ASHS 2025 Conference

Chile peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) hold a vital position in global agriculture and diets, valued for their unique flavor, diverse uses, and nutritional benefits. Among their bioactive compounds, carotenoids play a significant role, acting as antioxidants and precursors to vitamin A, with immense implications for human health. This study aims to identify carotenoid diversity and determine the genetic control of carotenoid production in a diverse population of 127 chile pepper genotypes. Fruits grown in Las Cruces, NM, were harvested in the 2024 growing season. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) will be employed to profile individual carotenoids such as β-carotene, lutein, capsanthin, capsorubin, zeaxanthin, and violaxanthin. To optimize carotenoid extraction and minimize degradation, three different saponification methods were tested, varying in incubation time and temperature: 30 minutes at 50°C, 30 minutes at room temperature, and 60 minutes at room temperature. The best results were obtained with 30 minutes of incubation at room temperature. After getting HPLC results for the whole pannel this data will be integrated with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify key genetic loci and candidate genes associated with carotenoid content. The study aims to provide a foundation for marker-assisted selection to improve the nutritional quality of chile peppers. The findings have direct implications for breeding programs, enabling the development of biofortified chile pepper varieties.