the first infectious clone of a U.S. TSWV isolate (PA01). Three binary plasmids contain cDNAs for the antigenomic L and S segments, as well as the genomic M segment, with enhanced GFP replacing NSs on the S segment. Co-delivery of the cucumovirus 2b alone or in combination with tombusvirus P19 or begomovirus AL2 achieved a high proportion of systemically infected Nicotiana benthamiana and Capsicum annuum plants. In N. tabacum, co-delivering the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death suppressor CED-9 or using NahG transgenic plants produced 30 to 33% systemically infected plants. Co-delivery of 2b boosted infection levels in NahG plants to 62%. These data indicate that in addition to the antiviral RNA-silencing machinery, additional host defense pathways influence TSWV rescue and systemic infection from cDNA. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Tospovirus↗

PubMed2026

CaMYB121-CaABF2 negative feedback loop modulates CaNHX2 expression to confer salt tolerance in pepper.

Salt stress is a major abiotic factor that severely restricts pepper (Capsicum annuum) production. Although abscisic acid (ABA) is vital for salt tolerance, the transcriptional regulatory networks governing ABA-mediated salt defense remain largely unknown. Here, we uncovered a negative feedback loop between CaMYB121 and CaABF2.1/2 that modulates the expression of CaNHX2.1/2/3, thereby enhancing salt tolerance in pepper plants. RNA-seq analysis revealed that CaMYB121 displayed an expression pattern consistent with that of CaNHX2 after salt treatment. Silencing CaMYB121 markedly reduced salt tolerance and inhibited root growth. Mechanistically, CaMYB121 directly binds to the CaNHX2 promoter to activate transcription, thereby promoting salt resilience. Salt stress also robustly triggered ABA signaling genes, with CaABF2.1/2 displaying expression patterns closely mirroring those of CaMYB121. Transient silencing of CaABF2.1/2 results in phenotypes similar to those observed with CaMYB121 suppression. Notably, CaMYB121 activates CaABF2.1/2 transcription by binding to its promoters, whereas CaABF2.1/2 represses CaMYB121 expression by directly targeting its promoter, forming a self-regulating feedback loop that prevents excessive defense activation. Collectively, our findings reveal a CaMYB121-CaABF2 feedback circuit that dynamically balances growth and defense to optimize salt tolerance in pepper plants.

Salt Tolerance↗

PubMed2026

A python based automated computational framework to classify and comparative genomics analysis of the global diversity of chili leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) strains to understand virus host interactions.

Chili leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) is a Begomovirus chillicapsici that is one of the most devastating viruses impacted on the production of chili in the world, especially in South Asia. In the present study, we combined high-throughput computational genomics with experimental analysis of global diversity. A workflow was created using automated Python scripts to download, curate and process ChiLCV genomes from public database. About 410 complete ChiLCV genomes download from public databases. Using a phylogenetic approach, these isolates were subdivided into 34 strains, belonging to 10 major clades, showing significant genetic diversity. Geographic analysis revealed that Pakistan (207 isolates) and India (148 isolates) were the main sources of ChiLCV diversity and the remainder of the isolates were from Oman, Bangladesh, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. Recombination was observed as a major evolutionary force as more than twenty recombination events were detected. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements showed a complex structure of the viral promoter, including multiple binding sites for transcription factors, hormone-response elements, light-responsive elements, and stress-responsive elements, indicating a high number of interactions between viral regulatory elements and host signaling pathways. Pangenome analysis showed the presence of a highly dynamic open pangenome made up of strain-specific orthologous groups (species-specific orthogroups). Experimental inoculation of chili plants was also carried out to assess the biological effects of infection, along with phytochemical, FTIR, HPLC, and qPCR analyses.

Begomovirus↗

PubMed2026

The journey of fluxapyroxad, mandipropamid and mefentrifluconazole residues in two morphologically distinct chilli peppers: A comprehensive risk assessment from field to processing.

Understanding the residue fate of novel pesticides in crops is crucial for ensuring their safe application and safeguarding public health. This study examined the dissipation, processing factors (PFs), and risk assessment of fluxapyroxad, mandipropamid, and mefentrifluconazole in two morphologically distinct varieties of chilli peppers from field to processing. The half-lives of the three pesticides ranged from 5.42 to 10.05 days, following first-order kinetics. The initial residues were higher in Chaotian chilli peppers (CCP) than in long green chilli peppers (GCP). However, dissipation occurred more rapidly in CCP. Washing notably reduced the residues (PF: 0.60-0.89), whereas sun drying and oven drying concentrated them (PF: 1.92-3.74), with oven drying leading to greater concentrations. Both chronic and acute dietary risk assessments suggested acceptable risk levels for the general population. This study offers reliable guidance for the rational application of these three pesticides in chilli pepper cultivation.

Capsicum↗

PubMed2026

Light regulates capsaicinoid biosynthesis via the CaHY5-CaBBX2-CaACS8 module in pepper.

Capsaicinoids are a class of unique alkaloids that confer the pungent taste to pepper fruits. However, it remains largely unknown how light regulates the biosynthesis of capsaicinoids. We conducted a metabolic analysis on light- and dark-adapted pepper fruits. The results showed that dark-adapted pepper fruits had lower capsaicinoid contents and correspondingly downregulated transcription of capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes (CBGs), indicating that light plays a crucial role in capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, silencing of CaHY5, a pivotal transcription factor gene in the light signaling pathway, decreased the content of capsaicinoid and suppressed the expression of CBGs, whereas transient overexpression of CaHY5 generated exactly opposite results. CaHY5 can bind to the G-box motif in the promoters of CaBBX2 and CaACS8, thereby enhancing their transcriptional levels. The activated CaBBX2 then binds to the T/G-box in the CaACS8 promoter to stimulate its expression. CaBBX2 or CaACS8 silencing led to decreased levels of capsaicinoids, while their transient overexpression produced increased capsaicinoid contents. Collectively, our results indicated that the light-activated CaHY5-CaBBX2-CaACS8 regulatory module plays a pivotal role in capsaicinoid biosynthesis. These findings provide new insights into the influence of light on capsaicinoid biosynthesis and potential targets for activation of this biosynthetic pathway in pepper.

Capsicum↗

PubMed2026

Capsaicin ameliorates glycemic levels via gut microbiota-derived 5-aminolevulinic acid in mice.

BACKGROUND: Capsaicin, a natural alkaloid in chili peppers, regulates glycemic levels; however, its mechanisms and therapeutic potential remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the role of gut microbiota and their metabolites in mediating capsaicin's glycemic regulatory effects. We conducted experiments in specific pathogen-free (SPF) and germ-free (GF) mice, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor ablation studies, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to demonstrate the involvement of gut microbiota in capsaicin-mediated glycemic control. Metagenomics and metabolomics analyses were employed to identify key microbial strains and metabolic pathways. Keystone strains and metabolites were supplemented in GF mice without capsaicin intervention to validate their effects on glycemic regulation. In vitro co-culture experiments were performed to investigate the mutualistic relationships among keystone strains under capsaicin treatment. RESULTS: Gut microbiota constitute an important component of capsaicin-mediated glycemic regulation, acting in concert with but not solely dependent on TRPV1 signaling. Gut microbiota altered by capsaicin promote the production of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), which contributes to heme synthesis and enhances glycemic control. Supplementation with Akkermansia muciniphila, Ligilactobacillus murinus, or 5-ALA in GF mice recapitulates the glycemic benefits of capsaicin. Furthermore, capsaicin enriches Akkermansia muciniphila, which in turn supports the growth of Ligilactobacillus murinus. CONCLUSION: Capsaicin-induced changes in the gut microbiota promote 5-ALA synthesis, leading to improved glycemic control. These findings suggest that dietary or probiotic interventions targeting gut microbiota, particularly Akkermansia muciniphila and 5-ALA, may offer promising strategies for managing glycemic disorders, including type 2 diabetes (T2D). Video Abstract.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Genome-Wide Identification, Phylogenetic Analysis, and Expression Pattern of Polyamine Biosynthesis Gene Family in Pepper.

Polyamines (PAs), including putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and thermospermine, play essential roles in plant growth, development, and responses to stress. However, the structure and function of PA biosynthetic genes in pepper remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to identify PA biosynthesis genes in the pepper genome using bioinformatics approaches and to assess their expression under various stress conditions. A total of 16 PA biosynthesis-related genes were identified, representing members of the arginine decarboxylase (ADC), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), agmatine iminohydrolase (AIH), N-carbamoylputrescine amidohydrolase (CPA), S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), spermidine synthase (SPDS), spermine synthase (SPMS), and ACAULIS5 (ACL5) gene families. These genes encode proteins with an average molecular weight of approximately 40 kDa, primarily localized in the mitochondria and cytoplasm. Promoter analysis revealed multiple cis-acting elements associated with stress and phytohormone responsiveness. Gene expression was induced by various abiotic stresses, including saline-alkaline, drought, heat, cold, and hydrogen peroxide, as well as by phytohormones such as abscisic acid, ethylene, salicylic acid, auxin, and gibberellin. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of PA biosynthesis genes in pepper and highlights their potential roles in stress adaptation and hormone signalling, offering a foundation for further exploration of PA-mediated stress tolerance mechanisms.

Capsicum↗