Capsicum cardenasii

Capsicum cardenasii
C. cardensii plant with immature fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Solanaceae
Genus:	Capsicum
species complex:	Capsicum pubescens complex
Species:	C. cardenasii
Binomial name
Capsicum cardenasii Heiser & P.G.Sm.

Capsicum cardenasii is a plant from the Solanaceous family and genus Capsicum of plants. It is a diploid with 2n=2x=24. It is a member within the C. pubescens complex, a group of closely related Capsicum species. It is closely related to C. eximium. It is native to the Andes, and it can be found in Bolivia.^[1] The native name is ulupica.^[2]

Vegetative characteristics

Capsicum cardenasii, like most members of the Pubescens complex, is a perennial plant that develops woody stems. The plant can grow up 2-3 feet high with a width of 1-1.5 feet. The leaves are narrow, lanceolate and pubescent. Plants generally produce between 1 and 2 flowers at the internodes. The petioles grow erect and have campanulate, pendant flowers.^[3] The corolla is white and purple colored.^[2] The plant produces small, fleshy, red fruit. It is likely the wild ancestor of rocoto peppers.^[4]

The plant requires a cool, freeze free environment and long growing season similar to its native environment in the Andes.^[1]

Reproduction

After fertilization C. cardenasii develops small round red berries, sometimes referred to as chiltepins. The fruits contain a small number of seed. The fruit are pungent, near 30 000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units), making them quite spicy.

Capsicum cardenasii is self-incompatible, exhibiting unilateral incompatibility.^[5]

Uses

Its primary use is as a spice. Many wild Capsicums exhibit disease resistance of interest to plant breeders. C. cardenasii has been shown to be resistant to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and there is a possibility that one day this resistance may be transferred to other capsicum species through breeding.^[2]

References