ReviewCMS system and its stimulation in hybrid seed production of Capsicum annuum L.

•Exploitation of Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in hybrid seed production of Capsicum could significantly diminish its production cost and has capability to provide genetically pure seed.•It is a 3-line hybridization method involving male sterile line (A-line), Maintainer line (B-line) and Restorer of fertility line (C-line).•Cytoplasm is maternally inherited resulting in 100% sterility in the female parent, and remains the best system for hybrid seed production in Capsicum if sterility is stable and restorer genes are available.

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is maternally inherited trait; its phenotypic expression generally is due to interaction between sterile cytoplasm and recessive nuclear genes. Presently, commercial hybrid seed production of Capsicum relies on hand emasculation and pollination resulting in higher seed production cost to the seed producers. However, exploitation of CMS in hybrid seed production could significantly diminish its production cost and has capability to provide genetically pure seed. The best CMS approach is a 3-line hybridization method involving male sterile line (A-line), Maintainer line (B-line) and Restorer of fertility line (C-line). Availability and identification of Restorer of fertility (Rf) line in sweet pepper for suppressing male sterile phenotype in F1 plants is difficult task. Thus identification of reproducible, co-dominant molecular markers linked to nuclear (Rf) and mitochondrial (S-cytoplasm) genes offers fast and reliable detection of parental lines during F1 hybrid seed production. In this review, we tried to present the possibilities of exploiting CMS in Capsicum with their merits and drawbacks.