engleski

Quality of pepper cultivars as affected by growing technology and harvest date

Beside usual fresh consumption pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) growing on the soil, in recent years soilless culture is expanding too. So far, in Croatia there were no qualitative characteristics determination of hydroponic grown pepper. Therefore, the pepper cultivars were grown on soil and rockwool, with the aim to determine quality parameters in different periods of harvest. Samples for qualitative analysis were collected periodically on three occasions (July, August and September) during harvest period. Some sample consisted of 10 uniform size fruits, harvested at technological maturity. Dry matter and total soluble solids, pH, total acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolics and sugars (sucrose, glucose and fructose) were determined. Depending on the cultivar, growing technology and harvest date, dry matter content varied from 5.10 to 6.11 %, while total soluble solids ranged from 3.97 to 4.51 °Brix. Determined pH-values were between 5.23 and 5.38 while total acidity was from 0.092 to 0.116 %. The ascorbic acid amount in pepper fruits ranged from 135.76 to 215.20 mg/100 g fresh weight. Total phenolic content was from 20.29 to 26.81 mg/kg. Share of sucrose in total soluble solids varied from 0.128 to 0.293 %, glucose from 1.152 to 1.403 % and fructose from 0.942 to 1.152 %. Determined quality parameters showed significant differences among the tested factors and their interactions. The highest values of dry matter, soluble solids and total phenols were determined in the 'Atol' fruits. The highest ascorbic acid amount was found in 'Menta' fruits. Chemical analyses results, indicates that high quality of pepper fruits is achieved on both substrates used. The advantage of pepper growing on rockwool is ability to adjust water and nutrients supply of plants, which can positively affect the quality.

Capsicum annuum L.; growing substrate; dry matter; total soluble solids; ascorbic acid

nije evidentirano