According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, UF/IFAS Professor Bala Rathinasabapathi and his team of students have successfully cross-bred two heirloom varieties of peppers – the Bulgarian Carrot and the Round of Hungary — to come up with more desirable consumer traits, including a more savory taste.
“There is great potential to breed better-tasting vegetables, richer in nutrients, antioxidants, colors, shapes and flavors than the ones available to the public,” said Rathinasabapathi. “The knowledge developed here will be useful to breed better pepper varieties liked by consumers.”
Many pepper-breeding programs in the U.S. focus on developing disease resistance and yield, he said. Rathinasabapathi and his team focused on qualities consumers can appreciate, such as taste and nutrition.
For the study, researchers used traditional genetic tools to study which traits are inherited and how. Their study verified many findings from previous research, but they also uncovered new data about certain characteristics, such as pumpkin-shaped fruit, fruit-wall thickness and pigments important for fruit color, Rathinasabapathi said.
“These new data will help us and others breed types of peppers with combinations of interesting shapes, colors and flavor,” he said.
This study is the latest published research in a program developed by Rathinasabapathi in 2010. He came up with the idea for a project called “Building Better Peppers,” with funding from UF’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences through a teaching mini-grant.
Florida produces $207 million worth of bell peppers annually, according to the Florida Department Agriculture and Consumer Services.