In postharvest storage, longer shelf life is one of the crucial characteristics for preserving the freshness of chili (Capsicum sp.). The following study aimed to identify the chili genotypes with prolonged shelf life and examine the storage effects on the fruit cells’ structure. The genetic material comprised 25 chili genotypes, including six genotypes of the species C. frutescens, three from C. chinense, and 16 from C. annuum, incurred growing in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The collection of chili fruit samples with 80% maturity came from all the genotypes before placing them in plastic trays and storing them at room temperature (25 °C–27 °C, 60%–70% RH). In chili fruits, the morphological and cytological variation observations used an Aquilos-2 cryo-focused ion beam at 65× to 2500× magnification until 50% weight loss. Shelf life traits emerged closely associated with the genetic makeup of the chili genotypes. The chili genotypes revealed significant variations for shelf life. Three chili genotypes, namely, Katokon, SSP, and Selekta were notable with sustainable longer shelf life for more than 16 days, as indicated by slower fruit weight loss and less cell deterioration. Fruit water loss (FWL) proved to be the key trait in determining the shelf life of the chili genotype fruits.
Chili (Capsicum sp.), cytological analysis, fruit weight loss, genotypes, postharvest, shelf life
Chili (Capsicum sp.) fruit shelf life is crucial in postharvest handling. Fruit water loss revealed the variations in chili fruit cells and their shelf life. Breeding programs need to find selection parameters for shelf life that are quick, simple, and economical.