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Chili peppers are appreciated and consumed especially for their sensorial attributes, but also because of their rich content in bioactive compounds. Capsaicin is one of the most important compounds found in peppers that gives them their spicy heat profile. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine the optimal harvesting time of hot peppers with the highest content in capsaicin. The capsaicin content of chili peppers depends on several factors, including the variety of pepper, growing conditions, and cultivation method. Capsaicin is mainly concentrated in the internal membranes of the pepper, where the seeds are also found. These biochemicals are used mostly in food industry, but anti-cancer effects have also been reported. To determine the capsaicin content, gas chromatographic analysis of volatile compounds was performed in both young and adult plants. ‘Hyffae F1’ and ‘Paprika giallo’ hot pepper hybrids grown in greenhouse conditions weew subjected to both chemical and organic cultivation treatments and two planting densities. The results obtained, showed that the capsaicin content varied between 12.11 and 39.01%. The highest quantity was recorded in ‘Paprika giallo’ under the influence of chemical treatments with the fruits were harvested at physiological maturity. The results also revealed that variations in capsaicin contents were rather influenced by harvesting time than the cultivar.

This study aims to 1) evaluate the efficacy of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes in 0.1 % buffered-peptone-water; and 2) evaluate the reduction and mitigation of cross-contamination on peppers. In study-1, aliquots of 1.0-ml PAA solutions (133, 265, and 448 ppm) were added to the first 6 wells of 8-strip-deep well microplates. Then, 0.1 ml of serially diluted nalidixic-acid-resistant (NaL) L. monocytogenes was added and mixed immediately with a multichannel pipette. After exposure for 0, 5, 15, 30, and up to 120-s, 1 ml of 2 × D/E neutralized solution was added to terminate the reaction followed by spread-plating onto tryptic soy agar +200 ppm NaL and incubated at 35 °C for 48 h. In study-2, 5 inoculated red peppers were triple-washed with 15 uninoculated green peppers with 0, 23, 53, and 96 ppm of PAA and analyzed using MPN-method. L. monocytogenes counts were 0.05) compared to the water only treatment. Results suggested that applying allowable concentrations (23–96 ppm) of PAA during triple-wash does not show promising anti-Listeria activity on peppers. Future studies are needed to determine the minimum concentrations of the PAA solution required to effectively reduce and mitigate microbial cross-contamination of Listeria monocytogenes on peppers.

Vegetable breeding companies invest a considerable amount of their resources in phenotyping. The advancement of computer vision technology has made it possible to digitalize these processes, leading to improved efficiency and quality. However, phenotyping activities often take place in outdoor fields or greenhouses, where the environmental/illumination conditions are constantly changing. This lack of standardization presents a problem for automatically isolating the relevant elements in the images, which is an important first step for phenotyping. Classical image analysis methods have shown not to be robust enough for that in these changing conditions. However, in the last years, deep learning models have demonstrated to be able to identify and learn meaningful features that are more robust and representative of the underlying patterns, enabling them to handle diverse and changeable conditions effectively.In this work, we propose a pepper instance segmentation solution based on deep learning after harvest under field conditions. We implement the method and validate it for three pepper varieties: Blocky Bell, Jalapeño and Lamuyo. We compare the performance of this new method for each variety with a previous solution based on classical image processing techniques, with the objective of measuring and demonstrating the superiority of deep learning-based instance segmentation over traditional methods as a first step for phenotyping.The instance segmentation deep learning based models outperform the results obtained by classical image processing algorithms for the three pepper varieties: in Blocky Bell mAP is increased from 0.63 to 0.97, in Jalapeño from 0.39 to 0.52 and in Lamuyo from 0.67 to 0.97.

The Al-Qassim region, a prominent agricultural hub in Saudi Arabia, significantly contributes to the national production of vegetables and fruits. This study validated the standard EN-QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method in conjunction with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to determine 90 multiple pesticide residues in three categories of peppers: green bell, green hot and red chilli peppers. Validation criteria, including linearity range, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ), were within the acceptance range of the SANTE/11312/2021 guideline. The validated method was then used to analyse 536 pepper samples collected in 2023 from the Al-Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. The analysis of 536 pepper samples revealed that 394 samples (73.51 %) contained pesticide residues, with 126 (23.51 %) exceeding the established maximum residue limits (MRLs). The most frequently identified pesticide was imidacloprid (171 samples, 31.9 %) and acetamiprid (94 samples, 17.54 %), followed by bifenazate and difenoconazole, which were each detected in 66 samples (12.31 %). Among the remaining 32 pesticides, 24 were detected in 1%–10 % of the samples, whereas 8 were detected in

As the common varieties of chopper pepper process, “La Feng 33” was selected as the research object. Five different growth stages of pepper from Shandong and Shanxi provinces were analyzed to explore the quality changes of pepper fruit during the growth process, which was essential for regulating the quality of chopped pepper and expanding the raw material sources. The results showed that the change trend of quality characteristics of pepper in the two regions was basically the same during the growth process. The content of VC and total capsaicin increased with fruit growth to some extent; soluble solids, acidity, total polyphenols, DPPH· scavenging capacity, FRAP, ABTS+· scavenging capacity decreased first and then increased with fruit growth; organic acids, total ash, Mg, Ca, Mn and Fe decreased with fruit growth. In addition, the contents of VC, soluble solids, organic acids and total capsaicin in Shandong producing area were higher than those in Shanxi producing area (P

Capsicum (Solanaceae) includes peppers and chilies. Phytophthora capsici (Peronosporaceae) and Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are two relevant problems in the production of this genus. Among the sustainable alternatives for disease and pest control, plant resistance and biological control stand out. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the resistance of Capsicum genotypes to damage by P. capsici and infestation by B. tabaci, as well as to diagnose whether the action of predators and parasitoids against B. tabaci could complement the resistance of the plants. The progression of disease caused by P. capsici and infestation by B. tabaci was estimated in 23 Capsicum genotypes, corresponding to the species: Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum, Capsicum chinense, Capsicum frutescens and Capsicum. pubescens, from the GenBank of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP-Ecuador). Three genotypes: ECU-11993 (C. baccatum), ECU-11991 and ECU-2244 (C. pubescens) showed high susceptibility to both P. capsici damage and B. tabaci infestation. C. baccatum, C. chinense and C. frutescens genotypes showed the highest resistance to both pests, suggesting multiple resistance. Six taxa of predators and parasitoids reduced B. tabaci populations that developed in the most infested genotypes. Plant resistance is a control alternative that could allow the use of biological control, making it environmentally friendly. These results provide the basis for breeding programs in Capsicum.

Natural products are the precursors of many medicinal substances. Peppers (Piper, Capsicum, Pimienta) are a rich source of compounds with potential multidirectional biological activity. One of the studied directions is antitumor activity. Little research has been carried out so far on the ability of the compounds contained in peppers to inhibit the activity of Aurora A kinase, the overexpression of which is characteristic of cancer development. In this study, molecular docking methods, as well as molecular dynamics, were used, looking for compounds that could inhibit the activity of Aurora A kinase and trying to determine whether there is a relationship between the stimulation of the TRPV1 receptor and the inhibition of Aurora A kinase. We compared our results with anticancer activity studied earlier on MCF-7 cell lines (breast cancer cells). Our research indicates that the compounds contained in peppers can inhibit Aurora A. Further in vitro research is planned to confirm the obtained results.

Abstract Background The basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) serve crucial roles in regulating plant growth and development and typically participate in biological processes by interacting with other TFs. Capsorubin and capsaicinoids are found only in Capsicum, which has high nutritional and economic value. However, whether bHLH family genes regulate capsorubin and capsaicinoid biosynthesis and participate in these processes by interacting with other TFs remains unknown. Results In this study, a total of 107 CabHLHs were identified from the Capsicum annuum genome. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that these CabHLH proteins were classified into 15 groups by comparing the CabHLH proteins with Arabidopsis thaliana bHLH proteins. The analysis showed that the expression profiles of CabHLH009, CabHLH032, CabHLH048, CabHLH095 and CabHLH100 found in clusters C1, C2, and C3 were similar to the profile of carotenoid biosynthesis in pericarp, including zeaxanthin, lutein and capsorubin, whereas the expression profiles of CabHLH007, CabHLH009, CabHLH026 , CabHLH063 and CabHLH086 found in clusters L5, L6 and L9 were consistent with the profile of capsaicinoid accumulation in the placenta. Moreover, CabHLH007, CabHLH009, CabHLH026 and CabHLH086 also might be involved in temperature-mediated capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assays demonstrated that CabHLH007, CabHLH009, CabHLH026 , CabHLH063 and CabHLH086 could interact with MYB31, a master regulator of capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Conclusions The comprehensive and systematic analysis of CabHLH TFs provides useful information that contributes to further investigation of CabHLHs in carotenoid and capsaicinoid biosynthesis.

Peppers are the fourth most important vegetable in the global food economy. Greek pepper cultivars ‘Florinis’ and ‘Karatzova’ are especially popular because of the signature red color and sweet taste of the fruits. The economic interest in ‘Florinis’ peppers has led to many adulteration events. In that aspect, genetic profiles of ‘Florinis’, a ‘Florinis’-type and ‘Karatzova’ peppers, were studied using Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) molecular markers and an automated fragment detection system. Biochemical parameters, such as total dietary fiber, total phenolic and lycopene contents, and sugar profile that affect the fruit organoleptic and nutritional properties were evaluated. The molecular protocol established during this study may successfully discriminate the original ‘Florinis’ cultivar from the ‘Florinis’-type peppers. ‘Karatzova’ cultivar, which fruits are similar to ‘Florinis’, presented also a unique profile. The biochemical evaluation revealed that ‘Florinis’ peppers had the highest sweetness index and total phenolic content. Such an analysis could be used for the discrimination of pepper cultivars sharing common morphological traits ensuring the unique identity of each cultivar and protecting farmers and consumers from fraud.

The genus Capsicum, native to tropical and subtropical America, belongs to the Solanaceae family, which includes commercially important vegetables such as chilies and green peppers. The silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), causes losses to vegetables including Capsicum species. Among the alternatives of pest control, an effective, economical, and environmentally compatible method is the resistance of the host plant. Infestation by B. tabaci was evaluated in 73 Capsicum genotypes, corresponding to the species C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. sinense, C. frutescens and C. pubescens from an Ecuadorian genebank. Eighty-four percent of the C. baccatum genotypes evaluated showed the highest population densities of B. tabaci, while all the genotypes of C. sinense and C. frutescens had the lowest values (p < 0.05). The non-preference of adults and the scarce oviposition of B. tabaci on genotypes of C. sinense and C. frutescens suggests resistance due to antixenosis. These results could guide breeding programs for the resistance of Capsicum species to B. tabaci infestations.

Abstract In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Agro‐Kanesho submitted a request to the competent national authority in Germany to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance acequinocyl in sweet peppers/bell peppers. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposal for peppers. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of acequinocyl in peppers at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg/kg. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short‐term and long‐term intake of residues resulting from the use of acequinocyl according to the reported agricultural practice is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.

The production of nanoparticles for biomedical applications (namely with antimicrobial and anticancer properties) has been significantly hampered using traditional physicochemical approaches, which often produce nanostructures with poor biocompatibility properties requiring post-synthesis functionalization to implement features that such biomedical applications require. As an alternative, green nanotechnology and the synthesis of environmentally friendly nanomaterials have been gaining attention over the last few decades, using living organisms or biomolecules derived from them, as the main raw materials to produce cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and ready-to-be-used nanomaterials. In this article and building upon previous knowledge, we have designed and implemented the synthesis of selenium and tellurium nanoparticles using extracts from fresh jalapeño and habanero peppers. After characterization, in this study, the nanoparticles were tested for both their antimicrobial and anticancer features against isolates of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains and skin cancer cell lines, respectively. The nanosystems produced nanoparticles via a fast, eco-friendly, and cost-effective method showing different antimicrobial profiles between elements. While selenium nanoparticles lacked an antimicrobial effect at the concentrations tested, those made of tellurium produced a significant antibacterial effect even at the lowest concentration tested. These effects were correlated when the nanoparticles were tested for their cytocompatibility and anticancer properties. While selenium nanoparticles were biocompatible and had a dose-dependent anticancer effect, tellurium-based nanoparticles lacked such biocompatibility while exerting a powerful anti-cancer effect. Further, this study demonstrated a suitable mechanism of action for killing bacteria and cancer cells involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In summary, this study introduces a new green nanomedicine synthesis approach to create novel selenium and tellurium nanoparticles with attractive properties for numerous biomedical applications.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the value of production, labour and capital expenditure in the production of red sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in selected horticultural farms. The study covered farms involved in the production of sweet peppers in unheated plastic tunnels in the poviat of Przysucha and Radom. The selection of farms was purposeful. The selection was based on the technical solutions used on the farms in the field of construction of plastic tunnels and farm size. The study was carried out in three growing seasons in 2017-2018. The obtained results indicated that the largest share in total costs were the costs of purchasing planting material and fluctuated within 29.5% of total costs. The average production value of red sweet pepper production under covers in tunnels with a wooden structure amounted to 3,116 PLN/240 m2, while in the case of metal structures, this value amounted to 3,449.20 PLN/240 m2. In addition, analysis of the Cobb-Douglas production function showed that the gross profit was affected by general costs, labor costs and costs of purchasing seedlings. The results of this study indicate a need to undertake further research on this topic to formulate recommendations aimed at optimizing paprika production to increase and stabilize income resulting from cultivation activity.

In the last decade, it has been reported that the consumption of certain foods can have a positive effect on an individual's health. Food provides not only energy, essential amino acids, fiber, vitamins and minerals, but also some active compounds, such as antioxidants (tocopherols, carotenoids, vitamin C, phenolic compounds, etc.) that can have various beneficial functions in the body. It is found that in almost every measurement the values from the field experience are lower, this fact being due to the extreme weather conditions in spring-summer 2019 and the destruction of approximately 70-75% of the field culture. But we also have exceptions: the diameter of the fruits from the De cayenne variety and those from the Arwad F1 hybrids is larger in the field culture than in the solarium culture by 0.21 mm for De cayenne and 1.93 mm for Arwad F1. The fruits are longer in solarium culture ranging between 9.13 cm (local variety) and 17.06 cm (Hyffae F1).

The effects of hydrothermal (HT)-calcium chloride (CaCl2) treatment on water loss, chlorophylls, L-ascorbic acid, total phenol, antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), catalase (CAT), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) of peppers were assessed for 32 days of storage at 8°C. The results showed two water populations corresponding to strongly immobilized water and weakly bound water were observed in all the peppers. Comparing with other treatments, HT-CaCl2 treatment restricted water mobility and maintained higher immobilized water content during storage. HT-CaCl2 treated peppers showed lower MDA content whereas presented higher chlorophylls, L-ascorbic acid, total phenol content, and stronger antioxidant capacities than those subjected to other treatments. These characteristics indicated HT-CaCl2 treatment improved storage quality of postharvest peppers. In addition, HT-CaCl2 treatment retained lower POD, PPO, and PAL activities and higher CAT activity in the peppers during storage than other treatments, respectively. Based on above results, the combination of HT and CaCl2 treatment showed positive and continuous effects on the quality attributes and related enzyme activities of peppers during storage.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of the year of cultivation, seed population and mycorrhizal seed treatment on two most important indicators of the pepper seed quality, namely germination energy and total germination. The pepper seed quality parameters, i.e. the first count and the total germination rate, were examined in the period 2017-2018. The results obtained show significant differences (p < 0.01) between the parameter values under consideration relative to the year of cultivation (Factor A), seed population (Factor B) and mycorrhizal sees treatment (Factor C). In the first experimental year, there was an increase in the first count and total germination of 4 to 6 % compared to the control when pepper seeds were treated with the mycorrhizal formulation. In the second experimental year, an increase in the first count was in the range of 3 to 16 %, whereas an increase in the total germination was 3 to 4 %, compared to the control. The effect of mycorrhizal pepper seed treatment proved beneficial especially to aged seeds that were slow to germinate.

Due to consumers’ awareness and concern about nutrition and health in different parts of the world, the adoption of organic hydroponics is increasing. This has led to a search for organic nutrient media. One of the viable nutrient sources for organic hydroponics is bokashi compost. The principal objective of this study was to compare the performance of 10% bokashi hydroponics with convention hydroponics for bell pepper production. The different hydroponics influenced vegetative growth parameters largely due to considerable differences in the mineral elements in both hydroponic systems. Stems of conventionally grown plants were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) thicker (10.2 mm) compared to those of the bokashi grown plants (7.3 mm). Conventionally grown plants had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher photosynthetic performance than bokashi grown plants; normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (78.80 versus 67.49), soil plant analysis development (SPAD; 73.89 versus 38.43), and quantum yield (QY; 0.64 versus 0.49). Leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the leaves of bokashi grown plants (0.32 units/mg protein) was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower than in the leaves of conventionally grown plants (0.37 units/mg protein). This also corresponded to significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher leaf sap content in the conventionally grown plant than bokashi grown plants. Furthermore, conventional hydroponics yielded three-fold greater pepper fruit per plant compared to bokashi. After 14 days of storage at 7 °C and 95% relative humidity, the firmness of both groups declined, especially for the bokashi grown fruit (27.73 shore unit), which was significantly lower compared to conventionally grown fruit (35.65 shore unit). However, there was an increase in carotenoid content in fruit grown in both hydroponic systems after storage. In conclusion, although bell pepper plant was successfully cultivated in bokashi hydroponics, the plant performance, fruit yield and postharvest quality were lower than conventional hydroponics. We believe that this study and its approach will provide future research with baseline information on optimizing media of bokashi hydroponics to produce bell pepper.

Population growth and the high demand for food production has caused environmental degradation losses in biodiversity. The conservation of genetic resources is the most appropriate strategy for maintaining the variability of species of great importance, such as Capsicum. In this study, we describe the characterization of 69 pepper accessions of four Capsicum species from different regions of Brazil on the basis of qualitative and quantitative descriptors and ISSR markers. The 11 quantitative descriptors grouped the 69 populations into five clades. The fruit traits had the greater discrimination power. A strong correlation was detected between some pairs of quantitative descriptors: petiole and fruit length, fruit diameter and fresh fruit mass, leaf length and leaf width, canopy and plant height, stem diameter and plant height, stem diameter and canopy diameter. A negative correlation was also observed between plant height and pericarp thickness. Moreover, the molecular analysis grouped accessions into five clades. The morpho-agronomic and molecular characterization were efficient to estimate the genetic diversity between accessions, being important tools for the knowledge and use of accessions. This study is of great importance to preserve pepper germplasm and to provide data to facilitate the process of the selection in breeding programs.

Piper, Capsicum, and Pimenta are the main genera of peppers consumed worldwide. The traditional use of peppers by either ancient civilizations or modern societies has raised interest in their biological applications, including cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects. Cellular responses upon treatment with isolated pepper-derived compounds involve mechanisms of cell death, especially through proapoptotic stimuli in tumorigenic cells. In this review, we highlight naturally occurring secondary metabolites of peppers with cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. Available mechanisms of cell death, as well as the development of analogues, are also discussed.

The in vitro culture of embryos is an important technique to enable the rescue of embryos from incompatible crosses. Studies analyzing the factors that affect the in vitro culture of zygotic embryos are scarce. This study evaluated the effect of the genotype (Capsicum baccatum and C. frutescens), the composition of the culture medium (MS and ½ MS medium with different concentrations of sucrose, IAA and GA3) and the stage of development (globular, cordiform, torpedo and cotyledonary) in the in vitro culture of immature embryos. Embryo germination was influenced primarily by the stage of development of the embryo and the composition of the culture medium. Regardless of the species, the most suitable culture medium for the germination of globular and cordiform embryos was ½ MS with 0.05 mg L-1 of GA3 and IAA and 40 g L-1 of sucrose. For torpedo and cotyledonary embryos, ½ MS culture medium with 20 g L-1 of sucrose without phytoregulators is recommended for germination. These results were better than those described in the literature for all development stages in the two species. The results in the present study will be useful for geneticists and genetic enhancers interested in applying germination techniques conducted in vitro for immature Capsicum embryos.

Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) occurs worldwide in field-grown bell, hot, and ornamental pepper species. The virus has also been found in greenhouse peppers in Canada, and Spain where greenhouse production practices are ideal for rapid spread of the disease. PMMoV was identified in commercial bell pepper fields in Florida in 2000. Disease incidence (the percentage of plants infected) of up to 30% was estimated in these Florida outbreaks. In subsequent years, PMMoV has appeared only sporadically in the state. Because foliar symptoms can be mild, infected plants may not be noticed until the fruit symptoms are evident, resulting in spread to neighboring plants and higher yield losses.

Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) occurs worldwide in field-grown bell, hot, and ornamental pepper species. The virus has also been found in greenhouse peppers in Canada, and Spain where greenhouse production practices are ideal for rapid spread of the disease. PMMoV was identified in commercial bell pepper fields in Florida in 2000. Disease incidence (the percentage of plants infected) of up to 30% was estimated in these Florida outbreaks. In subsequent years, PMMoV has appeared only sporadically in the state. Because foliar symptoms can be mild, infected plants may not be noticed until the fruit symptoms are evident, resulting in spread to neighboring plants and higher yield losses.

Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) occurs worldwide in field-grown bell, hot, and ornamental pepper species. The virus has also been found in greenhouse peppers in Canada, and Spain where greenhouse production practices are ideal for rapid spread of the disease. PMMoV was identified in commercial bell pepper fields in Florida in 2000. Disease incidence (the percentage of plants infected) of up to 30% was estimated in these Florida outbreaks. In subsequent years, PMMoV has appeared only sporadically in the state. Because foliar symptoms can be mild, infected plants may not be noticed until the fruit symptoms are evident, resulting in spread to neighboring plants and higher yield losses.

The objectives of this study were to estimate the crossability rate in combinations of and assess the occurrence of incompatibility barriers between Capsicum species. The species C. annuum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, C. baccatum var. pendulum, and C. baccatum var. baccatum were crossed and the number of hand-pollinations and of resulting fruits and plants was registered. The resulting hybrids were evaluated for their pollen viability and in the crosses that produced no hybrids, the in vivo germination of pollen grains was assessed. Some crosses generated hybrids, while others produced no fruit or, despite generating fruits, no plants grew from them. The crossability rate between species of the complex C. annuum and C. baccatum ranged from 2.2% to 3.7%, and was 14.6% between species of the complex C. annuum. A pre-fertilization barrier was observed in the non-germination of pollen grains, as well as post-fertilization barriers consisting of embryo death, lack of vigor and hybrid sterility

The article analyzes the current state and prospects of protected ground development in the Russian Federation based on the data of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Federal State Statistics Service. The indexes of production of vegetable crops in different regions of the Russian Federation are given. The problems, which are holding back the greenhouse business, are discussed. The possibilities of increasing the area of protected ground and vegetable production are shown.

Capsinoids are very similar antioxidant compounds to capsaicinoids, but less irritating, non-pungent and more palatable, and can thus be used in greater concentrations for food applications. To date, three capsinoids (capsiate, dihydrocapsiate, and nordihydrocapsiate) have been isolated from the pepper fruits. Due to its substantial commercial importance, it would be convenient to determine which pepper varieties have a richer content. Ultrasound- (UAE) and microwave- (MAE) assisted extraction have been implemented and analyzed using multivariate statistical methods. Firstly, different solvents were tested individually. The three best solvents were used in a set mixture design, where 42% methanol and 58% ethyl acetate were determined as the optimum combination for UAE, and 100% methanol for MAE. Subsequently, a Box−Behnken experimental design with four variables for both UAE and MAE (time, temperature, pH and sample mass:solvent volume “ratio”) was performed. The sample mass:solvent volume was the most influential variable in UAE; while for MAE no variable was any more influential than the others. Finally, both optimized extraction methods were successfully applied to different varieties of peppers. Besides, to demonstrate the efficiency of both extraction methods, a recovery study was performed. The results prove the potential of both techniques as highly adequate methods for the extraction of capsinoids from peppers.

The winter season in Nanjing is from December to February, with extremely low temperature and high humidity due to seasonal snowfall. During these extreme cold climatic conditions, plants have to survive severe heat stress conditions, even if they are being kept in greenhouses. The objective of this study was to investigate a heating system that can provide heat directly to the root zone instead of heating the entire greenhouse, which is a viable option to reduce energy consumption. Root zone heating could be an effective alternative for the sustainable development of plants during the winter. A novel type of root zone heating system was applied to evaluate the energy consumption during different greenhouse ambient temperature conditions, the effects of root zone heating systems on pepper plant morphology, and heat transfer rates to plant canopy in the greenhouse. The temperature treatments in root zone heating system were T-15, T-20, T-25, T-30, and a control treatment (TC) at 15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C, respectively, while TC received no heat. A simulation study was carried out to validate the root zone temperature. The results of the current investigation revealed that energy consumption has an inverse relationship to the ambient temperature of the greenhouse, while temperature gradients to the plant canopy observed from the lower to the upper part of the plant and the upper canopy experienced less temperature fluctuation as compared to the lower part of the plant. The results also showed that treatment T-20 had the maximum in terms of the leaf dry weight, stem diameter, and the number of leaves, while T-25 showed the maximum root dry weight and stem dry weight; T-30 and T-15 had minimum dry weights of plant segments among all treatments. Control treatment (TC) showed a minimum dry mass of plant. The root zone heating with optimal root zone temperature was found to be a viable and adaptable option as this leads to improved energy consumption patterns for the sustainable growth and development of plants in greenhouses during extremely low temperatures.

Capsaicinoids (CAPS) are substances responsible for pungency in Capsicum. It is important to quantify these types of compounds owing to their broad application in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and chemical weapons. In this work, we developed an indirect spectrophotometric method based on the colorimetric reaction between CAPS, Co(II) 3.10×10-5 mol L-1 and 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) 6.23×10-5 and, in cachaça:water 92:8v/v solutions, for quantification of total CAPS in Capsicum peppers. The product of the reaction is CoPAR2CAPS2 and its absorption in aquo-ethanolic solution at 510 nm is proportional to the total CAPS concentration from 0.60 to 17.94 mg L-1. The values of limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.0004 and 0.001 mg of CAPS/g of pepper, respectively, with 4% relative standard deviation. The developed method yielded similar results to those obtained from high performance liquid chromatography, with 95% of confidence.

Capsaicin (capsicum oleoresin) extracted from two peeper species, Capsicum frutescens and Capsicum baccatum, was investigated as a natural preservative against fungal (Paecilomyces variotti) attack on Pinus sp. and Hymenaea sp. Static contact angle measurements were performed as a function of time in order to investigate the wetting properties of the wood samples treated with capsicum oleoresin. As revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis, photographs, and angle contact measurements, Hymenaea sp is more sensitive to the presence of capsicum oleoresin, which can inhibit, or retard, the growth of Paecilomyces variotti. Structures of filaments called hyphae, occurring typically in multicellular fungi, were observed on the sample surfaces studied by using an electronic scanning microscope. The capsicum oleoresin extracted from Capsicum frutescens showed to be more effective as a preservative due to its greater degree of pungency (higher capsaicin content) and better penetration into the cellular structure of the woods.

This paper presents the results of the study on the analysis of the stimulative and biopesticide effects of the fungus Trichoderma harzianum T-22 on germination, sprouting and early development of two pepper varieties (Amfora and Buketna 1) in organic production. The results show the significant effect of the applied T-22 strain on ger­mination, sprouting, growth and early development of both aboveground and underground parts of plants, either used as soil or seed inoculum, in comparison to controls. It was concluded that T. harzianum T-22 proved its efficiency in promoting growth and development of pepper, and preventing the development of mycoses. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR31031: Promotion of sustainability and competitiveness in organic plant and stock production using new technologies and inputs]

A murcha bacteriana, causada por Ralstonia solanacearum, é uma das doenças mais importantes do gênero Capsicum no Brasil. No Amazonas, as condições de elevada temperatura e umidade favorecem o desenvolvimento da doença. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resistência à murcha bacteriana de germoplasma, selvagem e comercial, de Capsicum spp. Foram avaliados 22 acessos de Capsicum em casa de vegetação. A inoculação foi feita mediante ferimento das raízes, seguido de adição no solo, ao redor das plantas, de suspensão bacteriana na concentração de 10(8) ufc mL-1. A avaliação foi feita diariamente a partir do quarto dia após a inoculação, em função desenvolvimento dos sintomas. A partir das médias de progresso dos sintomas foi construída a área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD), e os dados submetidos ao teste de Scott-Knott ao nível de 5% de probabilidade, utilizando o programa estatístico SAEG 9.1. Foram selecionados os acessos 30, 20 e 17, da espécie C. chinense, como resistentes à murcha bacteriana para ensaios futuros em programas de melhoramento genético.The bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most important in the genus Capsicum in Brazil. In the state of Amazonas, high temperatures and humidity favor the development of the disease. The objective of this work was to evaluate resistance in germoplasm of wild and commercial Capsicum spp. to bacterial wilt. Twenty two accesses of Capsicum spp. were evaluated in greenhouse conditions. The inoculation was made by means of wounds in the roots, followed by addition of bacterial suspension in the concentration of 10(8) ufc ml-1 in the soil, around the plants. Plant evaluation was made daily after the fourth day of the inoculation (DAI) considering the symptoms progress. From the average progress of symptoms was constructed the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), and the data submitted to the Scott-Knott test at 5% of probability, using SAEG statistical program. From the average severity notes, we constructed the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The accesses 30, 20 and 17 were selected from C. chinense as resistant to the bacterial wilt, for future use in genetic breeding programs.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o comportamento meiótico e a viabilidade polínica em quatro acessos das espécies Capsicum annuum e Capsicum baccatum. Em todos os acessos, foram observados 12 bivalentes, confirmando o número e nível de ploidia relatados na literatura para essas espécies. Os resultados mostraram uma divisão celular normal, porém algumas anormalidades foram detectadas, tais como migração precoce dos cromossomos em metáfases I e II, cromossomos retardatários em anáfase I e divisão assincrônica. Os acessos estudados apresentaram um índice meiótico variando de 75,6 a 93,6%, e a viabilidade polínica em todos os acessos foi superior a 90%, demonstrando que as irregularidades meióticas observadas não comprometeram a viabilidade destes.The objective of this research was to study the meiotic behavior and pollen viability in four accessions of species Capsicum annuum and Capsicum baccatum. In all accessions, twelve bivalents were observed, confirming the number and ploidy level reported in the literature for these species. The results showed a normal cell division although some abnormalities had been detected, as early chromosome migration at metaphases I and II, later chromosomes at anaphase I and asynchronous division. The studied accessions presented a meiotic index (MI) that varied from 75.6 to 93.6% and the pollen viability in all accessions was higher than 90%, demonstrating that the meiotic irregularities observed didn't affect their viability.

A Amazônia é um importante centro de diversidade de Capsicum spp., em especial de C. chinense. Informações relativas à biologia reprodutiva são importantes para o melhoramento e conservação da espécie. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar o sistema de reprodução de C. chinense. Foram avaliados cinco genótipos e quatro tratamentos: polinização natural, proteção dos botões florais, autopolinização manual e polinização cruzada manual. Os genótipos avaliados demonstraram auto-compatibilidade e reprodução como plantas autógamas.The Amazon is an important diversity center of Capsicum spp. especially C. chinense. Information about their reproductive biology is important to species breeding and conservation. The objective of this work was to study the C. chinense reproductive system. We evaluated five genotypes and four treatments: natural pollination, protection of floral bottoms, manual self pollination and manual cross pollination. The results showed that the genotypes evaluated are self-compatible and autogamous.

The genetic diversity of 38 accessions of the genus Capsicum from the upper Rio Negro in the Amazon regionwas characterized by 51 morphologic descriptors. The similarity of the accessions was calculated based on 17 essentialdescriptors and on the general similarity coefficient of Gower. Grouping analyses and a dispersion diagram of the accessionswere established based on the similarity coefficients using, respectively, the UPGMA method and the principal coordinateanalysis (PCO) as criterion of grouping and dispersion. A great variation of classes were identified in the fruit traits: ninecolors, four shapes and a great range of variation in fruit size and weight. Only three accessions were not pungent, since thisstudy focused on the pungent accessions of the genebank. The following pepper morphotypes were identified: three olho-depeixetypes, three pimenta-de-passarinho, four dedo-de-moça, four curabiá, nine murupi and 15 pimenta-de cheiro.

O objetivo do trabalho foi o de relacionar e discutir os hábitos e as formas de uso mais comuns das pimentas do gênero Capsicum cultivadas em Roraima, e utilizadas pelos povos indígenas e comunidades migrantes de outras regiões do país.The objective of this study was relate and discuss both the habit and the most common forms of using Capsicum peppers cultivated in the state of Roraima and utilized by indigenous people and colonist communities from the other regions of the country.

Abstract In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the evaluating Member State (EMS), Spain, received an application from Sipcam Inagra S.A. to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance mepanipyrim in blackberries, raspberries, peppers and cucumbers. In order to accommodate for the intended uses of mepanipyrim, Spain proposed to raise the existing MRLs to 4 mg/kg on raspberries and blackberries, 1 mg/kg on peppers and 0.5 mg/kg on cucumbers. EFSA assessed only the request for cane fruits and peppers since an MRL proposal of 0.5 mg/kg has already been made for cucumbers in a previous Reasoned Opinion considering the same good agricultural practices (GAP). According to EFSA the data are sufficient to derive MRL proposals of 4 mg/kg on raspberries and blackberries and 1.5 mg/kg on peppers. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of mepanipyrim on the commodities under consideration. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the proposed uses of mepanipyrim on blackberries, raspberries and peppers will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference values and therefore are unlikely to pose a consumer health risk.

Total fatty acids content was studied in three varieties of peppers (Arnoia, Fresno de la Vega and Los Valles-Benavente) in different commercial stages of ripening: green and red in the Arnoia variety and, green, breaker and red in the Fresno de la Vega and Los Valles-Benavente varieties. With ripening, an increase was observed in the lipid content in the peppers of all three varieties; the values showed are inside the range described in the literature for other varieties. At the end of maturation (red peppers), fat content allows for differentiating the three varieties under study. The fatty acid profiles were similar in the three varieties of peppers and in the three stages of ripening: the most abundant fatty acid was linoleic (C18:2) followed by linolenic (C18:3) and palmitic (C16); these fatty acids represent more than 80% of the total fatty acids and do not show important variations during ripening in the three varieties of peppers. Minor changes in the major and minor fatty acids during ripening were observed in the Los Valles-Benavente variety. Using discriminant analysis 100% of the green, breaker and red peppers were correctly classified and differentiated from their content (%) in individual fatty acids: C16, C16:1, C17, C18, C18:1Z,T, C18:2 y C18:3.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, France, hereafter referred to as the evaluating Member State (EMS), received an application from Syngenta Crop Protection to modify the existing MRLs for isopyrazam in various root and tuber vegetables, peppers and cucurbits (edible and inedible peel). In order to accommodate for the intended uses of isopyrazam in Europe, the EMS proposed to raise the existing MRLs for isopyrazam in all crops under consideration. France drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA. According to EFSA, the data are sufficient to derive a MRL proposal for carrots, which can be extrapolated to other root and tuber vegetables, for peppers (indoor GAP), for cucumbers (indoor GAP), which is extrapolated to gherkins and courgettes and for melons (indoor GAP), which can be applied also for pumpkins and watermelons. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the intended uses of isopyrazam on the crops under consideration will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference values and therefore are unlikely to pose a public health concern.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, The Netherlands received an application from Chemtura to modify the existing MRL(s) for the active substance bifenazate in citrus fruit, pome fruit, stone fruit, grapes, hops, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, melons and watermelons. In order to accommodate for the intended use of bifenazate, the evaluating Member State (EMS) proposed to raise the existing MRLs for all of the crops except for pepper where a lowering of the MRL was proposed, and for tomatoes and aubergines, where it was concluded that no modification of the MRL would be required. The EMS drafted an evaluation report according to Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA on 6 January 2012. According to EFSA the data are sufficient to derive MRL proposals of 0.9 mg/kg for citrus fruit, 0.5 mg/kg for pome fruit, 0.5 mg/kg peaches/nectarines and plums, 0.7 mg/kg for grapes, 3 mg/kg for strawberries, 0.5 mg/kg for tomatoes and aubergines, 0.4 mg/kg for sweet pepper, 3 mg/kg for chilli pepper, 0.6 mg/kg for cucurbits with inedible peel and 20 mg/kg for hops. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of bifenazate on the commodities under consideration at the validated LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg. Since for some of these crops higher MRLs were proposed in a previously issued reasoned opinion of EFSA, they need to be considered to avoid trade disruption. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the proposed use of bifenazate on citrus fruit, pome fruit, stone fruit, table- and wine grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, melons, watermelons and hops will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference value and therefore is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk.

Com o objetivo de verificar a conservação de frutos de pimentão, foi estudada a utilização de dois tipos de embalagem e um seqüestrador de etileno, em condições ambientais e em geladeira. As avaliações foram realizadas a cada cinco dias, obtendo-se as seguintes conclusões: a melhor temperatura para conservação de pimentões situa-se entre 7 e 9°C; o armazenamento de pimentões em bandejas envolvidas com filme de PVC, constitui-se na melhor alternativa para sua conservação, naquela faixa de temperatura. O permanganato de potássio, colocado em cápsulas perfuradas no interior das embalagens, não apresentou efeito evidente como absorvente de etileno. Após 30 dias, foram verificadas perdas de frutos por senescência e/ou pela incidência de doenças.Two packing types and exponsure to ethylene, in room and refrigerator conditions, were studied for fruits of sweet pepper Agronomico 10G. After 5 day intervals the fruits were weighed. It was concluded that the best temperature range for sweet pepper preservation is 7 to 9°C; at these temperatures, the best packaging was aluminium trays covered with 0,0165 mm PVC film. Potassium permanganate in perforated capsules showed no evident effect as ethylene absorbent. After 30 days fruit losses were very high due to senescence and/or disease incidence.

Doscientas sesenta y una accesiones del género Capsicum del banco de germoplasma del Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científicas (Sinchi) se evaluaron a través de cinco sistemas enzimáticos polimórficos: esterasa (EST), peroxidasa (PRX), 6-fosfogluconato deshidrogenasa (6-PGDH), aspartato amino transferasa (GOT) y enzima málica (ME). Se utilizó un análisis de agrupamiento (Upgma) con el fin de determinar la variabilidad genética. Se observó un agrupamiento de las especies C. baccatum y C. pubescens, mientras que las especies C. annuum, C. chinense y C. frutescens no mostraron un agrupamiento independiente, lo cual ya ha sido reportado en estudios por isoenzimas para el género. Varias accesiones mostraron características particulares para estudios ecológicos y evolutivos. Palabras clave: Colombia, Capsicum, banco de germoplasma, isoenzimas, ají.

ABSTRACT: Essential oils are the most important compounds produced during secondary metabolism in aromatic plants. Essential oils are volatile, have characteristic odor and are used as defensive agents by plants. In pepper, it is possible to say that essential oils are the “flavor fingerprint” of each species. In the present article, eight species of pepper were studied in order to extract their essential oils and oleoresins, test their antibacterial and antifungal activities and also to identify the compounds present in the most bioactive samples. Results demonstrated that two essential oils [Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. and Schinus terebinthifolius] and three oleoresins (Schinus terebinthifolius and Piper nigrum white and black) recorded significant antimicrobial activity. These active essential oils and oleoresins are interesting for use in biotechnological processes employed in food, pharmaceutical and other industries.