Whole-genome resequencing reveals genomic footprints of Italian sweet and hot pepper heirlooms giving insight into genes underlying key agronomic and qualitative traits

Pepper is a major crop species of the Solanaceae family, largely appreciated for its high nutritional and healthy contribution to human diets. In the Mediterranean basin, the favorable pedoclimatic conditions enhanced the selection of several diversified landraces cultivated pepper (Capsicum annuum), for whom Italy can be considered a main pole of diversification.