Abstract
1. Capsaicin content in dry matter (%) and the total capsaicin per fruit (mg) produced in the course of development of fruits of Capsicum annuum L., C. frutescens L., C. pendulum Willd., C. chacoense Hunz. and C. pubescens Ruis et Pavóm. have been determined (Table. 1 and Fig. 1).
2. The secretion of capsaicin started from a remarkably early stage, namely 1 week after flowering in C. chacoense, and in 2 weeks in the remaining species.
3. The maximum capsaicin content in dry matter appeared 2 weeks after flowering in C. chacoense, 1 week later in C. annuum, 2 weeks later in C. pendulum and C. frutescens, while it was markedly delayed until 10th week in C. pubescens. This agrees with the order of optimum growth temperatures required by those species (Smith 1958, 1959), i.e. the actual temperatures of the greenhouse were too high for the first species, optimal for the second and too low for the rest (cf. Ohta 1960b).
4. The total capsaicin per fruit reached a plateau 4 weeks after flowering in all species, except C. pubescens. This indicates that immature fruits about one month after flowering should be used for the extraction of pungent substance.
5. From the view-point of breeding utilizing related and/or wild species, C. frutescens is considered to be the most promising material in hybridization for more pungent peppers in the temperate regions.
