Agronomic characteristics and carotenoid content of five Bola-type paprika red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars

Abstract The production of sweet paprika in Spain uses exclusively fruit of Bola-type Capsicum annuum L. This work describes the evaluation of the agronomic behaviour of five new cultivars of the Bola-type paprika red pepper, selected in the Instituto Murciano de Investigacion y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDA), and grown in Extremadura for 3 years. The colour and the pigment content of the paprika elaborated following the traditional procedure of La Vera were also studied. The cultivars studied are very similar in morphology of the plants, and precocity of the crop, also presenting few differences in their yield of fresh and dry red fruit. The cultivars RR-1 and RR-2 had the best yields in dry red fruit, weight of fruit, ripening synchronicity, and resistance of the fruit against rotting. With respect to the parameters of the paprika's quality, the cultivars RR-5, RR-4 and RR-3 stood out in ASTA colour and pigment content. RR-1 and RR-2 are recommended according to the pepper yield, however RR-5, RR-4 and RR-3 cultivars are the best in colour. The recommended cultivars to the growers will depend on the payment criteria of the industry, yield or colour.