The influence of microclimatic conditions on hot pepper quality compounds

In 2018-2019, in the climate (humid continental) of southern Poland, an experiment was performed comparing the effects of a low tunnel (50 cm high) covered with a double-layer perforated ldPE film, hdPE net, or nonwoven PP fabric on hot pepper plants from planting until flowering (2.5-3 weeks). The cultivars under assessment originated from a tropical monsoon climate (‘Bird Chilli’) and a humid subtropical climate (‘Biala Shipka’). The largest differences in the initial stage of plant growth under the different covers were in temperature and relative air humidity, which were the highest under the ldPE film.
After the removal of the covers, the differences became minimal and did not affect the further development and ripening of the fruit.
Fruit chemical composition did not depend on the type of cover, but on the cultivar.
The fruit of ‘Biala Shipka’ contained more dry matter, soluble sugars and vitamin C. Greater amounts of phenolic compounds were found in ‘Bird Chilli’, but only in the first year, which indicates a correlation with the degree of fruit ripeness.
Capsaicin content was higher in ‘Biala Shipka’ in both years, and was uniform, especially in the second year of the experiment, when more rainfall occurred during the fruiting period.

VIII South-Eastern Europe Symposium on Vegetables and Potatoes

P. Siwek, P. Bucki, I. Domagała-Świątkiewicz, J. Gil, M. Komorowska

hot pepper, cultivars, microclimate, chemical composition, mineral content

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1320.12