Capsicum Annuum Research Articles

Antibacterial evaluation of garlic extracts on chitosan/starch packaging film using response surface methodology and its application for shelf-life extension of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum).

In this study, garlic extract (GE) was assessed as a potential additive in chitosan/starch (Ch/De) coatings, focusing on phenolic and flavonoid content analyses and antibacterial properties. Using response surface methodology approach, an optimization method was employed to achieve the optimal antibacterial formulation, with Ch, De, and GE identified as key variables in the Design of Experiment. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses elucidated interactions among these primary components within the films, while thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the enhanced thermal stability of GE-coated film formulations (Ch/De/GE). The Ch/De/GE exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) with an inhibition zone of 7.2mm at optimized concentrations of 2% w/v Ch, 1.5% w/v starch, and 0.5% v/v GE. In silico molecular docking studies provided insights into GE's inhibitory role as an antibacterial agent. Evaluation of green and yellow bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) over 18 days showed that coated peppers maintained better visual appearance and mass stability, with a weight loss decrease of 40.54%-48.96%, compared to uncoated ones. Additionally, the Ch/De/GE coating effectively inhibited bacterial growth, reducing it by 1-1.23 log CFU, during the storage period. In conclusion, the Ch/De/GE coating effectively extends the shelf-life of bell peppers and maintains their quality, demonstrating its potential for use in food packaging to preserve perishable items. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The optimized chitosan/starch/garlic extract (Ch/De/GE) film developed in this study shows promising potential for application in the food packaging industry, particularly in extending the shelf life of perishable items like bell peppers. Its enhanced antibacterial properties, along with its ability to maintain visual appearance and reduce weight loss, make it an effective natural preservative that could replace synthetic additives in food packaging. By incorporating this biodegradable film into packaging solutions, producers can offer safer, more sustainable products that meet consumer demand for natural and environmentally friendly options.

The physiological effect of GABA priming on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) during seed germination under salt stress

The physiological effect of GABA priming on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) during seed germination under salt stress

Light-use Efficiency and Fruit Dry Matter Content Affect Fresh Yield of Sweet Pepper

Improving the productivity of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) is essential to meeting the increasing global demand. This can be partially accomplished by investigating and determining high-yield traits, thereby enabling the selection or breeding of high-yield plants. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the high-yield traits of sweet pepper by analyzing its yield components. We analyzed yield components of commercially available cultivars (red and yellow) that were hydroponically grown in a greenhouse (e.g., total fruit fresh weight, fruit dry weight, fruit dry matter content, total dry matter production, and light-use efficiency) using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). Our results showed the following: the total fruit fresh weight was positively and negatively correlated with the fruit dry weight (r = 0.83; P < 0.001) and fruit dry matter content (r = –0.70; P < 0.001), respectively; the fruit dry weight was positively correlated with the total dry matter production (r = 0.50; P < 0.01), and the total dry matter production was positively correlated with the light-use efficiency (r = 0.93; P < 0.001); and the cultivars with the high total fruit fresh weight were characterized by the notably low fruit dry matter content and high light-use efficiency (e.g., ‘Gialte’). In conclusion, high-yielding sweet peppers are characterized by a low fruit dry matter content and high light-use efficiency.

Remapping the precise genomic positions of two loci (Shql3 and Shql7) associated with the reduction of pungency in chili pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Remapping the precise genomic positions of two loci (<i>Shql3</i> and <i>Shql7</i>) associated with the reduction of pungency in chili pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>)

Seed biopriming or coating with rhizobacteria on hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): its effects on plant growth, yield, and incidence of Phytophthora blight

Seed biopriming or coating with rhizobacteria on hot pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.): its effects on plant growth, yield, and incidence of Phytophthora blight

The quality of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) by temperature changes on the simulated export condition

The quality of paprika (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.) by temperature changes on the simulated export condition

Native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi drive ecophysiology through phenotypic integration and functional plasticity under the Sonoran desert conditions.

Knowledge is scarce to what extent environmental drivers and native symbiotic fungi in soil induce abrupt (short-term), systemic (multiple traits), or specific (a subset of traits) shifts in C3 plants' ecophysiological/mycorrhizal responses. We cultivated an emblematic native C3 species (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum, "Chiltepín") to look at how the extreme heat of the Sonoran desert, sunlight regimes (low = 2, intermediate = 15, high = 46 mol m2 d-1) and density of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil (low AMF = 1% v/v, high AMF = 100% v/v), drive shifts on mycorrhizal responses through multiple functional traits (106 traits). The warming thresholds were relentlessly harsh even under intensive shade (e.g. superheat maximum thresholds reached ranged between 47-63°C), and several pivotal traits were synergistically driven by AMF (e.g. photosynthetic capacity, biomass gain/allometry, and mycorrhizal colonization traits); whereas concurrently, sunlight regimes promoted most (76%) alterations in functional acclimation traits in the short-term and opposite directions (e.g. survival, phenology, photosynthetic, carbon/nitrogen economy). Multidimensional reduction analysis suggests that the AMF promotes a synergistic impact on plants' phenotypic integration and functional plasticity in response to sunlight regimes; however, complex relationships among traits suggest that phenotypic variation determines the robustness degree of ecophysiological/mycorrhizal phenotypes between/within environments. Photosynthetic canopy surface expansion, Rubisco activity, photosynthetic nitrogen allocation, carbon gain, and differential colonization traits could be central to plants' overall ecophysiological/mycorrhizal fitness strengthening. In conclusion, we found evidence that a strong combined effect among environmental factors in which AMF are key effectors could drive important trade-offs on plants' ecophysiological/mycorrhizal fitness in the short term.

Determination of Total Phenol and Flavonoids Contents in Five Red Peppers Variety along the Production Stages of Berbere in Ethiopia

The objective of the study was to evaluate the total phenolic, flavonoids and free radical scavenging activity of red pepper (Capsicum annum L.) along the production stages of berbere (Ethiopian spice). Melka awaze, melka zola, melka dehera, mareko fana and melka shote pepper varieties were harvested from wolkite. The samples were prepared with oven dried, destalked, washed and dried, faded, toasted, milled and boiled. Total phenolic, total flavonoids, and free radical scavenging activity during the production stages of berbere were studied by spectrophotometry. The result of total phenol and flavonoids were ranged from 74.87±2.28 up to 163.29mgGAE/g and 12.96up to 93.79mgQE/g respectively. Mareko fana, melka dehera and melka shote variety had the highest value of total phenol (128.58mgGAE/g), flavonoids (51.45mgQE/g) and free radical scavenging activity (88.23%) respectively. An appropriate ripening stage of pepper should be used for harvesting and dried at optimum temperature is recommended.

Chitosan mitigated the adverse effect of Cd by regulating antioxidant activities, hormones, and organic acids contents in pepper (Capsicum annum L.)

Chitosan (CTS) is one of the natural healers’ alternatives to chemical products within the scope of good agricultural practices. It can be used in the improvement of agriculture (prevention of toxic metal uptake by plants) due to its chelating feature of metal ions. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of chitosan in eliminating the negative effects of cadmium (Cd) stress on pepper (Capsicum annum L.). The results showed that Cd stress significantly decreased plant growth, chlorophyll content, and leaf water relative content, followed by an increase in proline, antioxidant enzyme activities, and abscisic acid (ABA) content. According to the results, Cd treatment (200 mg kg-1) significantly increased the aspartate, glutamate, asparagine, histidine, and phenylalanine content, while it significantly decreased the content of endogenous hormones such as gibberellic acid (GA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and salicylic acid (SA). However, CTS application decreased the uptake of Cd and caused a decrease in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), abscisic acid (ABA), and melondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as an increase in plant performance, and GA, IAA, and SA content in the plants grown under Cd pollution compared to the ones treated with Cd and without CTS. This study suggests that CTS application helps pepper seedlings tolerate Cd stress through a decrease in Cd uptake, and an increase in amino acids and hormone content.

Monitoring pesticide residues in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) from Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia: Occurrence, quality, and risk evaluations

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 <1 %. The 36 pesticides detected were classified into 14 insecticides (38.9 %), 14 fungicides (38.9 %) and 8 acaricides (22.2 %). Notably, the overall detection rate of the pesticides was relatively higher in red chilli peppers (232 %) compared with bell peppers (165 %), followed by green hot peppers (132 %). Red chilli peppers also showed the highest residue concentrations of various pesticides. Neonicotinoids and triazoles exhibited the highest detection rates in this study. The residue quality index (IqR) of the samples analysed fell into the categories excellent (26.49 %), good (31.72 %), and adequate (14.06 %), with 28.73 % of the samples deemed inadequate. Long-term dietary exposure was examined for adults and children. This study highlights the crucial role of continual observation in defending public health and securing the trade standardisation and safety.

Manure-derived black soldier fly frass enhanced the growth of chilli plants (Capsicum annuum L.) and altered rhizosphere bacterial community

Sustainable manure management is crucial for minimising environmental impacts as the livestock industry expands to meet the increasing demand for protein. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae (BSFL) farming is an emerging waste management method that efficiently processes large volumes of organic waste, including manure, to produce valuable protein, oil and chitin products. Frass, a nutrient-rich by-product of black soldier fly farming, has potential as an organic fertiliser. However, research has primarily focused on frass derived from food waste, with little exploration of manure-derived BSFL frass. This study aimed to determine whether frass derived from manure could enhance the growth of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) over 14 weeks under controlled glasshouse conditions. The impacts of manure-derived BSFL frass on soil properties and soil bacterial communities were characterised. The results indicated that a 0.6 % w/w application rate yielded the highest chilli plant biomass, with reduced growth observed at higher rates. The enhanced growth at optimal manure-derived BSFL frass application rates was due to increased nitrogen content, whereas reduced growth at higher rates was likely caused by phytotoxicity from not completely decomposed frass. Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen also increased with manure-derived BSFL frass, implying microbial carbon and nitrogen immobilisation. Additionally, the changes in pH and nutrients due to manure-derived BSFL frass caused shifts in the bacterial community in the chilli plant rhizosphere, enriching the relative abundance of bacteria with potential growth-promoting properties. This study highlights the potential of integrating manure into black soldier fly waste management processes, demonstrating that manure-derived BSFL frass can be used as an organic fertiliser with circular economy benefits.

First Report of Colletotrichum gigasporum causing Anthracnose of chili pepper in South Korea.

Anthracnose, a destructive fungal disease, poses a significant threat to chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production worldwide (de Silva et al. 2019). In South Korea, anthracnose outbreaks have traditionally been attributed to several Colletotrichum species such as C. gloeosporioides and C. acutatum. About 10% of the yield (chili production) is lost annually in South Korea due to chili anthracnose (Oo et al. 2020). During field surveys conducted in August 2017, symptomatic lesions resembling anthracnose were observed on chili pepper in two farmer's fields (Gochang and Cheongyang) in South Korea. Affected fruits exhibited characteristic symptoms, including circular sunken lesions with dark margins and abundant orange spore masses on the surface. About 20% of chili pepper fruit were affected in each field with an area of about 0.2 ha. Five putative Colletotrichum spp. isolates were obtained from six affected fruits (three from each field) following the procedure described by Cai et el. (2009). Three isolates (C01049, C01111, and C01115), representing each location, were selected to identify at the species level. Colonies on potato dextrose agar (incubated at 25°C in the dark for 7 days) were cottony with entire margins, white aerial mycelium and dark gray in the center. Conidia were hyaline, aseptate, cylindrical with bothnds round, and 17.8 - 30.5 × 6.0 -10.0 µm (mean 23.8 ×7.9 μm, n = 30). Appressoria were dark brown, irregular but mostly ovoid with smooth walls. These morphological features align with those of Colletotrichum spp. within the Colletotrichum gigasporum species (Liu et al. 2014). The identity of the pathogen was further confirmed through multi-locus phylogenetic analysis. The target genes including ITS, ACT, CHS-1, GAPDH, TUB2, and GS were amplified and sequenced using the primer sets ITS1/ITS4, ACT 512F/ ACT-783R, CHS-79F/ CHS-345R, GDF/GDR, T1/Bt2b, and GSF1/GSR1, respectively (Weir et al. 2012; Liu et al. 2014). The resulting sequences were deposited in GenBank (accession no: ITS: MT605261, MT605262, LC823714; ACT: MT612991, MT612992, LC823718; CHS-1: MT612993, MT612994, LC823717; GAPDH: LC811375, LC811376, LC823716; TUB2: MT612997, MT612998, LC823715; GS: LC811377, LC811378, LC823719). The constructed Bayesian and maximum likelihood tree based on combined sequences of ITS, ACT, CHS-1, GAPDH, TUB2, and GS confirmed the identification of the isolates (C01049, C01111, C01115) as C. gigasporum. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating healthy chili fruit with 70 µL of a conidial suspension (1×106 conidia /mL) of pure cultures of the isolates. The conidial suspension was applied on 10 wounded or 10 non-wounded fruit. The same number of fruit were treated with sterile distilled water as controls. Within 5 days of inoculation, symptoms consistent with anthracnose developed on the inoculated wounded fruit, whereas non-wounded and control fruit remained asymptomatic. This experiment was repeated twice. Colletotrichum gigasporum was re-isolated from diseased tissue of inoculated fruit. Colletotrichum gigasporum has been identified as the cause of anthracnose on Dalbergia odorifera, Carica papaya in China, and Brassica oleracea in India (Wan et al., 2018; Saini et al. 2022; He et al. 2023). To the best of our knowledge, this report marks the first documented instance of C. gigasporum causing anthracnose of chili pepper in South Korea. These results indicate that various species of Colletotrichum can be the fungi causing chili pepper anthracnose. The findings of this study emphasize the need for effective disease management strategies to mitigate impact of C. gigasporum on chili pepper cultivation in the region.

Selenium improved arsenic toxicity tolerance in two bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) varieties by modulating growth, ion uptake, photosynthesis, and antioxidant profile

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.); an important spice crop of the region is a rich source of vitamins and antioxidants having many health benefits. Many biotic and abiotic factors contribute towards growth and yield losses of this crop. Arsenic (As) toxicity is a global issue, but it is particularly critical in developing countries. The current study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of selenium (Se) in mitigating the toxic effects of As in two varieties (HSP-181 A and PS09979325) of Capsicum annuum L. Different concentrations of As (0, 50, and 100 µM) and Se (0, 5, and 10 µM) were tested using 14 days old seedlings of C. annuum L. The As stress caused a significant (P ≤ 0.001) reduction in growth, uptake of nutrients, and eco-physiological attributes in both varieties however, the response was specific. While the overproduction of osmo-protectants and antioxidants intensified the symptoms of oxidative stress. The maximum reduction in shoot length (45%), fresh weight (29%), and dry weight (36%) was observed in under 100 µM As stress. The organic acids exudation from the roots of both cultivars were significantly increased with the increase in As toxicity. The Se treatment significantly (p ≤ 0.001) improved growth, nutrient uptake, gas exchange attributes, antioxidant production, while decreased oxidative stress indicators, and As uptake in the roots and shoots of all the subjects under investigation. It is concluded from the results of this study that Se application increased photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant activity while decreasing As levels, organic acid exudation, and oxidative stress indicators in plants. Overall, the var. PS09979325 performed better and may be a good candidate for future pepper breeding program.

Conjunctive BSA-Seq and BSR-Seq to Map the Genes of Yellow Leaf Mutations in Hot Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.).

Yellow leaf mutations have been widely used to study the chloroplast structures, the pigment synthesis, the photosynthesis mechanisms and the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathways across various species. For this study, a spontaneous mutant with the yellow leaf color named 96-140YBM was employed to explore the primary genetic elements that lead to the variations in the leaf color of hot peppers. To identify the pathways and genes associated with yellow leaf phenotypes, we applied sequencing-based Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA-Seq) combined with BSR-Seq. We identified 4167 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the mutant pool compared with the wild-type pool. The results indicated that DEGs were involved in zeatin biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, signal transduction mechanisms, post-translational modification and protein turnover. A total of 437 candidates were identified by the BSA-Seq, while the BSR-Seq pinpointed four candidate regions in chromosomes 8 and 9, containing 222 candidate genes. Additionally, the combination of BSA-Seq and BSR-Seq showed that there were 113 overlapping candidate genes between the two methods, among which 8 common candidates have been previously reported to be related to the development of chloroplasts, the photomorphogenesis and chlorophyll formation of plant chloroplasts and chlorophyll biogenesis. qRT-PCR analysis of the 8 common candidates showed higher expression levels in the mutant pool compared with the wild-type pool. Among the overlapping candidates, the DEG analysis showed that the CaKAS2 and CaMPH2 genes were down-regulated in the mutant pool compared to the wild type, suggesting that these genes may be key contributors to the yellow leaf phenotype of 96-140YBM. This research will deepen our understanding of the genetic basis of leaf color formation and provide valuable information for the breeding of hot peppers with diverse leaf colors.

Genome-Wide Identification and Male Sterility-Related Expression Analysis of Papain-like Cysteine Protease Gene Family in Capsicum annuum

PLCPs (papain-like cysteine proteases) are one of the most abundant groups of cysteine proteases and play vital roles in multiple processes. The pepper (Capsicum annuum) is an important Solanaceae vegetable crop; its commercial hybrid seeds are widely used in production. Male sterility is a valuable trait for hybrid seed production. However, the function of PLCPs and the underlying mechanisms of male sterility in peppers remain unclear. In this study, we comprehensively identified the PLCP gene family in peppers, identifying 31 CaPLCPs. A phylogenetic analysis classified 31 members into eight clades. These CaPLCPs were unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes, and five segmental duplicated pairs were observed. The promoter cis-acting element analysis indicated that CaPLCP promoters contained abundant hormone-responsive and stress-responsive cis-elements, suggesting that CaPLCPs may play important roles in responding to abiotic stress, such as drought and low temperatures, as well as in plant immunity. The qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression levels of CaPLCP1, CaPLCP5, CaPLCP11, CaPLCP12, CaPLCP13, CaPLCP17, CaPLCP19, and CaPLCP21 were significantly reduced in the flowers of MS (male sterile pepper) at least at one stage, indicating their potential roles as regulatory factors in pepper male sterility. These findings provide important insights into the functional analysis of the PLCP gene family in peppers and other species, laying a crucial foundation for understanding the mechanisms of male sterility in peppers.

Unlocking the potential of capsaicin in oral health (Review).

Capsaicin is a bioactive compound found prominently in Capsicum annuum L. plants and takes on a pivotal role in their characteristic spiciness. Previous studies have delved into the potential analgesic effect of capsaicin in various oral conditions, such as oral neuropathic pain, trigeminal neuralgia, oral mucositis, temporomandibular joint disorders and burning mouth syndrome. Capsaicin has also demonstrated promise in inhibiting the proliferation of different oral cancer cell lines. Its antimicrobial properties have also been shown to inhibit the growth of oral pathogens associated with dental caries, periodontitis and oral candidiasis. However, to harness its benefits effectively, more studies are required to establish optimal dosages for pain relief while minimizing adverse effects. In addition, investigation of the effect of capsaicin on nonpathogenic oral bacteria and viruses is warranted. Human-based research is crucial for elucidating the biomolecular mechanisms underlying the properties of capsaicin, potentially leading to the development of more effective interventions for oral health problems.

Serotonin-Salt-Stress Model-Induced Cell Growth via Promoting an Antioxidant System and Secondary Metabolites in Capsicum annuum Cell Suspension Culture.

Capsicum annuum contains potential therapeutic capsaicinoids, and various stress factors influence plant productivity. Serotonin is an indoleamine involved in signaling several stress response mechanisms in plants. However, the influence of serotonin on cell growth and the accumulation of secondary metabolites, mainly capsaicinoids production, is not yet clearly defined under salt stress. In this study, we optimized chili cell suspension cultures to maximize biomass, capsaicinoids, and phenolic compounds production using response surface methodology with two variables (serotonin and NaCl) of different concentrations in culture media supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and Kinetin. The results revealed a significant increase in biomass (14.3 g/L FW), capsaicin (0.93 μg/g FW), and dihydrocapsaicin content (0.32 μg/g FW) in chili cell suspension cultures compared with the control. Among all the phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid was enhanced (17.4 μg/g FW), compared to control cultures. Serotonin exhibited stress mitigation effects and boosted antioxidant potential in chili suspension cultures. The present results illustrated that the optimized conditions can be used in scale-up studies of capsaicinoids production through the bioreactor.

Variations in Sweet Pepper Growth, Physiology, and Gene Expression in Shock and Gradual Salt Stress

ABSTRACT Salinity is a major abiotic stressor that can significantly impact plant growth and productivity. To evaluate the physiological responses of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. Ps301) to gradual salinity stress (SLS) and shock salinity stress (STS), an experiment was conducted using a factorially based completely randomized design (CRD). The sodium chloride (NaCl) induced salinity treatments were administered in the nutrient solution in two forms: STS and SLS. The SLS was applied for 8 days, with stress levels increasing every 2 days; STS was administered for 48 h. The signaling response was activated more rapidly and abruptly in response to STS; however, after the various adaptive responses to salinity, these signals were more activated in response to SLS. The STS led to plant growth a greater decrease than SLS. The electrolyte leakage (EL) increased under both SLS and STS by 60% and 61% compared to the control, respectively. Other stress indices, such as phenol and abscisic acid (ABA) content, increased by 26% and 71% under SLS compared to STS. Salinity increased the leaf water potential (LWP) in two salt regimes, and the root water potential (RWP) in STS conditions only. Salinity stress decreased plasma membrane intrinsic protein gene expression in roots, especially in STS compared to SLS. The STS increased plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) expression in leaves more than SLS. It was concluded that salinity impairs the growth and physiological characteristics of pepper; however, the signaling and stress indices respond differently to STS and SLS application.

Evaluation of Hybrids and Parents of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) for Yield and Resistance to Chilli Leaf Curl Virus

Evaluation of Hybrids and Parents of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) for Yield and Resistance to Chilli Leaf Curl Virus

Unveiling pepper immunity’s robustness to temperature shifts: insights for empowering future crops

Abstract Boosting plant immunity is an effective alternative to pesticides. However, environmental variations, accentuated by climate change, can compromise immunity. The robustness of a trait corresponds to the absence (or low level) of variation in that trait in the face of an environmental change. Here, we examined two types of robustness, robustness of immunity mean and robustness of immunity variation, and proposed nine quantitative robustness estimators. We characterized the immunity of a set of accessions representative of the natural diversity of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), to two major pathogens: the oomycete Phytophthora capsici Leon. and potato virus Y. For each pathogen, we measured the immunity of accessions in two contrasting environments in terms of temperature. For each type of robustness and each pathogen, the impact of temperature change on immunity varied between accessions. The robustness estimators proved to be complementary and differed in terms of heritability and ability to discriminate accessions. A positive and significant correlation was observed between immunity and robustness. There was no significant relationship between the robustness of immunity to the two pathogens, but some accessions showed high immunity and robustness against both pathogens. These results justify the need to consider both immunity and robustness to environmental variations in order to select varieties adapted to current and future climate conditions. Phenotypic robustness should also be considered when assessing the “value of sustainable cultivation and use” of future plant varieties, particularly during the application process for protection rights granted from the European Community Plant Variety Office.