Abstract
The main goal of this work was to investigate the relationship between the fruit morphology and biochemical composition of peppers (Capsicum spp.). For that purpose, one hundred native varieties from the Andean region, where the genus Capsicum has its origin, were analysed for different phytochemical compounds. In addition, pepper fruits were assessed with the highly precise phenomics tool Tomato Analyzer. The collection showed a broad variability which was more evident within the C. annuum group. On average, C. frutescens accessions displayed the highest levels of solid soluble content, pH, polyphenols and antioxidant activity. The Tomato Analyzer descriptors under the categories of size, shape index, and latitudinal section, mostly contributed to the variance among Capsicum groups. C. annuum hold the larger fruits, whereas C. frutescens comprised fruits of smaller sizes. The correlation analysis revealed that biochemical traits were negatively correlated with the fruit parameters related to size, suggesting that huger fruits contain lower amounts of chemical metabolites. The multivariate approximations demonstrated that Andean peppers assorted according to morphometric and colorimetric characteristics, but independently of their species or geographical origin. Groups of valuable native varieties carrying promising traits were identified.
Highlights
The genus Capsicum belongs to the Solanaceae family and currently harbors more than35 species, five of which (C. annuum L., C. chinense Jacq., C. frutescens L., C. baccatum L., andC. pubescens Ruiz et Pav.) are domesticated [1]
ANOVA found highly significant differences (p < 0.001) among them, the greatest part of the variance was explained by fruit dry weight and antioxidant activity
Total polyphenols content showed an average of 916.36 μg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g fresh weight (FW), varying from 286.06 μg GAE/g FW in BGV005890 (C. chinense) to 3706.32 μg GAE/g FW in PI585257 (C. frutescens)
Summary
The genus Capsicum belongs to the Solanaceae family and currently harbors more than35 species, five of which (C. annuum L., C. chinense Jacq., C. frutescens L., C. baccatum L., andC. pubescens Ruiz et Pav.) are domesticated [1]. The western Andes of South America remained as a significant center of speciation and northward species dispersal, primarily for C. annuum [2,3]. After the voyages of exploration to the New World, peppers moved worldwide, suffering from additional diversification at the secondary centers. These phenomena resulted in the vast phenotypic variability that can be observed nowadays in the form of native varieties or landraces, well adapted to specific agro-climatic conditions and consumers habits [1]. C. pubescens and C. baccatum remained mostly restricted to Andean South America and the Central
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