an understanding about why some chilli peppers are hotter than others

polymorphism (alternative phenotypes) exists in wild population of chillies for the production of
caspaicinoids in fruit
i.e. different plants have different levels over a geographical gradient
skin receptor proteins detect different temperatures
plant compounds interact with these receptors (thermoTRPs) and mimic temperature
chilli affects Trpv1 and mimics high temperatue
evolution of fruit is a key innovation in angiosperms
function is to disperse seed by providing a nutritional reward
however also attracts unwanted consumers (usually microbe)
strategy: chemicals that deter unwanted consumers but do not deter preferred consumer
in chilli nearly all large organisms dislike the hot taste except thrasher bird - directed deterrence
these birds deposit seeds under trees and shrubs in shade and 50% germinate
chilli seeds are susceptible to fungal infection (fusarium)
it grows in foraging scars made by insects
in experiments pungent fruit showed less infections that non-pungent
i.e. capsaicinoids have anti-microbial properties
correlation between number of scars made on fruit by insects and pungency level in wild
this is because insect-mediated fungal attack causes pressure for pungent phenotype
non-pungent have thicker seed coats - more germination from passing through digestive tract
natural selection acts on whole organisms and not just individual traits
adaptions are constrained by trade-offs of traits
pungent chillis grow in wetter areas
experiment showed chillis grown in well watered conditions produced same number of seeds
but those grown in water stressed conditions - non-pungent chilli produced more seeds
however pungent chilli seeds are protected by the fruit
pungent plants also have a higher stomatal density
is consistent with growing in wetter conditions where water use efficiency can be low
but have capsiacinoids for protection against insect mediated fungal attack
non-pungent plants have less stomata as they grow in drier conditions (high water use efficiency)
less insect attack so no need to produce capsiacinoids and waste resources
instead more seeds and thicker coat
trade off between cost of capsaicin production and protection
this allows chillis to grow in more environments