Research Projects

Bhut jolokia, a native to Northeast India, is known for its Fiery Hot (Pungency) content in its fruits. Despite its high economic and ethanopharmacological values, the functional characterization of proteins, transcription factors, and their interacting partners governing the pungency trait, fatty acid, and key metabolite biosynthesis in Capsicum species, including Bhut jolokia, remains under-explored. Capsaicinoids, compounds imparting pungency, are limited to Capsicum fruits and have wide applications in pharmaceutical and commercial industries. The biosynthesis of fiery hot pungency (capsaicinoids) in the placental tissue of the fruit through branched-fatty-acid and phenylpropanoid pathways is important for various commercial and industrial uses. Several genes and enzymes are reported to regulate capsaicinoids biosynthesis, but most are not functionally characterized except for Pun1 and MYB31. Expression analysis of genes involved in pungency biosynthesis showed high expression in Bhut jolokia compared to low and medium pungent genotypes. However, there is a need to identify transcriptor factors regulating expression of these genes. The present study aims to identify proteins from structural genes and transcription factors in the placental tissues of Capsicum at different stages of fruit development of Fiery Hot (pungent) Bhut jolokia, medium, and low pungent capsicum genotypes. This study will help in understanding the molecular mechanisms of regulation of capsaicinoids biosynthesis, which can be used for manipulating pungency content in Capsicum species' fruits.