Screening of colored and green capsicum cultivars for economic traits and antioxidant potential grown at mid-hill climatic conditions of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Six genotypes of bell pepper viz. Red Capsicum, Yellow
Capsicum, Violet Capsicum (colored capsicums) and EC
579997, DARL 70, CW-51 (Green capsicums) were evaluated
at Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research, Field Station,
Pithoragarh. Data were recorded for their yield and yield
attributing traits, antioxidant constituents and antioxidant
activity. The antioxidant activity of these genotypes has
been estimated by ABTS and DPPH methods. Antioxidant
constituents viz. ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll, tannin
content, phenolic contents, total carotenoids, total
flavonoids content were also estimated. The results showed
significant differences for all the characters studied among
these genotypes. Fruit length, fruit circumference, fruit
weight, 1000 seed weight and seed yield were found the
contributing characters for yield improvement. The
antioxidant constituents and antioxidant activity in bell
pepper were found in increasing order in colored fruits rather
than green fruits. Red Capsicum was found the best towards
quantitative traits and antioxidant potential followed by
Yellow Capsicum and Violet Capsicum cultivars.