Morphological and cytogenetical studies were carried out on the F1 and F2 hybrids and backcross derivatives of the interspecific cross Capsicum baccatum L. x C. frutescens L. The F1 and F2 hybrids displayed irregular meiosis with a maximum association of eight chromosomes in the former and one quadrivalent in the latter with the appropriate number of bivalents and univalents. It is inferred that C. baccatum differs from C. frutescens (yellow) by at least tow or three interchanges and from the white cultivar by a single interchange. Structural repatterning of chromosomes, erratic meiotic behaviour, genes for pollen sterility, segregational imbalances following intergenomic recombination are believed to be major factors causing sterility in the hybrids. The two species are sympatric and natural hybrids have not been realised.