Capsicum Peppers Research Articles

The Role of Brassinosteroids and Nano-Encapsulated Brassinosteroids in Capsicum Pepper Growth and Physiological Adaptations to High-Temperature Stress

The Role of Brassinosteroids and Nano-Encapsulated Brassinosteroids in Capsicum Pepper Growth and Physiological Adaptations to High-Temperature Stress

Characterization and Fungicide Sensitivity of Colletotrichum spp. from Capsicum peppers in South Korea.

Capsicum peppers, peppers from plants of the genus Capsicum (family Solanaceae), are widely cultivated in South Korea, where annual production was 92,756 tons in 2021, 54.4% higher than that of the previous year. Occurring throughout the production cycle, anthracnose is a major disease limiting commercial Capsicum pepper production worldwide, including in South Korea. This study investigates the diversity and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum species responsible for Capsicum pepper anthracnose in Gyeongbuk, South Korea, focusing on disease incidence and symptomatology in the field and the identification, morphological characteristics, pathogenicity, and fungicide sensitivity of the causative species. Disease incidence ranged from 30 to 50%, with samples categorized into three distinct symptom types, aiding accurate field diagnosis. Phylogenetic analysis classified 41 isolates into six species in the acutatum, gloeosporioides, and truncatum species complexes, revealing significant genetic diversity. Morphological characterization supported these identifications, providing a comprehensive profiling. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that all identified species induced typical anthracnose lesions, with lesion size variations suggesting differential aggressiveness. Temperature significantly influenced mycelial growth, with optimal growth between 20 and 26°C, and C. truncatum demonstrating high-temperature tolerance.In vitro fungicide sensitivity tests showed variable responses, with tebuconazole being generally effective. These findings underscore the need for species-specific fungicide recommendations and highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of Colletotrichum species. Future research should explore the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity, host specificity, and fungicide resistance, integrating these findings with breeding programs to develop resistant pepper varieties. This study provides critical insights for effective anthracnose management in pepper cultivation and future research directions.

Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Capsicum frutescens in the Asia–Pacific Region: The Pacific Dispersal Route

AbstractCapsicum peppers are among the oldest domesticated crops in the Americas. Columbus introduced them to Europe, from where they spread to the Far East via Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. However, the details of how Capsicum peppers were introduced into the Asia–Pacific region and their subsequent dispersal remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the genetic diversity and relationships of Capsicum frutescens in the Asia–Pacific region through restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) and the sequencing of a variable chloroplast genome locus. The RAD-seq analysis showed that three accessions from Japan are most closely related to those from the Americas and Micronesia, and are distant from most of those from islands and continental Southeast Asia. Although C. frutescens has two chloroplast haplotypes (T and TC), only the T type was found in the Americas and Japan, whereas both types were distributed in other regions. Therefore, we postulate that some C. frutescens accessions were introduced into the Asia–Pacific region from the Americas via the Pacific dispersal route, whereas only the T type was introduced into Japan. Evidence for this Pacific dispersal route of C. frutescens could lead to a reconsideration of the dispersal routes of other crops native to the Americas.

Grafting in Capsicum peppers as a strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change on yield and quality factors

Climate change in the Mediterranean areas is increasing problems on droughts, water availability and salinization of irrigation water. These are probably some of the most limiting factors on farming, especially in vegetables production. Capsicum peppers, one the most valuable vegetables in Spain, are quite sensitive to water deficit and particularly to salinity. The use of rootstocks tolerant to these abiotic stresses could be explored as a short/mid-term solution. In this work, we evaluated the ability as rootstocks of several accessions, together commercial F1 ‘Robusto’ and ‘Oscos’, with the cultivar ‘Herminio’ as scion, under control, drought (30% decrease irrigation) and salinity (5.8 dS m-1) in Campo de Cartagena area (Murcia, Spain). Yield and fruit weight, and water content, ascorbic acid content (AAC) and total phenolics (TP) at the unripe and fully ripe commercial stages were evaluated. Under control conditions, our rootstocks did not provide extra vigour and yield as none showed higher performance than the non-grafted ‘Herminio’ in yield (10 kg m-2) and fruit weight (215 g). However, drought and salinity conditions revealed that some accessions might be useful as rootstocks, providing higher yields and/or fruit size than ‘Herminio’, particularly yield under drought, i.e. 5-7 kg m-2 while ‘Herminio’ only achieved 4 kg m-2, and fruit weight in both stress conditions (i.e. 190-223 g vs 173 g under drought, 187-209 g vs 158 g under salinity). On average, drought increased the levels of antioxidants at both ripening stages, while salinity decreased them, specially AAC. Also, remarkable rootstock × treatment interactions, particularly in phenolics, enabled identifying several rootstocks providing high levels of antioxidants at both ripening stages and under both abiotic stresses, improving those from non-grafted ‘Herminio’.

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of Capsicum pepper aqueous extracts against plant pathogens and food spoilage fungi.

Capsicum pepper is a rich source of phytochemical compounds such as capsaicinoids, phenols, flavonoids, and so forth. Due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant potential all of these compounds have been assessed and used for both human and plant health benefits. Herein, three fresh varieties of Capsicum annuum (Cacho de Cabra, Bell pepper, and Hungarian Wax varieties) and one fresh and ripe variety of C. baccatum (Cristal) were evaluated. Capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin and the phenolic content of Capsicum spp. extracts were characterised. The antifungal potential of capsaicinoids and antioxidant activities, and the ecotoxicity of each Capsicum spp. extract, using the model Galleria mellonella, were also evaluated. Phytochemical analyses showed that the Cristal and Hungarian Wax varieties presented the highest amount of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and nordihydrocapsaicin; while Bell Pepper had the highest phenol content and antioxidant activity. Capsaicinoids' standards and Capsicum spp. extracts showed fungistatic activity against the fungal strains assessed. For the fungal strains assessed, the fungistatic activities of capsaicinoids' standards were higher than those observed in Capsicum spp. extracts. The Hungarian Wax extracts inhibited slightly the growth of Aspergillus niger MUM05.11 and Fusarium oxysporum MUM16.143. Similarly, A. niger, F. oxysporum, Rhizopus arrhizus MUM16.05 and Alternaria sp. UFRO17.178 had their growth retarded by the use of Cacho de Cabra and Cristal extracts. Noticeable changes were observed in the fungal strains' morphologies, such as the presence of fragile fungal structures, pigmentation loss, variation in the reproductive structures size and the conidia number. Capsicum extracts weaken the growth of fungi, indicating their fungistatic potential. Considering the fungistatic potential and non-ecotoxicity of these extracts, it is possible to suggest their use as a tool for pest management in the agri-food sector, controlling the growth and reproduction of fungi without posing a risk to non-target biodiversity.

Deficiencies of nitrogen, calcium, and micronutrients are the most limiting factors for growth and yield of smell pepper plants

Cultivation and commercialization of Capsicum pepper have great importance in Brazil. This work assessed the influence of omission of macro and micronutrients on the growth and mineral nutrition of sweet pepper plants (Capsicum chinense Jacquin). The research was carried out in a greenhouse with washed sand as substrate. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replications and eight treatments: complete (control), omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, and micronutrients (B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn). The plants were submitted to the treatments when they reached an average height of 20 cm and the nutrient solution was supplied by percolation in plastic pots and renewed every 15 days. Nutrients omission affected negatively plant growth as a whole. The omission of N, Ca, and micronutrients greatly reduced sweet pepper yield. The C. chinense plants presented the sequence by dry matter production of shoots and roots in descending order: COMP > OP > OS > OK > Omg > ON > Oca > OMicro.

The Effect of the Varietal Type, Ripening Stage, and Growing Conditions on the Content and Profile of Sugars and Capsaicinoids in Capsicum Peppers.

Peppers (Capsicum sp.) are used both as vegetables and/or spice and their fruits are used in a plethora of recipes, contributing to their flavor and aroma. Among flavor-related traits, pungency (capsaicinoids) and lately volatiles have been considered the most important factors. However, the knowledge of sugars is low, probably due to the fact peppers were historically considered tasteless. Here, using HPLC, we studied the content and profile of major sugars and capsaicinoids in a comprehensive collection of varietal types (genotype, G), grown under different growing systems (environment, E) in two years (Y) and considered the two main ripening stages (R). We found a major contribution to the ripening stage and the genotype in total and individual sugars and capsaicinoids. The year was also significant in most cases, as well as the G × E and G × Y interactions, while the growing system was low or nil. Ripening increased considerably in sugars (from 19.6 to 36.1 g kg-1 on average) and capsaicinoids (from 97 to 142 mg kg-1 on average), with remarkable differences among varieties. Moreover, sugars in fully ripe fruits ranged between 7.5 and 38.5 g kg-1 in glucose and between 5.2 and 34.3 g kg-1 in fructose, and several accessions reached total sugars between 40 and 70 g kg-1, similar to tomatoes. The results reveal the importance of the genotype and the ripening for these traits, particularly sugars, which should be considered key for the improvement of taste and flavor in peppers.

Green chili (Capsicum frutescens) ethanol extracts lowered triglyceride levels in rats fed with high-fat diet

Introduction and Aim: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the world’s leading cause of death. Capsaicinoids, naturally occurring alkaloids found in Capsicum peppers, have been shown to lower plasma lipids and prevent atherosclerotic plaque formation. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy between Capsicum frutescens ethanol extract and statins on improving lipid profile in rats fed with high-fat diet. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five 3 months’ old rats weighing approximately 200 ±10 g were divided into five groups of five rats each: normal-fed (NF), high-fat diet fed (FF), high-fat fed with 10mg/kg BW Capsicum frutescens ethanol extract (FF-C), high-fat fed with 0.36 mg statin (FF-S), and high-fat fed with Capsicum extract and statin (FF-CS). The experimental period lasted 6 weeks. Blood sample was then collected and analyzed for serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Results: Between treatment groups, there was a significant difference of TC and TG levels (p < 0.05). The high-fat diet increased TC (mean difference (MD) 35.0 ± 9.7 mg/dL, p = 0.022) and TG (MD 76.67 ± 21.8 mg/dL, p = 0.026) significantly between NF and FF group. The addition of Capsicum frutescens decreased triglyceride levels significantly between FF and FF-C group (MD -39.4 ± 18.8 mg/dL, p = 0.038). No other significant difference was found between other treatment groups. Conclusion: The addition of Capsicum frutescens ethanol extract has shown to be effective in lowering triglyceride levels, but not other lipid profile parameters, among rats fed with high-fat diet.

Heterosis for capsacinoids accumulation in chili pepper hybrids is dependent on parent-of-origin effect

Heterosis for agronomic traits is a widespread phenomenon that underpins hybrid crop breeding. However, heterosis at the level of cellular metabolites has not yet been fully explored. Some metabolites are highly sought after, like capsaicinoids found in peppers of the Capsicum genus, which confer the characteristic pungent (‘hot’) flavour of the fruits. We analysed the metabolic profile of the fruit placenta and pericarp of inter- and intra-specific hybrids of two species of Capsicum peppers, C. chinense (cv. Habanero and cv. Biquinho) and C. annuum var. annuum (cv. Jalapeño and cv. Cascadura Ikeda) in complete diallel crosses with reciprocals. The parents and hybrids were grown in a glasshouse and the profile of primary metabolites (sugars, amino acids and organic acids) and capsaicinoids was generated via gas chromatography–time of flight-mass spectrometry (GC–TOF-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS), respectively. We found considerable heterotic effects specifically for capsaicinoids accumulation in the fruit placenta of the hybrids, including those derived from non-pungent parents. Furthermore, a large fraction of fruit primary metabolism was influenced by the specific cross combination, with marked parent-of-origin effects, i.e. whether a specific genotype was used as the pistillate or pollen parent. The differences in metabolite levels between the hybrids and their parents provide a snapshot of heterosis for primary and secondary metabolites and may contribute to explain the manifestation of whole-plant heterotic phenotypes.

Genetic variability in Capsicum spp. accessions through multicategorical traits

Capsicum peppers originate from the American continent. Their culinary and medicinal potential, first exploited by indigenous peoples over 7000 years ago is vast, however more studies are needed. Despite the existence of germplasm banks that house hundreds of accessions of the genus, only a little of this diversity is seen in large markets. In this respect, the morpho-agronomic characterization of the accessions allows not only the identification of the existing variability, but also the agronomic and commercial potential of the genotypes. Therefore, this study proposes to characterize and estimate genetic divergence between accessions of the Capsicum germplasm collection at the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) based on multicategorical traits. The species were identified and 29 accessions were characterized in a greenhouse, based on 31 multicategorical descriptors of the crop. The collected data were subjected to the Cole-Rodgers dissimilarity index and to hierarchical clustering (Nearest Neighbor) and optimization (Tocher’s) methods. Tocher's method was considered the most suitable to group the accessions of the germplasm bank. Results indicate that the multicategorical descriptors properly assess the diversity in the chosen method and display the existence of high variability in the collection, which can be used in Capsicum spp. breeding programs.

Opportunities and Potential of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production in Ethiopia

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum var. L) is the most common Capsicum pepper in Ethiopia. It is growing in different agro ecological conditions leading to economically important variability for improvement. The objective of this review is to study the opportunities and potential of hot pepper production in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has the opportunities of hot pepper production like introduction of new varieties, suitable agro ecology, the expansion of infrastructure, access to foreign markets, and the expansion of technology like telecommunication. Production of hot pepper is limited in many factors like diseases incidence, lack of improved varieties, soil fertility and extension services. Generally, we conclude that Ethiopia has conducive environment for hot pepper production. In future government should have to take the responsibility to improve the production of hot pepper.

Supercritical fluids and fluid mixtures to obtain high-value compounds from Capsicum peppers

Peppers of the Capsicum genus have a rich nutritional composition and are widely consumed worldwide. Thus, they find numerous applications in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. One commercial application is oleoresin production, a nonpolar fraction rich in bioactive compounds, including capsaicinoids and carotenoids. Among the technologies for pepper processing, special attention is given to supercritical fluid technologies, such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with pure solvents and CO2 plus modifiers, and SFE assisted by ultrasound. Supercritical fluid-based processes present advantages over the classical extraction techniques like using less solvents, short extraction times, specificity and scalability. In this review, we present a brief overview of the nutritional aspects of peppers, followed by studies that apply supercritical fluid technologies to produce extracts and concentrate bioactives, besides oleoresin encapsulation. Furthermore, we present related phase equilibrium, cost estimation, and the gaps and needs for the full use of peppers from a sustainable perspective.

Karyotype polymorphism of GC-rich constitutive heterochromatin in Capsicum L. pepper accessions

Capsicum is represented by peppers and sweet peppers and comprises a group with remarkable genetic variability. Different cultivated Capsicum peppers of Brazil were evaluated by using CMA3 and DAPI specific fluorochromes. There was high polymorphism of highly GC-rich CMA heterochromatic bands among the analyzed species, ranging from six (BAGC 114; C. annuum) to 26 blocks (BAGC 81; C. baccatum). Heterochromatin percentage ranged from 3.14% (BAGC 114; C. annuum) to 8.72% (BAGC 81; C. baccatum), corroborating the variation in the number of heterochromatic bands, particularly those distributed in the terminal and subterminal regions of the chromosomes. The information reported in this paper supports the cytogenetic characterization of the domesticated peppers accessions belonging to the Capsicum Germplasm Active Bank of the Federal University of Piauí (BAGC-UFPI). Moreover, the present data helped to better understand the karyotype features of peppers and provide additional information that could contribute to the improvement and maintenance of Capsicum genetic breeding programs.

Heterosis and reciprocal effects for agronomic and fruit traits in Capsicum pepper hybrids

The selection of pure lines followed by crosses to create superior hybrids is one of the oldest strategies in crop breeding. However, in chili peppers of the Capsicum genus hybrid breeding has lagged, in part due to a lack of detailed information about the phenotypic consequences of hybridization. Here, we performed reciprocal crosses between four inbred varieties of two species of cultivated C. chinense (cv. Habanero and Biquinho) and C. annuum var. annuum (cv. Jalapeño and cv. Cascadura Ikeda). We measured 31 phenotypic traits, including plant growth and yield, and 32 fruit size and shape parameters. We found large differences for agronomic and fruit traits between the genotypes, with significant heterosis and reciprocal effects for some of them. Heterosis for seed size has a strong influence on initial growth vigour. Fruit characteristics such as size and shape were impacted by hybridization, mainly interspecific, due to fertility problems. The restoration of fertility by pollination of hybrids with parental pollen was effective in modifying fruit size and shape, and differential effects depending on the pollen source used. Our results highlight how the adequate combination of parental genotypes and the optimal crossing direction can drive phenomena like heterosis, yield and fruit morphology.

Seed coat lignification level is crucial in Capsicum spp seed longevity.

Capsicum (pepper) is known for its poor seed germination, particularly seed longevity is usually much shorter than other Solanaceae. However, the molecular mechanisms involved are mostly unknown in these species. The present study examines the differences in seed longevity among Capsicum species and varietal types. Feral or less domesticated species, such as Capsicum chinense and particularly Capsicum frutescens, showed higher germination rates than the more domesticated Capsicum annuum after accelerated seed aging treatments. In addition, variability was detected in the expression of genes involved in the response to seed deterioration. The differences observed in ASPG1 expression led us to study the seed protein profile in dry and germinating seeds. Seed storage protein mobilization during germination was faster in seed aging-resistant genotypes. Similarly, the transcriptional change observed for the orthologous gene of the trans-species regulator AtHB25 prompted us to study the structure and molecular components of the seed coat in peppers. All the Capsicum pepper accessions analyzed presented very lignified testa and we observed a positive correlation between the amount of lignin and seed viability. Our results provide essential information to explain the poor germination observed in pepper seeds and provide an experimental framework for future improvements in this important character.

Effect of pepper extracts on the viability kinetics, topography and Quantitative NanoMechanics (QNM) of Campylobacter jejuni evaluated with AFM

Campylobacter jejuni is a pathogen bacterium that causes foodborne gastroenteritis in humans. However, phenolic compounds extracted from natural sources such as capsicum pepper plant (Capsicum annuum L. var. aviculare) could inhibit the growth of C. jejuni. Therefore, different extracts were prepared using ultrasonic extraction (USE), conventional extraction (CE) and thermosonic extraction (TSE). C. jejuni was then exposed to chili extracts to examine the antimicrobial effect and their growth/death bacterial kinetics were studied using different mathematical models. Atomic force microscopy was applied to investigate the microstructural and nanomechanical changes in the bacteria. Extracts obtained by TSE had the highest phenolic content (4.59 ± 0.03 mg/g of chili fresh weight [FW]) in comparison to USE (4.12 ± 0.05 mg/g of chili FW) and CE (4.28 ± 0.07 mg/g of chili FW). The inactivation of C. jejuni was more efficient when thermosonic extract was used. The Gompertz model was the most suitable mathematical model to describe the inactivation kinetics of C. jejuni. Roughness and nanomechanical analysis performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) provided evidence that the chili extracts had significant effects on morphology, surface, and the reduced Young’s modulus of C. jejuni. The novelty of this work was integrating growth/death bacterial kinetics of C. jejuni using different mathematical models and chili extracts, and its relationship with the morphological, topographic and nanomechanical changes estimated by AFM.

Capsicumicine, a New Bioinspired Peptide from Red Peppers Prevents Staphylococcal Biofilm In Vitro and In Vivo via a Matrix Anti-Assembly Mechanism of Action.

ABSTRACTStaphylococci are pathogenic biofilm-forming bacteria and a source of multidrug resistance and/or tolerance causing a broad spectrum of infections. These bacteria are enclosed in a matrix that allows them to colonize medical devices, such as catheters and tissues, and that protects against antibiotics and immune systems. Advances in antibiofilm strategies for targeting this matrix are therefore extremely relevant. Here, we describe the development of the Capsicum pepper bioinspired peptide “capsicumicine.” By using microbiological, microscopic, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) approaches, we demonstrate that capsicumicine strongly prevents methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm via an extracellular “matrix anti-assembly” mechanism of action. The results were confirmed in vivo in a translational preclinical model that mimics medical device-related infection. Since capsicumicine is not cytotoxic, it is a promising candidate for complementary treatment of infectious diseases.IMPORTANCE Pathogenic biofilms are a global health care concern, as they can cause extensive antibiotic resistance, morbidity, mortality, and thereby substantial economic loss. So far, no effective treatments targeting the bacteria in biofilms have been developed. Plants are constantly attacked by a wide range of pathogens and have protective factors, such as peptides, to defend themselves. These peptides are common components in Capsicum baccatum (red pepper). Here, we provide insights into an antibiofilm strategy based on the development of capsicumicine, a natural peptide that strongly controls biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most prevalent pathogen in device-related infections.

Comparative study of the nutritional characteristics and fatty acid profiles of the seeds and seed oils of sweet, bell and bird varieties of pepper (capsicum species)

The proximate compositions of the seeds and fatty acid contents of the seed oils of the three varieties of Capsicum (pepper) species fruits – sweet, bell and bird pepper – have been determined using standard AOAC methods. Their proximate compositions gave moisture contents as 82.54%, 83.32% and 84.74% for bird, sweet and bell peppers respectively. Other proximate values in the various pepper samples ranged as follows: crude fat 1.52%–2.21%, crude protein 2.64%–3.51%, crude fibre 2.72%–4.71%, ash contents 1.62%–3.03% and carbohydrate contents 4.52–6.96%. The order of abundance of the fatty acids were linoleic > oleic > stearic > palmitic in each sample. All the other fatty acids, except myristic acid in bell pepper seed oil, had values lower than 1.00% in all samples. The total unsaturated fatty acids predominated the total saturated ones with values ranging from 79.23% in bird pepper to 82.33% in bell pepper. The total polyunsaturated fatty acids ranged from 57.80% in sweet pepper to 66.50% in bell pepper while the total essential fatty acids ranged from 57.78% in sweet pepper to 66.00% in bell pepper. The total unsaturated/saturated (P/S) ratio was highest in bell pepper, making it the most nutritionally useful of them all.  Â

Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome Following Exposure to Oleoresin Capsicum “Pepper Spray”

ObjectivesTo report a case associating the use of Oleoresin Capsicum Pepper Spray (OCPS) during law enforcement training with development of Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS). Materials and MethodsRCVS is radiographically characterized by multifocal smooth narrowing of cerebral arteries heralded by clinical manifestations of recurrent thunderclap headaches. 70% of cases with RCVS have a clear precipitating factor and agents commonly implicated were cannabis, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, nasal decongestants, cocaine, postpartum state, eclampsia and strenuous physical/sexual activity.1 Results24-year-old female police officer with no past medical history who presented with thunderclap headaches after exposure to pepper spray to her face during work training. Neurological examination was unremarkable. CT angiogram (CTA) of the head and neck and subsequent conventional angiogram revealed multifocal mild arterial narrowing of bilateral middle cerebral arteries (MCA), bilateral posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) and left anterior cerebral artery (ACA) concerning for RCVS. Eight weeks later, she had a repeat MRA head and neck demonstrating complete resolution of the previously noted narrowing of her cerebral arteries. ConclusionsOCPS is widely used in law enforcement training as well as by general population as a self- defense tool. It is generally assumed to be safe, although the consequences of its use can never be predicted with certainty.2 As our case highlights, use of OCPS may be associated with development of RCVS and awareness needs to be raised regarding this rare but serious complication.

Nutritional quality, fruit shape and relationships among exotic and local Capsicum pepper genotypes in Uganda

Twenty-one hot pepper genotypes comprising of local (15) and exotic (6) types (C. annuum, C. frutescens and C. chinense) were characterized for selected fruit traits after propagation in a glasshouse at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo in Central Uganda using a completely randomized design with three replicates. Ripe fruits were harvested and analyzed; traits evaluated were all significantly different at P<0.05 with variations in quality attributes. The genotype OHA-B305-10 had the highest ascorbic acid content (128.86 mg/100 g) and is recommended for improvement of both local and exotic genotypes targeting the fresh market. Genotypes CAP0408-12 and UG2 WE0511-22, with highest total soluble solids (16.17 ºBrix) and dry matter content (28.59%), respectively should be used in improvements for industrial use or processing to products such as chilli powder or flakes. BRS-M205-04 with highest titratable acidity (1.04%) can be used in enhancing shelf life of genotypes with low titratable acids as well as for the fresh market. In spite of the intraspecific relationships among genotypes, significant differences were observed in their quantitative traits. These genotypes will, therefore, be useful in improving the quality of hot pepper fruit in Uganda.