The organization of mitochondrial atp6 gene region in male fertile and CMS lines of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The mitochondrial atp6 gene in male fertile (N) and CMS (S) pepper has previously been compared and was found to be present in two copies (Kim et al. in J Kor Soc Hort Sci 42:121–127 2001). In the current study, these atp6 copies were amplified by an inverse PCR technique, and the coding region as well as the 5′ and 3′ flanking regions were sequenced. The atp6 copies in CMS pepper were detected as one intact gene and one pseudogene, truncated at the 3′ coding region. When the atp6 genes in pepper were compared to other plant species, pepper, potato, and petunia all possessed a sequence of 12 identical amino acids at the 3′ extended region, which was considered a hallmark of the Solanaceae family. Northern blot analysis showed differences in mRNA band patterns between CMS and restorer lines, indicating that atp6 gene is one of the candidates for CMS in pepper.