Rare Bolivian wild chile Capsicum eshbaughii (Solanaceae) located again: Open ending on its identity and conservation

Abstract

A new finding of the rare chile Capsicum eshbaughii (Solanaceae), whose location in the field had repeatedly failed in the past, is here reported. The species is poorly known and therefore new data on flowers, fruits, seeds, and chromosome number are provided. The relationships of C. eshbaughii, particularly relative to C. eximium, are explored based on DNA sequence data. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed through Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses using sequence data from four cpDNA intergenic spacers and nuclear waxy. Relationships among haplotypes, using sequences of five cpDNA intergenic spacers, were analysed through a median-joining network. The close affinity of C. eshbaughii with C. eximium is strongly supported although the results are not conclusive about the rank of C. eshbaughii, either as a separate species or as a variety of C. eximium. Issues regarding conservation of the species are also discussed.