Perda de água pós-colheita em frutos de pimenteira

Abstract

The genus Capsicum is among the most commercially traded vegetables worldwide, presenting a wide range of uses. However, peppers suffer from high post-harvest water loss at all stages of ripening. However, methods to reduce loss due to storage conditions have not contributed to a fundamental solution. Thus, it is necessary to seek mechanisms that alleviate the high-water loss during the genetic improvement process. In this context, the present study aimed to characterize fruits from different pepper accessions regarding water loss during storage, aiming to provide support for post-harvest conservation strategies and for the selection of promising genotypes in genetic improvement programs. The experiment was conducted at the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory of UFPB, in Areia-PB, using eleven Capsicum annuum accessions belonging to the Germplasm Bank. The fruits of the accessions were placed in polystyrene trays. The accessions were arranged in a split-plot design, composed of 11 accessions in 9 periods. Each treatment consisted of four replicates, with five fruits per replicate, arranged in a completely randomized design. For morpho-agronomic characterization, the quantitative characteristic of initial/final fruit weight was considered, followed by the calculation of water loss (%). The percentage of water loss was estimated daily until the ninth day, the period in which total post-harvest quality loss was observed in at least one of the genotypes. The data obtained in the evaluation were subjected to analysis of variance. The Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.01) was applied to compare the genotypes within each day, and for each genotype over the days, a polynomial regression analysis was performed. Subsequently, an analysis of all genotypes was performed using a scatter plot at eighteen days, when all genotypes showed total dehydration. There was a significant interaction between accessions and time for the analyzed variable (p ≤ 0.01). The heritability value (77.79%) was high for the trait. The Scott-Knott test revealed distinct behaviors among the genotypes over nine days. Genotypes 50, 93, 129, and 276 registered the lowest water loss rates, while genotype 294 showed the highest loss. Regression analysis revealed increasing water loss for all genotypes. A high coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.90) was observed for most genotypes: 12, 93, 129, 215, 276, 276, 284, 292, 294, and 298. Genotype 93 exhibited the smallest slope in the trend line, followed by genotypes 276 and 284. Genotypes 50, 93, 129, and 276 showed the lowest water loss rates. Genotype 294 showed the greatest water loss. Genotype 93 showed the lowest percentage of water loss, followed by genotypes 276 and 284. Crossing between these accessions is recommended in order to obtain hybrids and/or lines in segregating generations that have lower post-harvest water loss.