Influence of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization on Fruiting and Capsaicin Content in Habanero Pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

Abstract

<jats:p>Habanero pepper (<jats:italic>Capsicum chinense</jats:italic> Jacq.) is a very important crop in Mexico and demand for it is increasing in national and international markets. The habanero pepper produced on the Yucatan Peninsula is considered of superior quality to that grown in the rest of the world as a result of its shelf life and pungency. Despite its importance, little research has been done on cultivation conditions that may affect its productivity and fruit quality. The effect of N or K fertilization on habanero pepper development and fruit pungency was evaluated. Plants under fertilization stress (control) had high capsaicin content. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased plant growth and fruit while maintaining high capsaicin levels. Optimum response was produced with 15 m<jats:sc>m</jats:sc> urea as the N source. Potassium fertilization had no positive effects on growth or productivity. The N treatments modified endogenous K levels in the pepper plants and vice versa. The K : N ratio (specifically in leaves and roots) varied between treatments with values greater than 1 in the K treatments, near 0.5 in the control, and less than 0.5 in the N treatments. This parameter may be an important indicator of habanero pepper productivity and requires study under different fertilization regimes.</jats:p>

Capsaicin accumulation is related to nitrate content in placentas of habanero peppers (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

“…Mineral nutrition may also affect pepper hotness,9 whether directly on the biosynthetic capacity of the tissues involved, or indirectly, through a biomass increase of pods, caused by nutriment availability. In fact, pepper pods from fertilized plants were bigger and heavier than those from plants which were not 10, 11. Most reports on the mineral composition of pepper pods refer to the full organ, rather than to their isolated components (pericarp, placenta and seeds) 12.…”

“…Nitrogen availability may have a more direct effect on capsaicin accumulation since the synthesis of a single capsaicin molecule involves three nitrogenous molecules: phenylalanine, which will produce the phenolic core; valine or leucine, which will form the lateral fatty acid chain; and the still unidentified amino donor required for the formation of vanillylamine 13. In fact, in jalapeño10 and habanero11 peppers, capsaicinoid content was affected by the nitrate dose. Potassium may also affect capsaicin accumulation, via its positive effects on fruit development 10, 14…”

Capsaicinoids in Chili Habanero by Flow Injection with Coulometric Array Detection

“…Three main types of soils are used for the cultivation of Habanero peppers (Mayan names): K’áankablu'um (red soil), Box lu'um (black soil) and ch'ich ‘lu'um (stony or brown soil). The mineral composition of the soils affects the fruit production of Habanero plant and results in different accumulation of capsaicinoids in the chili ,.…”

Molecular Cloning and Functional Analysis of a Na+-Insensitive K+ Transporter of Capsicum chinense Jacq

“…The production of habanero pepper fruits is directly related to K + availability, and addition of this nutrient to the soil solution is necessary for their successful cultivation (Monforte-Gonzalez et al, 2010). However, the K + fertilization seems not required for flowering, possibly due to the existence of efficient transport systems of K + operating in this plant (Medina-Lara et al, 2008). In general, habanero pepper plants are cultivated in K + -rich soils, but a great proportion of this K + is not available in the soil solution and cannot be absorbed by the plants (Borges-Gómez et al, 2005).…”