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RESUMEN: El pimiento (Capsicum annuum L.) es una hortaliza de mayor consumo mundial, puesto que, sus frutos son ricos en fibra, vitaminas A y C, antioxidantes y pueden comercializarse frescos o procesados. Actualmente existe un descenso de la producción, debido a la aparición de problemas fitosanitarios que ocurren a lo largo del ciclo fenológico. La base fundamental de un programa de manejo integrado de plagas lo constituye el conocimiento de los artrópodos asociados a un cultivo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue el estudio de los artrópodos plagas y enemigos naturales presentes en una parcela de pimiento de 1000 m2. Durante agosto 2021 - enero de 2022, se realizaron muestreos semanales de hojas para la identificación de los taxones presentes. Un total de 1485 especímenes de artrópodos fueron observados durante el estudio, representado por el 61,5% de enemigos naturales y el 38,5% de fitófagos. La identificación de los artrópodos plagas representa la primera fase para consecutivamente evaluar la magnitud de sus daños en combinación con la acción de los enemigos naturales para definir su importancia como agentes biológicos de regulación. ABSTRACT: The pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a vegetable with the highest consumption worldwide, since its fruits are rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, antioxidants and can be marketed fresh or processed. Currently there is a decrease in production, due to the appearance of phytosanitary problems that occur throughout the phenological cycle. The fundamental basis of an integrated pest management program is the knowledge of the arthropods associated with a crop. The objective of this work was the study of arthropod pests and natural enemies present in a pepper plot of 1000 m2. During August 2021 - January 2022, weekly leaf sampling was carried out to identify the taxa present. A total of 1485 arthropod specimens were observed during the study, represented by 61.5% natural enemies and 38% phytophagous. The identification of pest arthropods represents the first phase to consecutively evaluate the magnitude of their damage in combination with the action of natural enemies to define their importance as biological regulation agents.

12 Pág. Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (CBGP), An instance of host range evolution relevant to plant virus disease control is resistance breaking. Resistance breaking can be hindered by across-host fitness trade-offs generated by negative effects of resistance-breaking mutations on the virus fitness in susceptible hosts. Different mutations in pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) coat protein result in the breaking in pepper plants of the resistance determined by the L3 resistance allele. Of these, mutation M138N is widespread in PMMoV populations, despite associated fitness penalties in within-host multiplication and survival. The stability of mutation M138N was analysed by serial passaging in L3 resistant plants. Appearance on passaging of necrotic local lesions (NLL), indicating an effective L3 resistance, showed reversion to nonresistance-breaking phenotypes was common. Most revertant genotypes had the mutation N138K, which affects the properties of the virus particle, introducing a penalty of reversion. Hence, the costs of reversion may determine the evolution of resistance-breaking in addition to resistance-breaking costs. The genetic diversity of the virus population in NLL was much higher than in systemically infected tissues, and included mutations reported to break L3 resistance other than M138N. Infectivity assays on pepper genotypes with different L alleles showed high phenotypic diversity in respect to L alleles in NLL, including phenotypes not reported in nature. Thus, high diversity at NLL may potentiate the appearance of genotypes that enable the colonization of new host genotypes or species. Collectively, the results of this study contribute to better understanding the evolutionary dynamics of resistance breaking and host-range expansions., This work was funded in part by Plan Estatal de I+D+i, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain (grant RTI2018-094302- B- I00 to F.G-A.). S.B. was supported by a scholarship of an Erasmus Mundus EU programme (BRAVE, agreement 2013-2536/001-001). Miguel Ángel Mora and Antolín López Quirós provided excellent technical support. We thank Dr Tomás Canto for providing access to electron microscope facilities at Margarita Salas Center for Biological Research, CSIC, Madrid, and Rafael Núñez Ramírez for assistance with electron microscopy.

Photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency (WUE) are crucial for the sustainable use of water in agriculture. Our objective was to analyze the variability of photosynthetic and related traits in maize (Zea mays L.) and other summer crops in a temperate humid area. We evaluated photosynthetic parameters in maize for three years and compared them to pigeonpea and chickpea, adapted to arid environments, and pepper, tomato and common bean, as irrigated crops. Variability was significant in maize for most photosynthetic parameters and no consistent patterns of variability were found among genotypes. Compared to other crops, maize (C4 crop) had the highest CO2 assimilation and WUE, and the lowest stomatal conductance, substomatal CO2 concentration, and transpiration. CO2 assimilation was lowest for chickpea, stomatal conductance was highest for pigeonpea, substomatal CO2 concentration was highest for tomato and pigeonpea, transpiration was highest for pigeonpea, and WUE was lowest for pigeonpea. Chickpea lacked variability for photosynthetic traits, while pigeonpea has the largest potential for improving photosynthetic traits. Net assimilation, conductance, and transpiration could be improved in common bean, and substomatal CO2 concentration in pepper. Water Use Efficiency could be improved in some C3 crops, but more genetic biodiversity has to be identified in maize., Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This work was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and the European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER), UE (project code PID2019-108127RB-I00).

Bacterial spot (BS) is a severe bacterial disease induced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv), a pathogen that causes serious damage to pepper growth and yield. It is therefore important to study the mechanisms of pepper resistance to Xcv and to breed and promote Xcv-resistant pepper varieties. However, studies of the responses to Xcv infection in peppers at the protein level are limited. Here, we examined Xcv-induced proteomic changes in leaves of the BS susceptible bell pepper ECW and the resistant bell pepper VI037601 using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based protein labeling technology. A total of 6 120 distinct proteins were identified, and there were 1 289 significantly differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) in ECW and VI037601 leaves after Xcv inoculation. Among these, 339 (250 up- and 89 down-regulated) and 479 (300 up- and 179 down-regulated) DAPs were specifically identified in ECW and VI037601, respectively, with 459 (364 up- and 95 down-regulated) similarly expressed DAPs being shared by ECW and VI037601. Based on bioinformatics analysis, many defense-associated proteins were identified as up-regulated in ECW and VI037601, especially the proteins involved in plant-pathogen interaction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, and MAPK signaling pathway - plant. Moreover, we evaluated transcript levels of six differentially expressed genes from the iTRAQ results by qRT-PCR. The analysis revealed transcriptional changes that were consistent with the changes at the protein level. This study will provide a valuable resource for understanding the molecular basis of pepper resistance to Xcv infection and for improving the disease resistance of pepper cultivars.

The Fresno-Benavente Pepper (F-BP) Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) is a horticultural crop characterized by its great agronomic, economic and cultural importance in the region of Castilla y León (Spain). Field production is threatened by verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae and postharvest losses due to grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea. Eight Bacillus spp. strains endophytically isolated from F-BP roots were used in the study. By conducting an in vitro antagonism study, we found that all Bacillus strains were effective against B. cinerea and five of them showed high antagonism against V. dahliae, with B. siamensis and B. proteolyticus strains being the most effective against both pathogens. Eight Bacillus strains were used for an infection test in F-BP fruits and plants to test their activity against both fungal pathogens. We report that Bacillus thuringiensis, B. siamensis and B. pumilus (SCFC 1–2) could control B. cinerea in pepper fruits through direct action and local activation of plant defences. In the case of V. dahliae root infection, plant roots inoculated with B. siamensis and B. proteolyticus were able to significantly decrease the occurrence of disease through direct action and local activation of jasmonic acid as a defence response. Therefore, we propose that B. siamensis could be used to control B. cinerea and V. dahliae in F-BP fruits and plants, respectively, through direct antagonism as well as the induction of local plant defence responses.

Successful hybrid cultivar breeding is depend on the high genetic diversity of the plant sources, as well as the homozygous and genetically distant lines requiring hybridization. The aim of this study is to determine the genetic distance between the inbred lines of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in order to increase efficacy of the breeding program. In this study, the genetic distances between the inbred lines of 44 bell peppers and 35 banana peppers were investigated using the SRAP (Sequence Related Amplified Polymorphism) markers. Based on pattern scores, dendrograms were produced by the UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method of mathematical averages method). Out of the 71 primer combinations tested, 50 combinations revealed polymorphisms among the banana pepper lines, and a total of 123 polymorphic bands were obtained. In the bell pepper lines, 24 SRAP primer combinations were tested and 15 combinations had 25 polymorphic bands. Based on the UPGMA cluster analysis, the pepper lines divided into groups as bell peppers and banana peppers. While the genetic similarity among the banana pepper lines varied between 0.62 and 0.98, the genetic similarity among the bell pepper lines varied between 0.54 and 1.00. As a result, it can be stated that the SRAP markers can be used successfully for determining the genetic distances of the pepper inbred lines thus will help the breeding programme., Hibrit çeşit ıslahında başarının sağlanması; genetik çeşitliliği yüksek bitki kaynağına, melezlenecek hatların homozigot olmasına ve melezlenecek hatların genetik olarak birbirinden uzak olmasına bağlıdır. Bu çalışmada, biber (Capsicum annum L.) saf hatları arasındaki genetik uzaklığın belirlenmesi ve ıslah programının etkinliğinin arttırılması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada 44 adet dolmalık ve 35 adet çarliston biber saf hatları arasındaki genetik uzaklık, SRAP (Sequence Related Amplified Polymorphism) markerı ile araştırılmıştır. Dendrogramlar UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method of mathematical averages method) yöntemine göre oluşturulmuştur. Test edilen 71 primer kombinasyonundan, çarliston biber hatlarında 50 kombinasyon polimorfizm göstermiş ve toplamda 123 adet polimorfik bant elde edilmiştir. Dolmalık biber hatlarında 24 SRAP primer kombinasyonu test edilmiş ve 15 kombinasyondan 25 polimorfik bant elde edilmiştir. UPGMA küme analizine göre biber hatları dolmalık biber ve çarliston biber olarak gruplara ayrılmıştır. Çarliston biber hatları arasındaki genetik benzerlik 0.62 ile 0.98 arasında değişirken, dolmalık biber hatları arasındaki genetik benzerlik 0.54 ile 1.00 arasında değişmiştir. Sonuç olarak, SRAP markerlarının biber saf hatlarının genetik uzaklıklarının belirlenmesinde başarılı bir şekilde kullanılarak ıslah programına yardımcı olacağı ifade edilebilir.

A rotation sequence of ungrafted and grafted tomato-melon-pepper-watermelon on resistant rootstocks ‘Brigeor’, Cucumis metuliferus, ‘Oscos’ and Citrullus amarus, respectively, was carried out in a plastic greenhouse, ending with a susceptible or resistant tomato crop. The rotation was conducted in plots infested by an avirulent (Avi) or a partially virulent (Vi) Meloidogyne incognita population to the Mi1.2 gene. At the beginning of the study, the reproduction index (RI, relative reproduction in the resistant respect susceptible tomato) of Avi and Vi populations was 1.3% and 21.6%, respectively. Soil nematode density at transplanting (Pi) and at the end (Pf) of each crop, disease severity and crop yield were determined. Moreover, the putative virulence selection and fitness cost were determined at the end of each crop in pot tests. In addition, a histopathological study was carried out 15 days after nematode inoculation in pot test. The volume and number of nuclei per giant cell (GC) and the number of GC, their volume and the number of nuclei per feeding site in susceptible watermelon and pepper were compared with C. amarus and resistant pepper. At the beginning of the study, the Pi of Avi and Vi plots did not differ between susceptible and resistant germplasm. At the end of the rotation, the Pf of Avi was 1.2 the Pi in susceptible and 0.06 in resistant, the cumulative yield of grafted crops was 1.82 times higher than that of the ungrafted susceptible ones, and the RI in resistant tomato less than 10% irrespective of the rotation sequence. Concerning the Vi, Pf was below the detection level at the end of the rotation in resistant and 3 times Pi in the susceptible. The cumulative yield of grafted crops was 2.83 times higher than that of the ungrafted and the RI in resistant tomato was 7.6%, losing the population’s virulence. In the histopathological study, no differences in number of GC per feeding site were observed in watermelon compared to C. amarus, but they were more voluminous and contained higher number of nuclei per GC and per feeding site. Regarding pepper, Avi population did not penetrate resistant rootstock.

Condiments and culinary supplements are subjected to long-term storage and may undergo physical, chemical, and biological changes that can influence their quality. )us, the objective of the present study was to analyze the drying kinetics of rose pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) fruits in an oven with forced air circulation at different temperatures, namely, 45, 55, 65, and 75°C, and determine the effective diffusion coefficient and activation energy using different mathematical models. Furthermore, the effects of the different drying temperatures were analyzed for external color parameters and yield of essential oil contents by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. Of the ten models used for fitting, )ompson’s model was one with the best fitting to represent the drying of rose pepper fruits. )e diffusion coefficient increases with the elevation of drying air temperature, described by the Arrhenius equation, with activation energy of 53.579 kJ·mol− 1. )e color of the fruits decreased in lightness (L∗) with the increase in temperature. Of the thirty-eight terpenes identified, α-pinene and cis-ocimene were the most abundant, with the overall highest yield being found at a drying temperature of 45°C. )e authors acknowledge the Laboratory of Post-Harvest of Plant Products, Laboratory of Natural Products, CAPES, FAPEG, FINEP, CNPq, CONAB, and IF Goiano, Campus of Rio Verde, for the indispensable financial support to conduct this study. )e authors are also grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020). L. Barros acknowledges FCT, P.I., for the national funding through the institutional scientific employment program contract. M. Carocho acknowledges FCT for the individual scientific employment program contract CEECIND/00831/2018. )is work was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project NORTE-01-0247-FEDER- 113508: Bio4Drinks®, which T. Finimundy acknowledges. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Low temperature combined with low light (LL) affects crop production, especially the yield and quality of peppers, in northwest China during the winter and spring seasons. Zeaxanthin (Z) is a known lipid protectant and active oxygen scavenger. However, whether exogenous Z can mitigate LL-induced inhibition of photosynthesis and oxidative stress in peppers remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of exogenous Z on photosynthesis and the antioxidant machinery of pepper seedlings subject to LL stress. The results showed that the growth and photosynthesis of pepper seedlings were significantly inhibited by LL stress. In addition, the antioxidant machinery was disturbed by the uneven production and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which resulted in damage to the pepper. For example, membrane lipid peroxidation increased ROS content, and so on. However, exogenous application of Z before LL stress significantly increased the plant height, stem diameter, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and stomata, which were obviously closed at LL. The activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), mono de-hydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), de-hydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and ascorbate oxidase (AAO) improved significantly due to the increased expression of CaSOD, CaCAT, CaAPX, CaMDHAR, and CaDHAR. The ascorbic (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) contents and ascorbic/dehydroascorbate (AsA/DHA) and glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratios also increased significantly, resulting in the effective removal of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anions (O2•−) caused by LL stress. Thus, pre-treatment with Z significantly reduced ROS accumulation in pepper seedlings under LL stress by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and accumulation of components of the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA–GSH) cycle and upregulated key genes in the AsA–GSH cycle.

In this study, Tea Tree Oil, (Timorex Gold), Orange Oil (Prev-Am), Reynoutria spp. extract (Regalia), Bacillus subtilis QST 713 (Serenade SC), Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei (Vitanal) and a reference product Fluopyram+Tebuconazole (Luna Experience) were applied to pepper plants to determine the efficacy against powdery mildew disease caused by Leveillula taurica (Lev.) Arm on pepper. The disease on plants was evaluated based on the 0-5 scale when the disease reached to 20% on untreated plots. Trials were established as a randomized plot design with four replications. The disease severity was assessed using Towsend-Heuberger’s formula and the percentage effect of the applications was calculated using the Abbott formula. The conducted experiments were revealed that the highest % efficacy values of the preparations against powdery mildew were obtained from Timorex Gold (80%), Prev-Am (45%), Regalia (44.7%), Serenade (26.3%) and Vitanal (26.2%), respectively. The efficacy of the reference product, Luna Experience, against powdery mildew in pepper was found 89%. It has been concluded that Timorex Gold preparation performed enough efficacy against Leveillula taurica, and can be safely used and offered against powdery mildew.

Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a predatory mite, effective at controlling whiteflies and thrips in protected crops. However, on tomato its efficacy as a biocontrol agent is hindered, most probably by the plant trichomes and their exudates. Our aim was to characterize the response of A. swirskii to the tomato trichome exudates and identify three major detoxification gene sets in this species: cytochromes P450 (CYPs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and carboxyl/cholinesterases (CCEs). Mites were exposed separately to tomato and pepper, a favourable host plant for A. swirskii, after which their transcriptional responses were analysed and compared. The de novo transcriptome assembly resulted in 71,336 unigenes with 66.1% of them annotated. Thirty-nine A. swirskii genes were differentially expressed after transfer on tomato leaves when compared to pepper leaves; some of the expressed genes were associated with the metabolism of tomato exudates. Our results illustrate that the detoxification gene sets CYPs, GSTs and CCEs are abundant in A. swirskii, but do not play a significant role when in contact with the tomato exudates.

The study was aimed to analyse the effect of low pressure cold plasma treatment [operated at 60.8 kPa on the quality parameters of red chilli pepper powder (RCPP)]. The experiments were conducted at two radio frequency power levels (60 W, 120 W) over a time range from 0 to 10 min. Total phenols, antioxidant activity, colour, and moisture content were determined. Results showed that radio frequency operating power and treatment time had significant negative effects (p < 0.05) on the quality parameters analysed. Cold plasma treatment reduced the redness, total phenol content, moisture content, and increased the antioxidant activity of the RCPP. Changes in the quality of the treated samples, especially the colour degradation were significant after 4 min of treatment. Degradation kinetics was determined for parameters studied to ascertain their order of reaction during cold plasma treatment. The order of reaction was decided from best fit models with the highest R2, minimum bias, and error sum of squares. Total phenol followed a zero-order, whereas antioxidant activity and colour followed first-order reactions. The study explored the possibilities and impact of using cold plasma for powdered food materials.

Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a serious disease in pepper. However, the interaction between the pathogen and pepper remains largely unknown. This study aimed to gain insights into determinants of pepper susceptibility and R. solanacearum pathogenesis. We assembled the complete genome of R. solanacearum strain Rs-SY1 and identified 5,106 predicted genes, including 84 type III effectors (T3E). RNA-seq was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in susceptible pepper CM334 at 1 and 5 days postinoculation (dpi) with R. solanacearum. Dual RNA-seq was used to simultaneously capture transcriptome changes in the host and pathogen at 3 and 7 dpi. A total of 1,400, 3,335, 2,878, and 4,484 DEGs of pepper (PDEGs) were identified in the CM334 hypocotyls at 1, 3, 5, and 7 dpi, respectively. Functional enrichment of the PDEGs suggests that inducing ethylene production, suppression of photosynthesis, downregulation of polysaccharide metabolism, and weakening of cell wall defenses may contribute to successful infection by R. solanacearum. When comparing in planta and nutrient agar growth of the R. solanacearum, 218 and 1,042 DEGs of R. solanacearum (RDEGs) were detected at 3 and 7 dpi, respectively. Additional analysis of the RDEGs suggested that enhanced starch and sucrose metabolism, and upregulation of virulence factors may promote R. solanacearum colonization. Strikingly, 26 R. solanacearum genes were found to have similar DEG patterns during a variety of host–R. solanacearum interactions. This study provides a foundation for a better understanding of the transcriptional changes during pepper–R. solanacearum interactions and will aid in the discovery of potential susceptibility and virulence factors.

Several studies have shown that the competition for fresh water is increasing, and there is a need to sustainably manage the available water for crop production. Also, studies that investigate the use of fish wastewater to irrigate sweet pepper are scarce. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out to investigate and compare the growth yield, and nutrient composition of sweet pepper under fish wastewater and borehole water. Experimental design consisted of a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments include; 50% Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) with fish pond water (T1), 100% PET with fish pond water (T2), and 100% PET with borehole water- control (ground water), (T0) and were replicated three times. Soil physico-chemical properties, Pepper Agronomic parameters (growth and yield) and nutrient compositions (moisture, fat, ash, protein, carbohydrate and crude fiber) were determined using standard procedures. Results showed that the water quality of fish wastewater (aquaculture) and ground water used for irrigating pepper was within the permissible limits when compared to standard. Also, Aquaculture water improves the soil physico-chemical and soil water content, which consequently led to improved growth and yield of pepper. The average plant height values were 59.00 cm, 37.50 cm, and 45.00 cm in treatments T2, T1 and T0, respectively. Similarly, the highest number of leaves, stem girth, biomass and sweet pepper yield, root weight and Leave area index (LAI) were recorded in treatment, T2. In addition, highest nutrient compositions were recorded in treatment T2, while the least was recorded in treatment T0. Statistical analysis showed that agronomic and mineral composition parameters were significantly different (P

Postharvest water loss in pepper fruit (Capsicum annuum L.) reduces its shelf life. Fruit texture is one of the most important components of fruit quality for consumers. In this study, the anatomical traits of pepper fruit related to postharvest water loss and texture were assessed. There was a strong positive relationship between postharvest water loss and the thickness of the cuticular membrane, cuticular weight, total cutin weight, and polysaccharide-cutan weight. An amorphous fibrous structure that forms a path for diffusion and increases water loss was observed in the thick cuticle of the pericarp. In addition, positive correlations between the hardness of the exocarp and the weight of cuticular membrane, cutin content, and polysaccharide-cutan content were found. These results indicate that the thickness of the cuticular membrane wedged between subepidermal cells may influence water loss through the pericarp of pepper fruit and fruit with a high cutin and polysaccharide content have a hard tough texture.

Phytoplasma-like symptoms of leaf yellowing and calyx malformation were observed in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), upward leaves and fruit malformation in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), and aerial tuber formation in potato (S. tuberosum L.) during the survey performed in the late season (August to September) of 2015 and 2016 in Van province (Turkey). A total of 100 samples were tested by nested-PCR using universal primer pairs to assess the sanitary status of the solanaceous crops and to characterise the phytoplasma isolates. Among them, seven sam-ples resulted in a 1.25 kb DNA fragment, and five (two eggplants, two peppers, and one potato) were molecularly characterised (Accession No.: KY579357, KT595210, MF564267, MF564266, and MH683601). BLAST and the virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes revealed the presence of two distinct phytoplasma infections in solanaceous crops: `Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii' a member of the clover proliferation group (16SrVI) and subgroup A and `Candidatus P. solani' a member of the stolbur group (16SrXII) and subgroup A. The virtual RFLP analysis and calculated coefficients of RFLP pattern similarities further revealed a remarkable ge-netic diversity among the `Candidatus P. solani' isolates infecting pepper (similarity coefficient of 0.90) and eggplant (similarity coefficients of 0.98 and 1.00) at the same geographical area. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of `Candidadtus P. trifolii' in potato from the Eastern Anatolia region, Turkey.

Corona virus pandemic outbreak also known as COVID-19 has created an imbalance in this world. Scientists have adopted the use of natural or alternative medicines which are consumed mostly as dietary supplements to boost the immune system as herbal remedies. India is famous for traditional medicinal formulations which includes ‘Trikadu’—a combination of three acrids, namely Zingiber officinale, Piper nigrum and Piper longum which have antioxidant properties that boost our immune system hence acting as a strong preventive measure. In this study, AutoDock 4.0 was used to study interaction between the phytocompounds of Trikadu with RNA-dependent polymerase protein and enveloped protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Analysis of the results showed that coumarin, coumaperine and bisdemethoxycurcumin showed strong bonding interactions with both the proteins. We can conclude that Trikadu has the potential molecules; hence, it can be incorporated in the diet to boost the immune system as a preventive measure against the virus. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12010-021-03793-5.

วารสารวิชาการและวิจัย มทร.พระนคร สาขาวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี, 17, 1, 77-88

Peppers need to be characterized for the in situ conservation of species that might be important for breeding purposes. In this study, we characterized the diversity of 23 pepper genotypes through eight qualitative and 12 quantitative descriptors. The pepper samples were collected from the city of Manaus and in the municipalities of Rio Preto da Eva and Iranduba in the state of Amazonas. We performed descriptive analysis, analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) and used the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) to analyze the data. The differences between the genotypes for all descriptors evaluated were significant. Among the genotypes collected, four pepper species were identified, including Capsicum chinense (14 genotypes), Capsicum frutescens (two genotypes), Capsicum baccatum (one genotype), and Capsicum annuum (four genotypes), and two other genotypes were obtained with unidentified species. The PCA and UPGMA clustering methods could be used to efficiently differentiate between the genotypes by applying quantitative and qualitative descriptors of fruits and seeds. These methods helped to identify different genotypes (G1 and G15) and separate them into distinct groups associated with the distribution of species based on quantitative data only. Overall, our findings suggested that the genetic variability in Capsicum available in the State of Amazonas might be useful in breeding programs. RESUMO As pimentas precisam ser caracterizadas para a conservação in situ da espécie que possam ser importantes para fins de reprodução. Neste estudo, caracterizamos a diversidade de 23 genótipos de pimenta por meio de oito descritores qualitativos e 12 quantitativos. As amostras de pimenta foram coletadas na cidade de Manaus e nos municípios de Rio Preto da Eva e Iranduba no estado do Amazonas. Realizamos análise descritiva, análise de variância, análise de correlação de Pearson e análise de componentes principais (ACP) e usamos o método de grupo de pares não ponderados com média aritmética (UPGMA) para analisar os dados. As diferenças entre os genótipos para todos os descritores avaliados foram significativas. Dentre os genótipos coletados, foram identificadas quatro espécies de pimenta, sendo elas Capsicum chinense (14 genótipos), Capsicum frutescens (dois genótipos), Capsicum baccatum (um genótipo) e Capsicum annuum (quatro genótipos), e outros dois genótipos foram obtidos com espécies não identificadas. Os métodos de agrupamento ACP e UPGMA podem ser usados para diferenciar eficientemente os genótipos por meio da aplicação de descritores quantitativos e qualitativos de frutos e sementes. Esses métodos ajudaram a identificar diferentes genótipos (G1 e G15) e separá-los em grupos distintos associados à distribuição das espécies com base apenas em dados quantitativos. No geral, nossos achados sugerem que a variabilidade genética em Capsicum disponível no Estado do Amazonas pode ser útil em programas de melhoramento.

CaWRKY40 in pepper (Capsicum annuum) promotes immune responses to Ralstonia solanacearum infection (RSI) and to high-temperature, high-humidity (HTHH) stress, but how it interacts with upstream signalling components remains poorly understood. Here, using approaches of reverse genetics, biochemical and molecular biology we functionally characterised the relationships among the WRKYGMK-containing WRKY protein CaWRKY27b, the calcium-dependent protein kinase CaCDPK29, and CaWRKY40 during pepper response to RSI or HTHH. Our data indicate that CaWRKY27b is upregulated and translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus upon phosphorylation of Ser137 in the nuclear localisation signal by CaCDPK29. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and microscale thermophoresis, we observed that, due to the replacement of Q by M in the conserved WRKYGQK, CaWRKY27b in the nucleus failed to bind to W-boxes in the promoters of immunity- and thermotolerance-related marker genes. Instead, CaWRKY27b interacted with CaWRKY40 and promoted its binding and positive regulation of the tested marker genes including CaNPR1, CaDEF1 and CaHSP24. Notably, mutation of the WRKYGMK motif in CaWRKY27b to WRKYGQK restored the W-box binding ability. Our data therefore suggest that CaWRKY27b is phosphorylated by CaCDPK29 and acts as a transcriptional activator of CaWRKY40 during the pepper response to RSI and HTHH.

Microspore cells develop into male gametophytes, which are released as pollen. Under certain stress conditions, the developmental pathway of microspores can be transformed into an embryo instead of pollen with haploid technology. In this experiment, 2 pepper breeding lines (G-1 and G-2) and 4 nutrient media formed with Murashige & Skoog (1962-MS) + 30 g L-1 sucrose or maltose and with or without vitamins as antioxidants. 0.05 mg L-1 biotin (vitamin B7) and 0.5 mg L-1 ascorbic acid (vitamin C) were studied as antioxidants. The anthers were pretreated for 2 days at 35 ºC in dark, then they were incubated in a climate chamber at 25 ºC and 16/8 hours photoperiodic conditions. The highest embryos rate, and development of embryos into the plantlet has been obtained from the medium containing maltose, and antioxidants. Although there was no significant differences between genotypes in medium- I (MS + sucrose), medium-II (MS + sucrose and antioxidants) and medium-III (MS + maltose) in terms of embryogenic response, a significant difference was determined between genotypes in medium-IV (MS + maltose and antioxidants). The number of embryos obtained from the G-1 in medium-IV has increased 2.5, 6.4, and 4.5 times, compared to the medium-I, medium-II, and medium-III respectively.

In agricultural production, it is important not only to achieve a high productivity, but also to ensure its stability. To obtain high and stable yields, it is necessary to have information on the adaptability of crops varieties and hybrids to a specific cultivation zone. The article analyzes the results of the field experiment on the variety testing of sweet pepper. To assess the variety for adaptability to natural conditions and cultivation technology in the Astrakhan region, such parameters as plasticity and stability of the variety were used. To characterize the ecological plasticity, the regression coefficient bi was determined, which characterizes response of the cultivar to changes in cultivation conditions. To characterize the parameter of stability, the standard deviation from the regression line 2d. was calculated. All calculations were carried out according to S.A. Eberhart, W.A. Russell as presented by V.Z. Pakudin.

The production of sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) is often constrained in tropical environments by susceptibility to persistent soil-borne diseases, including bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum). However, the production of sweet peppers in high tunnels using sterile soilless media irrigated with nutrient solution offers the potential to reduce the incidence of bacterial wilt. An additional strategy for disease management is the use of sweet pepper scions grafted onto rootstocks that are resistant to soil-borne pathogens. Two sweet pepper cultivars grown extensively in the tropics, Nathalie and 4212, were used as scions and grafted onto the habanero pepper cultivar Habanero TEC (Capsicum chinense) and the aji pepper cultivar Baccatum TEC (Capsicum baccatum). Two cultivars related to the two rootstocks were prescreened for susceptibility to two virulent strains of bacterial wilt. Graft combinations were grown in two environments, a high tunnel with automatic nutrient solution irrigation of containers filled with sterile coconut fiber and an open field with known high levels of bacterial wilt inoculum. Self-grafted and nongrafted plants of scions were included as checks. The disease susceptibility screening showed that the area under the disease progress curve was consistently low for ‘Habanero TEC’ and ‘Baccatum TEC’ when inoculated with two virulent strains of bacterial wilt, suggesting that habanero pepper cultivars and, to a lesser degree, aji pepper cultivars may be useful as rootstocks in soils with bacterial wilt inoculum. Significant increases in yield, fruit number, and reduced time to flowering were observed in the high tunnel compared with the open-field environment. Individual fruit weight was reduced in the high tunnel compared with the field. Yield, fruit number, fruit weight, and time to flowering were consistent between scions regardless of rootstock. No differences were observed for yield, fruit number, fruit weight, or time to flowering of self-grafted and nongrafted scion checks. In the high tunnel, yield was higher in scions grafted onto ‘Habanero TEC’ compared with self-grafted and nongrafted checks. In the open field, yield and fruit number were highest on scions grafted onto ‘Habanero TEC’. Regardless of graft treatment, high-tunnel production in tropical environments can result in significant increases in yield and fruit number compared with open-field production. No advantage of grafted plants was observed in the high-tunnel production environment. In contrast, in the open-field environment, grafting sweet pepper scions onto pungent habanero rootstocks resulted in a significant increase in yield, fruit number, and fruit size compared with self-grafted and nongrafted checks. The increase was likely attributable to the resistance of habanero pepper cultivars to soil-borne diseases, including bacterial wilt.

Increased water scarcity necessitates the implementation of water-conserving irrigation management practices to sustain crop production, especially in water-limited areas. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate midday leaf water potential (LWP) of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum) irrigated differentially using surface drip (DI) and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems during 2016 and 2017 growing seasons in the eastern Mediterranean environmental conditions. The treatments considered were deficit irrigations (I-50, I-75), regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), partial root-zone drying (PRD50) and full irrigation (I-100) under DI and SDI systems. The experimental design was completely randomized in a split-plot system with four replicates per treatment. Deficit irrigation treatments of I-75 and I-50 received 75% and 50% I-100, respectively; RDI was supplied with 50% I-100 during vegetative growth stage until flowering, then received 100% of crop water requirement; PRD50 plots received 50% I-100. Bell pepper plant water status was estimated by LWP. Higher LWP values were determined in I-100 for two drip systems than the I-75, I-50, and PRD50; LWP correlated significantly (P < 0.01) and negatively with fresh pepper yield, DM yield, leaf area index (LAI), and mean soil water content and all these relations are best described with the curvilinear equations. In conclusion, bell pepper should be irrigated at mean LWP values between -0.89 and -0.95 MPa without any yield reduction. It is also concluded that RDI and I-75 treatments appear to be good alternatives to I-100 for sustainable bell pepper production under the Mediterranean environmental conditions.

This study was carried out to test the effect of vacuum and open-air storage on seed germination, oil content, and sugar contents of four pepper cultivars. Seeds were stored at 13°C with 35% relative humidity over 48 months in vacuum packets or in perforated cheese cloth in a storage room. Seed samples were examined at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months. Seed germination, oil content and sugar contents were determined. Seed germination declined gradually as storage time extended. Vacuum storage had significantly higher (P

Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) is an economically important vegetable. It is used as spices for foods and for medicinal purposes in many parts of the country. Despite the importance of the crop, it has been observed that during storage, the fruits of the Habanero pepper (HP) shelf-life is reduced by several post-harvest diseases caused by fungal pathogens. A study was conducted to identify the common fungal pathogens causing post-harvest rot of Habanero fruits at the daily market in Omoko Aluu Town, Rivers State. The DNA of the most common fungal isolate HP-02 was molecularly characterized using Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS-1) molecular marker. The HP-02 isolate DNA sequence was aligned using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool for nucleotide (BLASTN) 2.8.0 version of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The results indicated that the HP-02 isolate sequence was 79% identical to Mucor irregularis and also Rhizomucor viriabilis isolate SAPB3. These findings showed that Mucor irregularis, which was formerly known as Rhizomucor variabilis is one of the emerging causal fungal pathogens of post-harvest Habanero pepper.

In most underdeveloped nations, traditional medicine, including herbal treatment, is still widely used. Due to the growth of antibiotic resistance, this study aims to use pepper as an anti-bacterial as alternative to antibiotics. Pepper is one of the most important plants used as a medicine for a long time in various countries and civilizations. This study aims to use pepper as an anti-bacterial in alternative to antibiotics. The current study included the inhibitory efficacy of aqueous and alcoholic red pepper extract on seven bacterial isolates: -Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Klebseilla spp, Salmonella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus spp. These isolates were isolated from different pathologies and regions, and they were diagnosed according to the site of infection. Several antibiotics were also used as a standard control sample for germs. This study shows that the highest inhibitory Effect against E. coli bacterium, as the average inhibition diameter was about 16.5 mm, and it is an excellent inhibitory when compared to the antagonist's gentamicin and nitrofurantoin as it showed good inhibitory efficacy against the bacteria such as S. aureus P. aeruginosa, and Salmonella spp. While the effect on Klebsiella was equal, on the other hand, the aqueous extract did not show any efficacy against Proteus spp, as was shown in the results. The results also showed that Staph. Aureus bacteria were the most affected by the alcohol extract of the red pepper as it showed a high inhibition zone compared with the control sample tetracycline and nitrofurantoin. The plant's aqueous and alcoholic red pepper extracts were effective against the tested bacterial isolates. The plant's aqueous and alcoholic red pepper extract has good inhibitory efficacy against the studied bacterial isolates.

Irradiance is one of the main limiting factors affecting the production of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in facility production. It is therefore important to measure the growth of pepper seedlings under low irradiance and to understand how to relieve low radiation stress. In this study, pepper seedlings were cultivated under low irradiance and were treated with gibberellic acid (GA3) and paclobutrazol (PP333). Agronomic and physiological characteristics of the pepper seedlings were analyzed. Under low irradiance, the plant height, leaf area, and the chlorophyll (Chl) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of pepper seedlings were higher than under normal irradiance, while the content of proline, and soluble protein and Chl a/b ratio of pepper seedlings were lower than those under normal irradiance; exogenous GA3 had a similar effect. When PP333 was applied to the seedlings, abnormal growth was mitigated. The effects of exogenous GA3 and PP333 on Chl fluorescence parameters were also analyzed. Under low irradiance, the maximum quantum yield reduction of photosystem (PS II) (Fv/Fm) increased significantly, and the reaction center initiated the corresponding defense mechanism for timely dissipation of excess excitation energy to reduce the damage to the plant. These results showed that spraying gibberellin under normal irradiance conditions had similar effects on pepper seedlings as under low irradiance conditions. Exogenous PP333 relieved the growth reduction by increasing the content of Chl and soluble protein and enhancing some photosynthetic parameters. These results suggest that exogenous PP333 can alleviate the abnormal growth of pepper under low radiation stress.

BACKGROUND Nabak seed kernels and sweet pepper seeds, which are separated from the fruits and discarded as waste after processing or consumption, contain high levels of oils (30.19% and 19.57%, respectively). The chemical and thermal characteristics of nabak seed kernel oil (NSO) and sweet pepper seed oil (PSO) were investigated in this study. RESULTS The NSO and PSO contained high levels of unsaturated fatty acids (84.1% and 86.5%, respectively), and the major fatty acid was oleic acid (57.3%) in NSO, but it was linoleic acid (69.4%) in PSO. The triacylglycerol (TAG) profiles show that NSO contained ten TAG species, three of which represented 87.1%, namely C54:3, C52:2 and C54:4, and triolein was the dominant (OOO, 47.0%). Pepper seed oil contained nine TAG molecular species, four of which represented 93.6%, namely C54:6, C52:4, C54:4 and C52:5, and trilinolein was dominant (LLL, 44.0%). The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of NSO revealed that three exothermal peaks were detected during cooling, two endothermal peaks were detected during melting, and the major peak occurred at a low temperature. For PSO, three exothermal peaks were detected during cooling, three peaks were detected (one of them was exothermal) during melting, and the major peaks were observed at low temperatures. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated that NSO and PSO did not contain peroxides or trans fatty acids, but they did contain low concentrations of free fatty acids. CONCLUSION This study offers a scientific basis for the use of NSO and PSO as new sources of edible oils for food applications. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mandipropamid (MDP) is a widely used chiral fungicide to control oomycete pathogens with two enantiomers. In this study, the enantioselective bioactivity, toxicity, and degradation of MDP were investigated for the first time. The bioactivity of S-MDP was 118-592 times higher than that of R-MDP and 1.14-1.67 times higher than that of Rac-MDP against six phytopathogens. Molecular docking found that S-MDP formed a strong halogen bond with HIS 693 of cellulose synthase and possessed a lower binding energy, which validated the results of the bioactivity assay. S-MDP showed lower toxicity toward Spirodela polyrhiza, while it exhibited higher toxicity in Danio rerio embryo and larva. S-MDP preferentially degraded in cowpea and pepper, while R-MDP preferentially degraded in soil. There is no significant difference between the two enantiomers in the toxicity of adult D. rerio and in cucumber degradation. Therefore, the development of the S-enantiomer was considered as a better option to exhibit high efficiency, which could reduce the residual risk of the pesticide and ensure environmental safety.

Background Environmental conditions affect the quality of the fruits and their organoleptic properties. In low-tech greenhouses, these environmental conditions are frequently not optimal for crops. Therefore, the present study demonstrates the effects of the use of an integrated passive heating and cooling system in a greenhouse located in the Mediterranean area on the quality of pepper fruits. Results The results indicate that the passive system utilized (i) improved many parameters, such as average weight of fruits, °Brix, glucose and fructose content, and P and K content; (ii) increased the values of b* and hab *; and (iii) reduced total phenolic compounds, total amino acids content, and Fe and Zn content. However, the degree of the effect of the climatic factors on these parameters was also affected by harvest time. Conclusion This novel study highlights the possibility of improving the nutritional quality of pepper fruits by modifying the environmental conditions through the use of passive heating and cooling systems at the same time as reducing the carbon footprint. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary biomarkers show great promise for objectively assessing the food intake in humans. In this study, potential urinary biomarkers for red bell pepper intake were identified based on a dietary intervention study and a comprehensive metabolomics approach. Spot urine samples from 14 volunteers were collected in the two phases of the study (control phase: abstaining from any bell pepper/paprika products; case phase: consumption of a defined amount of fresh red bell pepper and abstaining from any further bell pepper/paprika products) and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). Comparison of the obtained metabolomics data using statistical analysis revealed that the respective urine metabolomes differ significantly, which was attributable to the bell pepper intake. Some of the most discriminating metabolites were selected and isolated from human urine for unequivocal structure elucidation by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Herein, seven novel glucuronidated metabolites most likely derived from capsanthin and capsianosides were identified, implying their potential application as dietary biomarkers for the entire Capsicum genus.

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae(Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is an important pest of several worldwide crops. This study evaluated the effects of plant micronutrients (alpha-iron (Fe), zinc sulfate (Zn), copper sulfate (Cu), and manganese sulfate (Mn)) on digestive enzymes, intermediary metabolism, and antioxidant responses of M. persicae reared on bell pepper plants under greenhouse conditions. Results showed that M. persicae reared on Mn-treated plants had the digestive enzymes α-amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and elastase inhibited. Moreover, the aphids fed on Mn-treated plants showed the highest activities of catalase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase, and lower increase rate of malondialdehyde. These findings indicate that micronutrients can impact the aphid metabolism, which may aid control strategies against this insect pest. We raise the potential for beneficial use of foliar fertilizer application as a pest management tool that could be further evaluated on a production and economical scale, as well as with other insect pests.

The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Plant Science and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State to investigate the insecticidal potency of three spices powder namely black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), ginger (Zingiber officinale L.), and true green (Ellectaria cardamom L.), against wheat weevil (Tribolium castaneum) on stored wheat grain. Spices powder was added separately to 20g of wheat grain in plastic containers at four dosages 0.15, 0.27, 0.37, and 0.5% (w/w) while control had no spices powder. Twenty insect pests (Tribolium castaneum) were introduced into each container. Mortality counted in each treatment was recorded after 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. All treatments were replicated three times. Variations were significantly observed in the overall effect of different plant powders on the mortality of weevils extracted from wheat kernel. Weevils treated with Piper nigrum powder exhibited the highest mean mortality (16.37), followed by Ellectaria cardamom (16.05) and lastly Zingiber officinale (13.82). from the result obtained, it is evident that the spice powders possessed insecticidal properties which if fully extracted could be used in post harvest treatment of wheat grain on storage

Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Black pepper, the fruits of Piper nigrum L., is well known as “the king of spices” and used as seasoning and condiments globally. In addition to being an important food additive, black pepper is also used as a traditional medicine to treat vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, among others. Piperine is a major pungent alkaloid identified in the fruits of P. nigrum (black pepper), whose content is at a range of ~5–13%. Black pepper and piperine have shown protective effect on CVDs. Scope and approach Literature search was conducted to systematically review the cardiovascular protective effect of both black pepper and its major bioactive constituent piperine. Key findings and conclusions Black pepper was reported to regulate lipid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidation status in CVDs. Piperine exhibited beneficial effect by targeting many processes associated with atherosclerosis. Piperine is able to prevent lipid peroxidation, oxidized low-density lipoprotein uptake in macrophages, lipid droplet formation, and adhesion of inflammatory cells to endothelial monolayer, promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages, as well as improve lipid profile. Besides, piperine may ameliorate myocardial ischemia, cardiac injury, and cardiac fibrosis, exhibit antihypertensive and antithrombosis effect, as well as prevent arterial stenosis by inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. The summarized information could provide the basis to develop black pepper or piperine as a food additive to prevent or treat CVDs.

Pepper fluorescent RNAs are a recently reported bright, stable and multicolor fluorogenic aptamer tag that enable imaging of diverse RNAs in live cells. To investigate the molecular basis of the superior properties of Pepper, we determined the structures of complexes of Pepper aptamer bound with its cognate HBC or HBC-like fluorophores at high resolution by X-ray crystallography. The Pepper aptamer folds in a monomeric non-G-quadruplex tuning-fork-like architecture composed of a helix and one protruded junction region. The near-planar fluorophore molecule intercalates in the middle of the structure and is sandwiched between one non-G-quadruplex base quadruple and one noncanonical G·U wobble helical base pair. In addition, structure-based mutational analysis is evaluated by in vitro and live-cell fluorogenic detection. Taken together, our research provides a structural basis for demystifying the fluorescence activation mechanism of Pepper aptamer and for further improvement of its future application in RNA visualization. Structural analysis of the Pepper aptamer in complex with its cognate HBC or HBC-like color variants reveals that it binds fluorophore molecules via one non-G-quadruplex base quadruple and one noncanonical G·U base pair.

Background Both Chili pepper (CP) and Sichuan pepper (SP) have long been used for culinary purposes throughout Asia. It is well known CP and SP are well accompanied in Sichuan Cuisine, producing a typical pungent sensation. In recent decades, increasing evidences suggest a series of health benefits and pharmacological effects are associated to the two peppers. Now, a systematic comparison of structural and bioactivities diversity of bioactive ingredients from edible parts of two peppers are necessary to address their future application. Scope and approach Bioactive composition, organoleptic property as well as pharmacological activity in cellular, animal, and human subjects are compared between SP (pericarps and leaves) and CP (fruits). Key findings and conclusions Both SP and CP are rich in alklyamides, polyphenols, and odorants but their structures are greatly variable. Carotenoids are primarily identified in CP but rather in SP, whereas coumarins are the specific ingredients in SP as compared with CP. Pungent sensations evoked by capsainoids and sanshools are obvious distinct, which is attributed to different mechanisms of interaction with membrane ion channels. Due to these bioactives, especially for capsaicin and hydroxyl-α-sanshool, extracts and purified compounds of CP and SP presented attenuation effects against pain, obesity and hyperlipidemia, diabetes, atherosclerosis, gastrointestinal disorder, tumors, and neurodegenerative diseases even though large-scale and well-designed clinical trials are highly needed. However, more approaches should be conducted to overcome side effects of capsaicin during clinical application. Also, the pharmacological interaction among bioactives in two peppers should be further verified in physiological condition.

Abstark. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh jenis mikoriza dan dosis SP-36 terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil paprika merah pada tanah Andisol. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Rumah Kasa dan Laboratorium Hortikultura Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Syiah Kuala Banda Aceh, yang berlangsung pada bulan Februari sampai Juni 2021. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok pola faktorial dengan 2 faktor dan 3 ulangan. Faktor pertama adalah jenis mikoriza, yaitu Glomus mosseae , Gigaspora sp, Campuran ( Glomus mosseae + Gigaspora sp). Faktor kedua yaitu dosis SP-36, yaitu 0, 100, 150, dan 200 kg ha -1 . Hasil analisis statistik menunjukkan bahwa interaksi antara perlakuan jenis mikoriza dan dosis SP-36 terbaik pada Gigaspora sp. dengan dosis SP-36 0 kg ha -1 . Terdapat pengaruh sangat nyata pada parameter jumlah buah per tanaman, berat basah keseluruhan tanaman, berat basah akar, berat kering akar, persentase akar terkolonisasi mikoriza serta pengaruh nyata pada parameter diameter batang, jumlah cabang produktif dan berat buah per tanaman. Effect of Mycorrhiza Type and SP-36 Dose on Growth and Yield of Red Pepper ( Capsicum annum L.) in Andisol Soil Abstract. This research aims to determine the effect of mycorrhiza type and dose of SP-36 on the growth and yield of red peppers in Andisol soil. This research was conducted at the Greenhouse and Horticulture Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, which took place from February to June 2021. This study used a randomized block design with two factors and three replications. The first factor is the type of Mychorrhiza, which consists of three level is, Glomus mosseae , Gigaspora sp, ( Glomus mosseae + Gigaspora sp.). The second factor is the dose of SP-36, which consists of four level is, 0, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha -1 . The result of statistical analysis showed that the interaction between mycorrhiza type and the best dose of SP-36 on Gigaspora sp, with dose of SP-36 0 kg ha -1 . There was a very significant effect on the parameters of the number of fruits plant, the wet weight of the plant, the wet weight of the roots, the dry weight of the roots, the percentage of mycorrhiza colonized roots and significant effect on the parameters of stem diameter, number of productive branches and fruit weight plant.

Biosafety has currently become an important public health issue in seafood industry of Thailand. In order to enhance quality of seafood products, three phases of study were established. In the first phase, biosafety of traditional processed squid sold in Chon Buri province, Thailand compiled from literatures between 2002 and 2019 was evaluated. The squid products represented a health hazard due to 86.5% samples, having total viable count (TVC) over the allowable limits imposed by Thailand and international food administration agencies. In the second phase, bacterial contamination during multiple steps related to dried seasoned squid preparation and storage was determined. TVC were low at approximately 102 CFU/g during a multi-step of preparation, and increased significantly (P < 0.05) to 103 CFU/g in post-prepared products during 25-day storage. Lastly, a novel preservation strategy was developed. A combination of partially purified solution from Bacillus velezensis BUU004 with nisin and the mixed herb extracts from hot pepper and lemongrass exhibited the strongest antibacterial efficacy observed by a significantly (P < 0.05) low TVC in the post-prepared squid within allowable limits recommended by the food administration authorities. This study suggests that the novel mixture has a preservative potential to improve biosafety of dried seafood products. Key words: Squid, bacteriocin, nisin, herb extract, Bacillus velezensis, synergy, biosafety.

Wound dressings act as wound protectors as well as drug delivery for wound healing. This article develops a PVA/alginate-based wound dressing material added with pepper extract to obtain its antibacterial properties. The sample preparation process consisted of several stages: the preparation of pepper extract by maceration method with ethanol solvent, preparation of PVA/Alginate hydrogel and addition of pepper extract, and testing. Antibacterial test using the paper disc method with the pathogen Staphyloccocus aureus showed that the extract had powerful antibacterial properties with an inhibition zone of about 22 m. Based on the FTIR analysis, it is known that the FTIR transmittance pattern of the PVA/alginate composite added with pepper is related to its constituent functional groups. The highest degree of swelling of the hydrogels prepared in this study was 188%.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the microbial contamination of red pepper powder distributed within Gyeonggi province in 2020 according to the place of purchase, the country of origin, and whether the HACCP certification and sterilization were conducted, and to evaluate the change of quality according to the storage method. Upon collecting and analyzing 100 samples, Bacillus cereus was detected in 3 cases (2 cases in large supermarkets and 1 case in traditional markets) and Clostridium perfringens in 27 cases (9 cases in large supermarkets and 18 cases in traditional markets). The levels of the total aerobic bacteria were not significantly different between the red pepper powder purchased from large supermarkets and traditional markets. However, the frequency of red pepper powder exceeding 7 log CFU/g of total aerobic bacteria was higher in traditional markets than in large supermarkets. Microbial quality was not significantly different regardless of the storage temperature (30oC, 4oC, -20oC) and the packaging method (zipper bag and clean bag) after 7 months of purchase. However, the moisture contents and ASTA color value of red pepper powder stored at 30oC decreased remarkably after 3 months of storage. It is desirable to store red pepper powder in a refrigerator or freezer in order to maintain its quality during long-term storage.