2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Genus Capsicum belongs to the Solanaceae family and consists of at least 31 described species. Pepper fruit traits varies among marked cultivars, which may affect the rate of water loss during storage. The study objective was to elucidate the genic effects involved on post-harvest water loss in fruits of peppers landraces to provide tools for breeding programs on improve fruit quality. Eight landraces of C. baccatum were crossed in a complete diallel, and the F₁ seeds of 28 hybrids and eight parents were sown in three replicates following a randomized complete block design. An analysis of variance with mean tests, diallel analyses, one-way multivariate analysis of variance, and phenotypic and genotypic correlation matrices were performed to compare fruit water loss, width, length, total soluble solids, dry matter content and pericarp thickness at harvest and storage period. Variability among traits were higher for exocarp thickness and fruit length (six groups), followed by fruit width (five groups), total soluble solids and fruit wall thickness (four groups), dry matter content (three groups), and water loss and cuticle thickness (two groups). Water loss varied from 14% to 68%. Dry matter content increased as water loss increased, while fruit width and wall thickness reduced as dry matter content increased. Total soluble solids had a positive path coefficient value, indicating it is a key factor affecting water loss, while cuticle thickness and fruit width presented a negative direct effect value. Low water loss varieties can be developed from the landraces germplasm bank studied. Multiparent population developed in this study represent a unique material to breeding programs with the goal of extending shelf life of Capsicum fruits.