2025 Volume 94 Issue 2 Pages 255-265
Paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) is known for its abundant functional components such as carotenoids and phenolics. Growth responses to nutrient conditions including nitrogen (N) have been studied. However, there has been only limited analysis on the variations in components in response to N. This study investigated the effects of different N levels on the functional components of paprika. Paprika was grown under different N conditions and ripe fruits were harvested. Subsequently, mineral, carotenoid, phenolics, and sugar contents were measured. Higher N supply increased fruit weight and carotenoids, but reduced phenolics and glucose. The negative correlation between carotenoids and phenolics suggests complementary antioxidant functions in fruits, while the significant association between these metabolites and boron and potassium implies that these elements may have indirectly influenced metabolic pathways. Moreover, specific components like phenolics indicate a trade-off with yield. Capsanthin alone was significantly affected by N supply, suggesting downstream effects on the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. This study will contribute to the optimization of N fertilizer application for balanced paprika production with high quality and economic yield.
