ABSTRACT:
Peppers have compounds that are beneficial to health, such as vitamins, flavonoids, carotenoids and other secondary metabolites with antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic variability for antioxidant activity and concentration of antioxidant compounds in landraces of Capsicum baccatum grown in Brazil, besides estimating the correlation between the evaluated parameters. The antioxidant activity and concentration of total phenolics, total anthocyanins and carotenoids were evaluated in 24 landraces of C. baccatum from Capsicum Gene Bank of Embrapa Temperate Agriculture. The results showed genetic variability for all variables. The analysis of carotenoids showed the highest number of groups by Scott-Knott test, with seven established groups. Accessions P62, P85 and P108, with a high concentration of phenolic compounds, P13, P15 and P61, with high antioxidant activity, P68, with higher content of anthocyanins, and P179, with high production of carotenoids, are good sources of natural antioxidants compounds. Correlations between the antioxidant compounds ranged from low to moderate. No relationship between shape, color and pungency of fruits and the content of antioxidant compounds evaluated was found in landraces of pepper.
Keywords:
Solanaceae; genetic resources; germplasm; characterization; functional foods
