Description
Chilli Name: PI 639682
Chilli Species: Praetermissum
Chilli Origin: Brazil
Chilli Heat: Very Hot
PI 639682 Chilli — A Wild Capsicum praetermissum from Brazil’s Genetic Archive
PI 639682 is a wild chilli accession classified as Capsicum praetermissum, part of the USDA’s Plant Introduction (PI) collection. Originally collected in Brazil, this variety represents the untamed side of the chilli world — resilient, perennial, and genetically distinct from domesticated types.
The plant is compact and bushy with strong lateral branching, forming a small, shrubby structure. As is typical of C. praetermissum, it displays striking purple-flushed flowers with pale throats and dark stems, giving it a unique ornamental character. The pods are tiny, round to oval, upright, and ripen from green to red, often passing through deep purples. While small in size, they pack a solid 30,000–60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), offering a clean, sharp burn with a fruity edge.
PI 639682 is naturally perennial in warm climates, and noted for its hardiness, pest resistance, and adaptability to cooler or marginal growing conditions. These traits make it an excellent choice for breeding programmes, especially those aiming to introduce resilience or ornamental traits into new varieties.
Though not a culinary chilli in the conventional sense, this accession is prized among collectors, researchers, and chilli enthusiasts looking to explore wild Capsicum biodiversity. PI 639682 offers a glimpse into the robust genetics of Brazil’s wild chilli landscape — beautiful, potent, and botanically important.
