Analysis of quality changes in bell pepper cultivars in response to delayed cooling in a controlled chamber

Abstract

The effect of 24-h greenhouse cooling delay on the quality characteristics of four bell pepper cultivars during storage in a controlled chamber was investigated. Four bell pepper cultivars (Ferrari-red, Ferrari-yellow, Vine sweet-mini, and Raon-mini) were immediately transferred to storage after harvest (IS), delayed storage without cover (DS), and delayed storage with cover (DSC). In both delayed conditions, bell pepper cultivars were left separately in a greenhouse for 1 d. In all treatments, the bell pepper cultivars were stored in a controlled chamber. Vine sweet-mini treated with DS showed the greatest loss in weight and firmness, with losses of 21.4 and 64.1%, respectively, after 15 d of storage. Vine sweet-mini treated with DS also showed the greatest change in total soluble solids content (10.9 to 13.7 °Bx) over the storage period. Less degradation in the lightness (L*), hue angle (h°), and chroma (C*) values was observed in Ferrari-red treated with IS during storage for 15 d. Overall, the changes were smaller in the bell pepper cultivars treated with IS than in those treated with the delayed-cooling treatments. Results revealed that minimising delays from harvest to cooling could reduce the quality loss and improve the storage life of harvested bell peppers.