DESCRIPCIÓN DE PLANTAS Y FRUTOS DE CHILE DE AGUA (<i>Capsicum annuum </i>L.) EN ETLA, OAXACA

Most of the chili peppers consumed in Mexico belong to the Capsicum annuum species. In the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, the “chile de agua” is grown, marketed, and consumed. The morphological characterization of plants and fruits was carried out in open-air crops in San Sebastián de las Flores and San Pablo, Etla, Oaxaca. A completely randomized experimental design was used, and 11 variables were recorded in plants and 20 in fruits. The Capsicum IPGR descriptor methodology was used. The following fruit shapes were identified: elongated, triangular, and bell-shaped in blocks; fruit shapes at the pedicel junction: truncated, cordate, and lobed; apex shapes: pointed, blunt, sunken, and sunken-pointed. The plants presented homogeneous characteristics, and the fruits presented greater phenotypic variation within the population.