EFFECTS OF MINERAL FERTILIZER SUPPLEMENTATION ON FRUIT-DEVELOPMENT AND PUNGENCY IN PADRON PEPPERS

'Padron' pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum) were subjected to two fertilizer regimes to test their effects on the development pa ttern of the fruits, soluble phenolics, lignin content and pungency le vel as the fruit matures. The fertilization regime seemed to have no d efinite influence on the pattern of development. The soluble phenolic and lignin contents in the pepper fruits of control plants (without mi neral supplementation) were found to be higher than those of mineral s upplemented plants. Finally, mineral supplementation favourably affect ed the pungency of fruits, with a great increase in the capsaicinoid c ontents. This fertilization regime may alter the balance of the compet ition between capsaicinoid biosynthesis and the accumulation of lignin -like substances in the cell walls. The nature of the interrelationshi ps between fruit development, mineral supplementation and pungency lev el are considered.