Capsicum

Capsicum is the name of the pepper plant genus that includes 27 species, which range from sweet bell peppers to the hottest peppers on the planet. Due to variations in climatic conditions, insects show varying trends in their incidence and extent of damage to the crop. This compilation discusses how, as an effect of these interactions, the production of pepper is affected quantitatively but especially qualitatively. Additionally, the authors study the effect of capsaicin at the cellular signalling level, gene expression, and the use of bioinformatics to understand the mechanism of cell signalling and regulation of gene events taking place between tumorous cell and capsaicin receptors. In closing, all in vitro/in vivo methods reported so far for obtaining doubled haploids in both sweet and hot pepper are compared. The androgenesis, gynogenesis and efficiency are discussed in both hot and sweet pepper species.