Red Sweet Pepper Research Articles

THE EFFECT OF COLORED SHADE NETS ON SWEET BELL PEPPER QUALITY AFTER PROLONGED STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE

ISHS XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): International Symposium on Greenhouse 2010 and Soilless Cultivation THE EFFECT OF COLORED SHADE NETS ON SWEET BELL PEPPER QUALITY AFTER PROLONGED STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE

Analysis of Native Carotenoid Composition of Sweet Bell Peppers by Serially Coupled C30 Columns

Serial coupled columns reversed-phase separations in high-performance liquid chromatography can be a useful tool for the analysis of complex real samples. The great difficulties found when analyzing complex carotenoid samples, due to the high natural variability of these compounds, as well as to the presence of carotenoid esters, are well documented. In the present contribution, the applicability of connecting two C30 columns to increase significantly the separation power, resolution and peak capacity for the analysis of carotenoids in a complex carotenoid sample, like sweet bell peppers, has been shown for the first time. By using LC coupled to PDA/APCI-MS detectors, 56 different carotenoids have been detected in red sweet bell peppers. By using two serial coupled C30 columns a peak capacity of 95.4 was obtained, compared with 73 achieved using a single column. Moreover, resolution greatly improved between different critical peaks when using two serial coupled C30 columns, compared with a single column. Interestingly, free carotenoids, mono-esters and diesters were quantitatively equally represented (around 33% for each different class) in red sweet bell pepper, showing, therefore, a value for the ratio of mono-esters/diesters of around 1, which could be considered a parameter of typicality. Free beta-carotene (12.6%), capsanthin-C14:0 (8.4%), and capsanthin-C12:0-C14:0 (8.9%) were the most abundant carotenoids in the three different classes of red sweet bell pepper. No carotenoid esters were detected in either yellow or green sweet bell peppers. The application of such methodology in the analysis of other complex carotenoid matrices could be a future objective of research.

Chemometric approach to evaluate trace metal concentrations in some spices and herbs

Herbs (mint, thyme and rosemary) and spices (black pepper, chili pepper, cinnamon, cumin, sweet red pepper and turmeric) were analysed using atomic spectrometry and then subjected to chemometric evaluation in an attempt to classify them using their trace metallic analyte concentrations (As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn). Trace metals in acid digests of these materials were determined using both inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The chemometric techniques of principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used for the classification studies. These herbs and spices were classified into five groups by PCA and CA. When the results of these techniques were compared with those from LDA, it was found that all group members determined by PCA and CA are in the predicted group that 100.0% of original grouped cases correctly classified by LDA.

Process Neural Network Method: Case Study I: Discrimination of Sweet Red Peppers Prepared by Different Methods

This study utilized a feed-forward neural network model along with computer vision techniques to discriminate sweet red pepper products prepared by different methods such as freezing and pureeing. The differences among the fresh, frozen and pureed samples are investigated by studying their bio-crystallogram images. The dissimilarity in visually analyzed bio-crystallogram images are defined as the distribution of crystals on the circular glass underlay and the thin or the thick structure of crystal needles. However, the visual description and definition of bio-crystallogram images has major disadvantages. A methodology called process neural network (ProcNN) has been studied to overcome these shortcomings.

Atividade antibacteriana in vitro de pimentas e pimentões (Capsicum sp.) sobre quatro bactérias toxinfectivas alimentares

Determinou-se in vitro a Intensidade de Atividade de Inibição Bacteriana (IINIB) e a Intensidade de Atividade de Inativação Bacteriana (IINAB), através de Testes de Diluição em Sistema de Tubos Múltiplos, de extratos de oito pimentas do gênero Capsicum, etnograficamente acessadas na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre/RS/BR, frente a inóculos bacterianos padronizados (American Type Culture Collection - ATCC), respectivamente Staphylococcus aureus (25923), Enterococcus faecalis (19433), Salmonella enteritidis (13076) e Escherichia coli (11229), em doses-desafio = 10(7) UFC mL-1. Quatro destas plantas, pimenta calabresa ("pool" Capsicum sp), pimenta-de-jardim (C.annuum), pimenta dedo-de-moça (C. baccatum) e pimenta malagueta (C. frutescens), apresentaram atividades de inibição e inativação seletivas, em ordem decrescente, para salmonela, coliforme fecal, enterococo e estafilococo. As demais, pimenta cambuci (C. baccatum) e os pimentões (C. annuum) amarelo, verde e vermelho, apresentaram nenhuma atividade. Discute-se a validade da ferramenta etnográfica na prospecção de fatores de proteção anti-bacteriana em plantas, bem como a influência da inibição/inativação na preditividade do diagnóstico bacteriológico.

Polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase extracted from sweet Green, Red and Yellow peppers

Polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase extracted from sweet Green, Red and Yellow peppers

Combined Analysis to Characterize Yield Pattern of Greenhouse-grown Red Sweet Peppers

Understanding the irregular yield pattern of greenhouse-grown sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) has been a challenge to researchers and greenhouse producers. Experimental data from 4 years, each consisting of 26 production weeks, were used in a time series analysis, neural network (NN) modeling, and regression analysis. Time series analysis revealed that weekly yield was influenced by yields from the preceding 2 weeks (Yd_1 and Yd_2), cumulative light 2 and 4 weeks prior (L_2 and L_4), and average 24-h air temperature 5 weeks prior (T_5). Cumulative light (L) data were transformed into kL by dividing by 1000 for subsequent NN modeling and regression analysis. These five inputs were used to establish a NN model, which illustrated the positive influence of Yd_1, kL_4, and kL_2 and negative influence of Yd_2 and T_5. Again, these five inputs were used in a regression analysis illustrating the positive influence of Yd_1 and the negative influence of Yd_2. Each input was further modified to include its squared value before entering the regression, which resulted in significant inputs of Yd_1, Yd_1 squared, and Yd_2 squared. Among these three analyses, the most consistent parameters were Yd_1 and Yd_2, confirming that the irregular yield pattern of greenhouse-grown peppers is of a biological nature. Environmental factors kL_2, kL_4, and T_5 did not show a consistent effect on yield in all three analyses, indicating yield pattern is less influenced by growing environment.

Quality of Red Sweet Pepper Fruit Treated with 1-MCP during a Simulated Post-harvest Handling Chain

Red pepper fruit (Capsicum annuum L. cv Setubal) were treated with air (control) or 900 ppb 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) for 24 h at 20°C. The fruit were packed in perforated polypropylene and stored for 4.5 days at 8°C (storage), 3 days at 20°C (simulated retail display), and 4.5 days in domestic refrigerator at 5.6°C. Fruit stored continuously at 20°C served as reference of respiration rate and ethylene production. The fruit quality, storage disorders, and physiological behavior in this simplified post-harvest handling chain and the possible effects of the CO2 accumulated during 1-MCP treatments were particularly studied. The critical points of the simulated post-harvest chain as regards fruit quality were the retail display stage at 20°C, the inhibition of ethylene as a side effect of 1-MCP, and, to a lesser extent the domestic refrigeration phase. Simulated retail display exacerbated shriveling and weight loss, and negatively affected aroma, finger texture and, to a lesser extent, fruit taste, and mouth texture. The 3% increase in the CO2 accumulated in both treatments resulted in a transient increase in the respiration rate, flesh and juice hue angle, glutamic and ascorbic acids; an increase in succinic acid (higher in 1-MCP treated fruit), and a transient decrease in citric acid, juice lightness and chroma. Compared with the control, the 1-MCP prevented the increase in skin chroma during the storage phase, the upsurge of ethylene production during the retail display phase, and doubled the fumaric acid levels in the refrigerator phase. 1-MCP may have increased the fruit susceptibility to shriveling and weight loss and, to a greater extent, pitting and gray mold rot in the domestic refrigerator. In brief, 1-MCP cannot be recommended for extending non-climacteric pepper shelf-life.

Kinetic characterisation and thermal inactivation study of partially purified red pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) peroxidase

Peroxidase (POD) from red sweet pepper cultured under an integrated system was partially purified, using a combination of phase partitioning with Triton X-114 and ammonium sulphate fractionation between 30 and 80%. The enzyme presented a single band in PAGE only when 4-MN was used as substrate. Optimum activity using ABTS as the H-donor was obtained at pH 4.5 and the apparent kinetic parameters V m and K M were calculated for both ABTS and H 2O 2, showing a K M value in the same order in both cases (0.495 and 1.32 mM, respectively). The effect of several reducing agents was studied, ascorbic acid being the most active. The study of thermal inactivation showed a first-order inactivation kinetic, and the Arrhenius plot yielded a straight line with a slope equivalent to an activation energy of 151 kJ/mol. Significant inactivation occurred at temperature >40 °C and the D value for 5 min was 44.5 °C.

Influence of agricultural practices on the quality of sweet pepper fruits as affected by the maturity stage

AbstractBackground:Peppers are popular vegetables because of their colour, taste and nutritional value. The levels of vitamin C, carotenoids and phenolic compounds in peppers and other vegetables depend on several factors, including cultivar, agricultural practice and maturity stage.Results:In this study the effects of maturation and type of agricultural practice (organic or conventional) on the ascorbic acid, total carotenoid and total phenolic contents and colour parameters of sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum cv. Almuden) grown in a controlled greenhouse were determined. Levels of vitamin C, phenolic compounds and carotenoids increased during ripening, with red sweet peppers having higher contents of these bioactive compounds. Moreover, peppers grown under organic culture had higher vitamin C, phenolic and carotenoid levels than those grown under conventional culture. With respect to colour parameters, organic red peppers had higher values of L*, a*, b*, C* and Hab than conventional red peppers, giving them a higher intensity of red colour.Conclusion:Thus organic farming had a positive effect on the nutritional content of peppers, increasing the vitamin C activity and the level of phenolic compounds, both implicated in the antioxidant activity of vegetables, and the content of carotenoids, implicated in the colour variance observed in pepper fruits. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry

Changes in antioxidants and taste-related compounds content during cold storage of fresh-cut red sweet peppers

Changes in antioxidants (ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds and carotenoids) and in taste-related compounds (sugars and organic acids) content were monitored in fresh-cut red sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L., local ecotype “Peperone Cornetto di Pontecorvo”) during 9 days of cold storage. Pepper slices were placed in polystyrene trays, wrapped with a polyvinyl chloride film, and stored at 4 °C or at 8 °C; besides, to evaluate the effect of a prestorage hot water treatment, half of the slices were subjected to a dipping treatment in water at 53 °C for 4 min, before packaging and storage. During storage limited changes in O2 and CO2 concentrations were observed within all packages. Storage temperature strongly affected weight loss: at the end of the storage time it was 10% in fruits stored at 4 and 8 °C, respectively. Sugars (glucose and fructose) content showed a significant increase (+11%) only in fruits stored at 8 °C; this change was due to a concentration effect associated to water loss. A higher increase (+23 and +17% in fruits stored at 8 and 4 °C) was observed in organic acids (citric and malic) content. Minimal processing and storage produced only a quite limited degradation of ascorbic acid. Both hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids accumulated in fruits stored at 8 °C (and not heat treated), whereas at 4 °C phenolics accumulation appeared to be partially inhibited. All the main carotenoids (capsanthin, cucurbitaxanthin A, zeaxanthin, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) markedly accumulated in fruits stored at 8 °C (not heat treated), and showed a general decrease at 4 °C. Hot water treatment did seem to affect organic acids metabolism, though it did not promote ascorbic acid degradation. In addition, it inhibited both phenolics and carotenoid accumulation in fruits stored at 8 °C.

Quantitation of Carotenoids in Commonly consumed Vegetables in Japan

The carotenoid content, potentially an antioxidant, of 70 vegetables in Japan was determined by reversed-phase HPLC. α-Carotene was detected in 55 of 70 vegetable samples; β-carotene, in all 70; lycopene, in four types of tomatoes and Kintoki carrot; capsanthin, in only two types of sweet peppers; lutein, in 68 of the 70; zeaxanthin, in 30 of the 70; and β-cryptoxanthin in 12 of the 70 samples. All leafy vegetables contained relatively high levels of β-carotene and lutein. In contrast, fruits showed variable carotenoid compositions. A high content of lycopene was quantified in tomatoes and capsanthin was found only in red sweet peppers. In root crops, orange carrots contained high levels of α- and β-carotene, and a high level of lycopene was found in the Kintoki carrot. In other crops, such as head, beans, pods, inflorescences, and spears, carotenoid content was not found to be high in this study.

Difference in Folate Content of Green and Red Sweet Peppers (Capsicum annuum) Determined by Liquid Chromatography−Mass Spectrometry

Folic acid (pteroylmonoglutamic acid) is used in enriched foods; however, very little folic acid occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables. For the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program, a number of fruits and vegetables have been assayed for endogenous folates, by a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method, to evaluate the accuracy of existing data for total folate determined by standard microbiological analysis. Folate in red and green sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) differed notably (70.2 and 20.7 microg/100 g, respectively) and exceeded existing values determined by microbiological assay (18 and 11 microg/100 g, respectively). 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate was the predominant vitamer, but a significant amount of 5-formyltetrahydrolfolate and some 10-formylfolate were present. These findings may assist in making dietary recommendations or developing research diets related to folate. The data from this study have been used to update the folate values in release 19 of the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.

Internal quality and antioxidants content of cold-stored red sweet peppers as affected by polyethylene bag packaging and hot water treatment

Physical (weight, firmness) and compositional (sugars, organic acids, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds and carotenoids) changes of red sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) were monitored during 21 days of cold storage (at 7.5 °C); fruits were stored without packaging, packaged in low density polyethylene bags, or after hot water dipping (53 °C for 4 min) and packaging. Packaging prevented water loss, and preserved the firmness of the fresh product. Sugars (fructose and glucose) content was practically constant throughout the whole storage time, for all treatments. A moderate accumulation of citric acid was observed during storage, but no marked effects of packaging and hot water dipping on citric and malic acid content. Ascorbic acid content slightly increased in unpackaged and packaged fruits, but not in treated+packaged peppers. Hydroxycinnamics total content seemed not to be affected by cold storage, packaging or hot water treatment, whereas glycosylated flavonoids showed somewhat lowered levels during storage, particularly in the case of unpackaged and packaged+treated fruits. Regarding carotenoids content, the effect of the considered storage conditions seemed to be much smaller than that due to ripening stage. Provitamin A content showed an increasing trend in unpackaged and packaged fruits; packaged+treated peppers were characterised by a lower retention of provitamin A and a higher level of capsanthin and cucurbitaxanthin A with respect to not treated fruits. On the whole, packaging and hot water treatment did not produce noticeable adverse effects on the majority of the examined compositional quality parameters.

Antioxidant activity in some red sweet pepper cultivars

Cultivars and growing conditions seem to play an important role in affecting the metabolism of antioxidant components and antioxidant capacity. Ten cultivars of red sweet peppers grown over two consecutive years were compared with regard to ascorbic acid, total reducing content, β-carotene, total antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity. Cultivar Flamingo had the highest ascorbic acid content followed by cultivars Bomby and Parker. All cultivars fulfilled 100% RDA requirement for vitamin C. Torkel and Mazurka excelled in terms of β-carotene. Flamingo had the highest total reducing content and antioxidant activity. There was no effect of harvest year on antioxidant activity; however, ascorbic acid, total reducing content (mainly phenolics) and β-carotene differed significantly. A weak correlation was observed between total reducing content and antioxidant activity as measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, or DPPH) scavenging assays.

Effect of Capsicum annuum (Red Sweet and Cayenne) and Piper nigrum (Black and White) Pepper Powders on the Shelf Life of Fresh Pork Sausages Packaged in Modified Atmosphere

ABSTRACT Capsicum annuum (red sweet and hot cayenne) and Piper nigrum (black and white) pepper powders were evaluated for inhibition of oxidative reactions and extension of the shelf life of fresh pork sausages packaged in a modified atmosphere. Sausages containing either red sweet pepper or cayenne pepper (0.1%, 0.5%, or 2%) or black or white pepper (0.1%, 0.5%, or 1%) were packaged in a modified atmosphere of 80% O2+ 20% CO2, stored for 16 d in the dark at 2 °C, and analyzed each 4 d for pH, CIE L*, a*, and b*, 2‐thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS), psychrotrophic aerobes, sensory discoloration, and off‐odor. Results demonstrated that Capsicum peppers (sweet red and hot cayenne) enhanced red color but failed to prevent discoloration, whereas they were very effective in inhibiting lipid oxidation, chiefly at the highest concentration used (2%), which resulted in a delay of off‐odor formation. Piper peppers (black and white) significantly delayed discoloration with small modification of sausage color; furthermore, they also inhibited lipid oxidation, which led to a delay of off‐odor formation, particularly in the form of black pepper. Besides this, all those spices inhibited microbial growth when added at the highest concentration (1%Piper and 2%Capsicum).

Impact of different cooking methods on food quality: Retention of lipophilic vitamins in fresh and frozen vegetables

The bioavailability of all- trans-β-carotene from vegetables depends among other things on the molecular linkage and the food matrix in which it is incorporated. It is assumed that cooking can increase the bioavailability by disruption of the plant cell wall and releasing from protein complexes. But it can also lead to isomerization and degradation of all- trans-β-carotene. In this investigation the influence of different domestic cooking methods on the all- trans- and cis-β-carotene as well as the α-tocopherol content in fresh and frozen broccoli and red sweet pepper is examined. While in fresh broccoli all cooking methods lead to a significant release of all- trans-β-carotene and α-tocopherol in the frozen broccoli no change or a decrement occurs. In the fresh and frozen peppers no change or a significant loss of α-tocopherol and all- trans-β-carotene is observed. A slight increase in the cis-isomers of β-carotene can only be found by cooking fresh broccoli.

Effect of Different Blanching Methods and Period of Frozen Storage on Enzyme Activities and Some Quality Criterias of Hot and Sweet Red Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

Effect of Different Blanching Methods and Period of Frozen Storage on Enzyme Activities and Some Quality Criterias of Hot and Sweet Red Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

HOW TO REDUCE YIELD FLUCTUATIONS IN SWEET PEPPER?

ISHS XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Protected Cultivation 2002: In Search of Structures, Systems and Plant Materials for Sustainable Greenhouse Production HOW TO REDUCE YIELD FLUCTUATIONS IN SWEET PEPPER?

Lipids of Capsicum annuum Fruit Pulp

Lipids from fruit pulp of the sweet red pepper (Capsicum annuum, Solanaceae) were characterized. The principal components of the lipids from pepper fruit pulp were neutral lipids with predominance of triacylglycerines (55.8%). The polar lipids contained sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerines and phosphotidylglycerines. The fatty-acid compositions of the neutral lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids were determined.