UDС 635.649:631.522/.524:577.2 1 All-Russian Research Institute of Breeding and Seed Production of Vegetable Crops, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, pos. <...> VNIISSOK, Odintsovo Region, Moscow Province, 143080 Russia e-mail: pishnaya_o@mail.ru AFLP-ANALYSIS OF VARIETAL POLYMORPHYSM IN Capsicum annuum L. E.A. Snigir’1, 2, O.N. Pyshnaya1, E.Z. Kochieva2, N.N. Ryzhova2 2 Center “Bioengineering”, Russian Academy of Science, 7/1, prosp. 60-letiya Oktyabrya, Moscow, 117312 Russia e-mail: ekochieva@yandex.ru Received May 12, 2012 S u m m a r y AFLP-system of multipoint marking was used for estimation of genetic diversity in 45 varieties of Capsicum annuum L. As a result, it was selected 8 primer combinations, which were the most informative for marking of paprika genome. <...> Due to these primers the authors obtained the specific DNA-spectrums for each variety. <...> In total, 956 polymorphous AFLP-fragments were detected, of which 182 fragments characterize the individual varietal genotypes. <...> The calculated coefficients of intervarietal genetic diversity are varying from 0.005 to 0.064. <...> On dendrogram all varieties form general cluster with weak intrinsic differentiation that indicates the low degree of genetic polymorphism. <...> So the forming of distance basal branches, revealed in closely related cultural species C. frutescens, C. chinense and C. baccatum, reflects the potential of their genetic diversity which may be used in paprika breeding. <...> Pepper (genus Capsicum) is one of major vegetable crops. <...> Pepper fruits are appreciated for specific taste, high content of vitamins, dietary and nutritional value. <...> C. annuum is the most common of five cultivated Capsicum species: its annual global production is about 27 million tons (1). <...> In Russia pepper is grown in the southern regions (Krasnodar and Stavropol, Rostov) on the area of 10,9 hectares. <...> High yields and production of pepper in open ground and greenhouses directly depend on assortment of grown cultivars. <...> Today, breeding work has provided a huge assortment of C. annuum cultivar types distinguished mainly by features of fruits (shape, color, size, degree of pungency). <...> However, it’s still unclear how <...>