The influence of genotype and season on the biological potential of chilli pepper cultivars

The aim of this work was to evaluate the yield parameters (number of fruits per plant, total yield per plant and average fruit weight), level of ascorbic acid, and pungency (SHU units) of different genotypes of chilli pepper in protected cultivation in the Czech Republic in order to identify a suitable and prospective chilli cultivar which could be recommended to the Central European growers. The experiment took place in two years (2016 and 2018) in a plastic greenhouse with 17 genotypes of the species Capsicum chinense Jacq., C. annuum L., C. baccatum L. and C. pubescens Ruiz. & Pav. From the viewpoint of yield parameters and stability of yield, ‘Habanero Red’, ‘Jamaican Yellow’, ‘Jwala’ and ‘Rocoto Orange’ can be recommended for Czech conditions. The majority of the tested cultivars were a good source of vitamin C (mostly reaching a value of at least 800 mg kg⁻¹). From the perspective of pungency, the following cultivars can be recommended: low pungency – Fish, Jalapeño, Jwala, Pimiento de Padrón and Rocoto Orange; medium pungency – Cayenne Gold, NuMex Piñata and Scotch Bonnet Orange; and high pungency – Aji Lemon Drop, Cayenne Purple, TMSR and Tricolor Variegata.