Isolation and detection of differential genes in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) after space flight using AFLP markers

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is used as an important crop all over the world. To detect the differential genes of hot pepper mutants, three space-induced mutants (Y1, Y2 and Y3), which obtained new traits after space flight compared with their on-ground controls (W1 and W2), were firstly analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) markers. In this study, 37 out of random-selected 256 primer combinations could amplify clear high-intensity, reproducible and relatively high polymorphism bands. Accordingly, 287 different bands based on presence/absence or differences in intensity were identified and sequenced, 68 differential genes were classified functionally into different groups using Gene Ontology (GO) terms. According to GO annotation, 68 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were homologous with known genes, which mainly included transcription factors, protein kinases, metabolic pathways, cellular processes and stress injury. In conclusion, these findings could provide the fundamental basis for further research in breeding hot pepper with high yield or the mechanism of space inducement.