Double uses of potted ornamental peppers (Capsicum)

Abstract

Pepper fruit have been used mainly by the food industry as ingredient in sauces and as dry spice. In last decade, potted peppers are being sold in large scale as ornamental plants in Brazil and elsewhere. Despite of the colorfulness of these plants, they can also provide fresh fruits for daily consumption to consumers. However, once removed from the greenhouse and placed in indoors environments, most of the ornamental cultivars present short post-production shelf life. Several factors are responsible for the reduction of shelf life, including the origin of cultivar, temperature, low light intensity, and presence of ethylene in closed environments. The use of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an inhibitor of ethylene action, shows high efficiency in prolonging the shelf life of ornamental peppers and offers no health risks to humans. Here we present data regarding the behavior of ornamental peppers subject to stresses and treatments showing the role of 1-MCP on the quality of the post-production shelf life stage.