Antioxidant potential of Turkish pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes at two different maturity stages

Improved phytochemicals and antioxidant properties in crops are becoming important traits in many breeding programs. In this study, along with several other horticultural attributes, total phenolic content (TP) and antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)) of 52 superior pepper genotypes from the Alata Pepper Breeding Program were examined. The fruits from these plants were harvested at immature and mature stages. The genotypes greatly varied for TP, FRAP, TEAC, soluble solids, vitamin C content, and fruit color as determined by L, a and b values. The range for TP was 319–4047 μg GAE/g fresh weight (fw), while FRAP and TEAC varied between 0.22 and 0.56 μmol of TE/g fw and 0.08 and 1.88 μmol TE/g fw. All these characteristics were considerably variable between immature and mature stages. These characteristics were also found to be significantly correlated. Principal component analyses conducted for all the characters used in the study and constructed separately for immature and mature stages demonstrated no obvious patterns for pepper types. Therefore, our overall results suggest that individual pepper cultivars having high total phenolic and antioxidant capacity can be utilized in developing new pepper cultivars with rich phytochemical content.