Abstract

The present study evaluates the fruit yield and antioxidant activity of pepper genotypes as a function of nitrogen doses. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with seven pepper genotypes: two C. annuum (116 and 163), two C. chinense (39 and 118), two C. frutescens (17 and 113), and one C. praetermissum (141), and 11 nitrogen doses (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256 and 512 N mg dm^-3). Productive parameters were evaluated, and antioxidant compounds were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Genotypes 116 and 163 showed a higher fruit fresh mass, and genotype 141 produced the highest number of fruits per plant. Genotypes 141 and 163 were the earliest. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained in the extracts of fruits of genotype 113. Nitrogen fertilization did not affect the antioxidant content of fruits. The pepper genotypes of the present study have comparable bioactive compound contents and antioxidant activity. Therefore, they are promising genotypes for the vegetable production sector, with potential for industrial and pharmacological use.

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