Cherry Peppers Research Articles

SPAD values, as well as sugar- and capsaicin content in different varieties of outdoor peppers

The marketability of the sweet peppers is determined by their quality in Class I, which must also meet the highest standards in terms of the color, shape of the variety and the characteristics of the various flavors. However, the determinants of quality may vary from one pepper type to another. During of our research, we examined the utilization of nitrogen, magnesium and potassium in different types of domestic peppers in the context of the relative chlorophyll content of the foliage and the amount of sugar and total capsaicin in the fruits. We determined that the nutrient solution prepared by Duna-r Ltd. is suitable for achieving the highest sugar and capsaicin content, but their levels can differ significantly. The uptake and utilization of nitrogen, magnesium and potassium of nutrient solution can be checked with the SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) index data of the foliage. We found that there are periods in the phenophase of the pepper cultivars studied when both sugar content and capsaicin content increase significantly. Another major result is that sugar content is a basic determinant of capsaicin content in hot peppers and cherry peppers, while it is not an important factor of capsaicin content for Bogyiszló-type peppers.

Poultry manure and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi remediation of sodium chloride induced substrate salinity for Pepper production

Pepper (Capsicum annum) is an important spice in the world, but the production is constrained by soil salinity. Hence, this study aims to explore the use of organic manure and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi in reducing the soil saline state for pepper cultivation. Two genotypes of cherry pepper were planted in the following treatment combinations; Cocopeat + poultry manure, Cocopeat + 10 mg/ml NaCL, 10 mg/ml NaCL + 250 g/4kg cocopeat, 10 mg/ml NaCL + 250 g/4kg cocopeat + 5 g of AMF, Cocopeat + 20 mg/ml NaCL, 20 mg/ml NaCL + 250 g/4kg cocopeat and 20 mg/ml NaCL + 250 g/4kg cocopeat + 5 g of AMF. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The agronomic and yield parameters were collected and analysed using ANOVA and means were separated using DMRT at 5% significance level. Results obtained showed that the tallest plants, highest number of nodes, number of fruits and fruit weight (kg) were observed in the control (14.85±0.49), (20.50±0.68), (8.67±0.52) and (1.38±0.08), respectively, although they were not significantly different from the addition of 250 g of poultry manure and 5 g of AMF to 4 kg cocopeat substrate.

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English

Modelling of vacuum drying of cherry pepper

Drying is a complex phenomenon and study of drying kinetics and modelling is very important for describing the moisture movement with respect to time and predicting the dryer performance. Considering this fact, vacuum drying characteristics of cherry pepper was studied at different drying temperatures (50, 60 and 70oC). Cherry pepper were dried from initial moisture content of about 400% (dry basis) to 13 – 14.5% (dry basis) at different temperatures at 630 mm Hg vacuum. Time required to dry cherry peppers at 50, 60 and 70p C plate temperatures were 19 h, 9.75 h and 8 h respectively. Moisture reduction of cherry pepper at various temperatures was modelled using thin-layer models viz. Lewis, Page, Modified Page and Henderson and Pabis model. Based on highest value of coefficient of determination, lowest values of reduced chi square and root mean square error, Modified Page model was found to be the best fit. Moisture diffusivity increased from 6.27 × 10-10 to 1.9× 10-9m2s-1 as plate temperature increased from 50 – 70oC. Activation energy was estimated to be 50.98 kJkgmol-1.

Sikkim organic horticulture: Scope, challenges and prospects

Sikkim lies in the eastern Himalayas between 27° to 28° North latitude and 88° to 89° east longitudes. Its North border is connecting with the vast stretch of tibetan Plateau, Nepal in the west, Bhutan and Chumbi valley of tibet in the east and Darjeeling District of west Bengal in the South. Sikkim climate varies from the Sub-tropical to the Alpine depending upon the altitude. the populace of Sikkim comprises of 14 hill tribes and many plainsmen communities. According to FIBL & IFoAM year Book 2018, India's rank 9th in terms of world's organic Agricultural land and 1st in terms of total number of producers. During 2017–18, India produced around 1.70 million MT of certified organic products which includes all varieties of food products. Sikkim has distinct advantages of continuing traditional farming and farmers have certain level of knowledge and skills for organic farming. the state possesses range of agro-climatic conditions and unique commodities indigenous to the farming viz., large cardamom, red cherry pepper, cymbidium orchids, ginger, Sikkim mandarin etc. Farmers prefer traditional varieties of crops as these are adapted to the region and superior in quality and taste. The crops are grown mostly in traditional way but farmers are now adopting improved technologies in organic farming system and thus adding value to the crops which hold the promise to become niche commodities for national and international markets.

Graft-transmissible resistance of cherry pepper (Capsicum annuum var. cerasiforme) to powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica) is associated with elevated superoxide accumulation, NADPH oxidase activity and pathogenesis-related gene expression

We found that resistance to pepper powdery mildew (PM) (Leveillula taurica) develops in a sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivar (‘Total’) when grafted on a resistant cherry pepper (C. annuum var. cerasiforme) rootstock (cv. Szentesi). Resistance is manifested both towards PM symptoms and pathogen accumulation. In healthy, uninfected plants PM-resistance can be predicted by enhanced accumulation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) superoxide (O 2 ) and activity of NADPH oxidase, the enzyme mainly responsible for pathogenesis-related superoxide generation. In L. taurica-inoculated PM-resistant ‘Szentesi’ high levels of superoxide and NADPH oxidase activity are sustained even 45 days after inoculation, as opposed to PM-susceptible ‘Total’. This is also true for ‘Total’ grafted on resistant ‘Szentesi’ rootstocks, where PM resistance, enhanced superoxide production and NADPH oxidase activity is likely due to an unknown, graft-transmitted signal. To further elucidate the mechanisms of graft-transmissible PM-resistance we monitored expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes in healthy and infected plants. In healthy plants, expression of CaPR-1 is several times higher in leaves of PM-resistant pepper than in sensitive plants, while high expression of CaPR-2 (glucanase) does not entirely correlate with PM-resistance, being detectable only in PM-resistant ‘Szentesi’. However, during advanced stages of PM-pathogenesis (45 DAI) expression of CaPR-1 and CaPR-2 is by far the highest in PM-susceptible ‘Total’. Our results suggest that the direct biochemical cause of graft-transmissible PM-resistance in pepper is the enhanced accumulation of NADPH oxidase-generated superoxide. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the role of ROS (superoxide) in graft-transmissible, pathogen-specific disease resistance.

Preformed defense responses in a powdery mildew-resistant Hungarian cherry pepper cultivar

A Hungarian cherry pepper (Capsicum annuum var. cerasiformé) cultivar ('Szentesi') displays resistance to pepper powdery mildew caused by Leveillula taurica. Resistance also develops in susceptible sweet pepper (C. annuum) when grafted on resistant cherry pepper cv. Szentesi rootstocks. Powdery mildew (PM) resistance is correlated with high levels of the defense regulator reactive oxygen species superoxide (O2 ') even in healthy plants. In order to further elucidate the mechanisms of preformed defense responses in cherry pepper cv. Szentesi we have monitored levels of salicylic acid (SA), a key molecule of plant defense signaling and expression of so-called pathogenesis/defense related (PR) genes in healthy pepper plants. Assays of free and bound (glycosylated) SA by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that in leaves of PM-resistant pepper levels of free SA are ca. twice as high compared to that of PM-sensitive plants. No difference occurred in levels of bound (glycosylated) SA. Expression of the CaPR-1 gene was several times higher in leaves of PM-resistant pepper than in sensitive plants as assayed by real time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-qPCR). On the other hand, high expression levels of the CaPR-2 (glucanase) gene did not entirely correlate with PM-resistance, being detectable only in PM-resistant cv. Szentesi plants but neither in PM-resistant sweet pepper cv. Totál grafted on cv. Szentesi rootstocks nor in susceptible controls (cv. Totál). It seems that graft-transmissible PMresistance of the cherry pepper cv. Szentesi is correlated not only with high levels of superoxide but also with elevated levels of free salicylic acid and enhanced expression of the defense-related CaPR-1 gene.

Influence of maturity stages and post-harvest ripening on seed quality in chilli genotypes

The present study was conducted at Department of Seed Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bangalore during 2011-12 to reveal the influence of maturity stages and post-harvest ripening on seed quality among ten (Bhut jolokia, Merkera local, Sweet baccatum, Gandhari, Biligiri local, Majjige menasu, Chinense habanero, Hot cherry, Cherry pepper and Shivani) chilli genotypes belonging to Capsicum chinense, C. frutescence and C. annuum . The results revealed that among maturity stages, fruits harvested at red ripe stage and subjected for 20 days post-harvest ripening (M 4 ) has recorded higher seed quality parameters viz., 1000 seed dry weight (6.95 g), seed germination (66.0 %), seedling length (9.9 cm), seedling dry weight (1.50 mg), seedling vigour index-I (748), total dehydrogenase activity (1.314), α-amylase activity (34.9 μg maltose ml -1 min -1 ) and field emergence (56.0 %). Also minimum electrical conductivity (1.743 dSm -1 ) and moisture content of fresh seed (10.93 %) was noticed.

Effect of Heat Treatment on Quality of Refrigerated Fresh-cut Cherry Peppers

The effect of applying a heat treatment (55 ºC for 60 s) on the evolution of quality parameters of fresh-cut (without the core) peppers (Capsicum annuum, L. cv cherry) stored for 15 days at 10 ºC in crystal polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays covered with PVC film was studied. During this period, general appearance of the fruit, development of fungi, respiration rate, titratable acidity, pH and total sugar content were evaluated. Results showed that treated samples displayed a better general appearance and lower fungal decay than control fruit at the end of storage. Immediately after heat treatment, no differences in respiration rate values between control and treated fruit were found. However, treated peppers displayed lower respiratory activity than controls during storage. The heat treatment did not affect acidity and pH, and total sugar values were slightly lower than in control fruit. We conclude that treatment at 55 ºC for 60 s reduced fungal attack and maintained de-cored cherry peppers quality during storage at 10 ºC.

Quality and antioxidant properties of whole and fresh cut 'Cherry' peppers during storage at 10 °C

Se estudiaron los cambios de calidad y propiedades antioxidantes de pimientos (Capsicum annuum, L. cv ‘Cherry’) enteros y descorazonados, conservados a 10ºC durante 10 días en bandejas PET cubiertas con film de PVC. Durante ese periodo se evaluó la apariencia general, color, actividad respiratoria, contenido de azúcares totales y firmeza de los frutos, así como también las modificaciones en el contenido de carotenoides y fenoles totales, ácido ascórbico y capacidad antioxidante. Inmediatamente después del corte y a lo largo del almacenamiento, se notó un incremento de la actividad respiratoria. El color superficial prácticamente no varió y no se observaron diferencias significativas entre frutos enteros y descorazonados en la firmeza, contenido de azúcares totales y carotenoides. En pimientos enteros y descorazonados los contenidos de fenoles totales, ácido ascórbico y capacidad antioxidante, no variaron notoriamente durante el almacenamiento. Sin embargo, al finalizar la experiencia (10 días), los frutos enteros presentaron una apariencia general buena y mayor calidad global que los pimientos descorazonados. Los resultados sugieren que el pimiento Cherry podría comercializarse como pimiento fresco cortado en la forma descorazonada, aunque debería almacenarse por sólo 6-7 días a 10ºC.

Utica Greens: Central New York's Italian-American Specialty

In a cuisine known best for its ample portions of pasta and in a cold climate favoring hearty food, Utica Greens, a méélange of sautééed escarole, cherry peppers, garlic, cheese, prosciutto, breadcrumbs and olive oil, has become a regional specialty. ““Greens”” now appear on the menu of virtually every Italian-American restaurant in Utica and can be found on buffet tables at receptions and potlucks in the surrounding area. Incorporating interviews with chefs and household cooks, this article charts the history of Utica Greens from its origins as a humble dish prepared in Italian-American family kitchens to its appearance in local restaurants where it has become a nostalgic marker of a time when people grew their own food in backyard gardens and home-grown vegetables were at the center of family life.

Cherry pepper pickling: Mass transport and firmness parameters and stability indicators

Mass transfer between whole red cherry pepper and pickling solution, as well as firmness and stability indicators of the pickled product, were studied. Experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure with an initial vacuum pulse (50 cm Hg for 3 min) (PV) or without a vacuum pulse (PA), in sodium chloride (10–15 g/100 g) and acetic acid (2.3–3.5 g/100 g) solutions, during 0.3–30 days. Statistically significant equations were obtained ( p ⩽ 0.05) to describe the pickling and firmness parameters of cherry pepper, and stability indicators. PA treatments mainly caused pepper dehydration, but PV promoted water and solutes gain. Firmness values were slightly lower in PV than in PA treatments. Vacuum pulse pickling allowed achieving lower pH and a w values (pH = 2.97, a w = 0.964) than pickling without the initial vacuum pulse (pH = 3.33, a w = 0.972). PV treatments resulted in weight gain of cherry peppers and succeeded in reducing pH and a w to levels that would enhance pepper stability.

Preferencia alimentaria del pega-pega de la remolacha (Spoladea recurvalis F.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) por Trianthema portulacastrum L. (Aizoaceae) y otros posibles hospederos en Puerto Rico

Se evaluó la preferencia alimentaria del herbívoro Spoladea recurvalis Fabricius mediante pruebas de consumo forzado y de selección pareada y múltiple en el laboratorio. Se utilizaron discos de hojas de 12.7 mm de las malezas y cultivos: verdolaga de hoja ancha (Trianthema portulacastrum L), bledo común (Amaranthus dubius Mart.), botoncillo (Borreria ocymoides [Burm. f] DC), remolacha (Beta vulgaris L), ají dulce (Capsicum frutescens L.), tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum Mili.), pepinillo (Cucumis sativus L.) y berenjena (Solanum melongena L.). Spoladea recurvalis prefirió como hospedero primario a la verdolaga de hoja ancha. La larva del pirálido se alimentó también de los discos foliares del bledo y de la remolacha común, siendo esta última el único cultivo que sirve de alimento alterno al insecto. La larva no se alimentó de las otras plantas estudiadas (ají, tomate, pepinillo, berenjena y botoncillo), algunas de las cuales se habían reportado como hospederos alimentarios alternos del herbívoro. Se discute la aplicación de estos hallazgos para el control biológico de la maleza verdolaga de hoja ancha y el comportamiento alimentario de S. recurvalis.

Managing the pepper maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae) using perimeter trap cropping.

A perimeter trap crop barrier of hot cherry peppers, border-row insecticide applications, and a combination of the two management strategies were evaluated to see if they could protect a centrally located main crop of bell peppers from oviposition and infestation by the pepper maggot, Zonosemata electa (Say). In large plots, the main cash crop of bell peppers was protected from the majority of the oviposition and infestation by all three barriers. The combination sprayed/trap crop barrier provided the best protection against both oviposition and infestation and resulted in over 98% pest-free fruit at harvest. Maggots infested only 1.7% of the main crop fruit when protected by a sprayed or unsprayed trap crop barrier, compared with 15.4% in control plots. The perimeter sprayed/trap crop strategy was employed in three commercial fields in 2000 and 2001. The combination barrier resulted in superior insect control and reduced insecticide use at all commercial locations, compared with the same farms' past history or to farms using conventional and integrated pest management (IPM) methods. Economic analysis showed that the technique is more cost effective and profitable than relying on whole-field insecticide applications to control the pepper maggot. Farmer users were surveyed and found the perimeter trap crop technique simple to use, with many hard-to-measure benefits associated with worker protection issues, marketing, personnel/management relations, pest control and the environment. Use of the perimeter trap crop technique as part of an IPM or organic program can help improve crop quality and overall farm profitability, while reducing pesticide use and the possibility of secondary pest outbreaks.

Chilling Injury of Chile Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

Seven types of chile peppers were tested for differences in susceptibility to postharvest chilling injury (CI). Cherry, cubanelle, Hungarian wax (HW), poblano, serrano, and both mature-green and full-color (red) jalapeño fruit were stored at 2.5, 7, and 15 °C for 0 to 30 days. External C2H4 production at 12 and 24 hours after removal from storage and internal C2H4 concentration at 24 hours were measured. There was no significant difference in C2H4 production after the first 12 hours, but serrano produced significantly less C2H4 than the other types during the second 12 hours. Among the cultivars there were differences in the amounts of internal C2H4 measured: HW had the highest levels measured, and serrano had undetectable levels. CI has been observed on bell and some chile pepper cultivars as small black pits, and the recommended nonchilling storage temperature is 7 °C for all peppers. In this study, scald (a surface browning) was observed on HW and cubanelle fruit in addition to pitting, which occurred on all the cultivars. Susceptibility to chilling varied among pepper types in this study. HW peppers were the most susceptible, manifesting scald after 4 days at 2.5 °C and scald and pits after 16 days at 7 °C. Serrano fruit were the most resistant to CI, only pitting after 23 days at 2.5 °C, and having no symptoms after storage at 7 °C for 30 days. Cherry and poblano peppers developed pits after 8 days at 2.5 °C. Both green and red jalapeños pitted after 12 days at 2.5 °C, and cubanelles had scald after 16 days at 2.5 °C. Poblano fruit had large, deep pits after 8 days at 7 °C, cherry peppers pitted after 12 days, and both green and red jalapeño fruit pitted after 16 days at 7 °C. Both pits and scald were observed on cubanelle fruit after 23 days at 7 °C. Recommendations for storage of peppers should be expanded to accommodate differences among cultivars.

Proximate Composition and Some Nutritionally Valuable Minerals of Two Varieties of <i>Capsicum annumL.</i>(Bell and Cherry Peppers).

Proximate Composition and Some Nutritionally Valuable Minerals of Two Varieties of <i>Capsicum annumL.</i>(Bell and Cherry Peppers).

Use of Pre-sidedress Nitrate Test and SPAD Meter to Evaluate Nitrogen Needs of Peppers

Hot cherry peppers were grown after incorporation of the following three winter cover crop regimes in Summer 1994—hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) plus winter rye (Secale cereale), hairy vetch alone, and no cover crop. For each main effect there were three N rates applied to peppers in three applications over the course of the season: 0, 85, and 170 kg·ha–1. The pepper yield was significantly higher with hairy vetch plus rye than rye alone or no cover crop. There was also no significant yield increase with the addition of N fertilizer to the peppers grown with hairy vetch. Soil nitrate–N levels taken just prior to N sidedress were significantly higher in plots that had hairy vetch plus rye compared to other treatments. There was also a significant linear relationship of the soil nitrate–N levels among the three N rates. Based on the results of this study, sidedressing peppers would be recommended when soil nitrate levels are above the 25 ppm that is the current threshold for other crops. SPAD readings were taken several times during the season. There was a high correlation of SPAD readings to pepper yield very early and very late in the season. The correlation of SPAD readings to pepper yield was poorest when taken at the time of N sidedress.

Use of Pre-sidedress Nitrate Test and SPAD Meter to Evaluate Nitrogen Needs of Peppers

Hot cherry peppers were grown after incorporation of the following three winter cover crop regimes in Summer 1994—hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) plus winter rye (Secale cereale), hairy vetch alone, and no cover crop. For each main effect there were three N rates applied to peppers in three applications over the course of the season: 0, 85, and 170 kg·ha–1. The pepper yield was significantly higher with hairy vetch plus rye than rye alone or no cover crop. There was also no significant yield increase with the addition of N fertilizer to the peppers grown with hairy vetch. Soil nitrate–N levels taken just prior to N sidedress were significantly higher in plots that had hairy vetch plus rye compared to other treatments. There was also a significant linear relationship of the soil nitrate–N levels among the three N rates. Based on the results of this study, sidedressing peppers would be recommended when soil nitrate levels are above the 25 ppm that is the current threshold for other crops. SPAD readings were taken several times during the season. There was a high correlation of SPAD readings to pepper yield very early and very late in the season. The correlation of SPAD readings to pepper yield was poorest when taken at the time of N sidedress.

Pruebas en el combate de malezas en ají dulce en 1991 y 1992

En 1991 y 1992 se realizaron dos experimentos de campo en la Estación Experimental Agrícola en Lajas para combatir las malezas en siembras de ají dulce. En el primer experimento, el mejor tratamiento fue el uso de cubierta plástica en el banco más paraquat como posemergente en aplicación directa entre los bancos. Napropamide a razón de 2.24 kg ia/ha y clomazone a razón de 1.12 kg ia/ha aplicados presiembra, seguidos por paraquat a razón de 0.56 kg ia/ha, controlaron las malezas menos eficientemente que la cubierta plástica más paraquat. En el segundo experimento la cubierta plástica más paraquat fue el mejor tratamiento. Las aplicaciones presiembra y posemergente a las malezas de glifosato o paraquat a las dosis recomendadas controlaron las malezas satisfactoriamente. Con el tratamiento de cubierta plástica más paraquat dirigido se obtuvo el mejor rendimiento de ají dulce. Los tratamientos presiembra y posemergente de glifosato o paraquat también controlaron las malezas bien. En ambos experimentos el tratamiento integrado de cubierta plástica más paraquat produjo un rendimiento de ají dulce significativamente mayor que los demás tratamientos.

Variation in Double-stranded Ribonucleic Acid among Pepper Cultivars

Double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) was found associated with 51 of 80 healthy pepper (Capsicum annuum L., C. frutescent L., C. chinense Jacq.) cultivars analyzed. In general, dsRNAs were consistent within particular cultivars. Twelve distinct dsRNA profiles that varied in the number and size of the dsRNA segments were obtained. All bell and pimento pepper cultivars analyzed had a similar dsRNA profile. Furthermore, all six cherry pepper cultivars tested were free of dsRNAs. However, an association between the dsRNA profile and the pepper group was not obtained with other cultivars. Selected dsRNAs were transmitted at a high rate through the seed of self-pollinated plants but were not transmitted through grafts to plants that lacked them.