THE INFLUENCE OF COLORED SHADE NETS ON PEPPER QUALITY AFTER HARVEST - A POSSIBLE MODE-OF-ACTION

This paper aims to shed more light on the influence of Pearl shade net on post-harvest quality of two different commercial red pepper bell cultivars (cv. Romans and Vergasa). The evaluation of fruit quality was based on chlorophyll, carotenoids and antioxidant content after prolonged storage and marketing simulation. No significant differences were observed in fruit weight loss, firmness and sugar content of the two cultivars under the different nettings. However, some differences were observed between the cultivars. Fruit from the two cultivars which were grown under Pearl shade net had significantly lower decay incidence compared to fruit harvested under commercial black net, particularly cv. Vergasa. Fruit chlorophyll content under Pearl net was higher than in fruit grown under the black shade net, and was significantly higher in Vergasa than in Romans. In conclusion, Pearl net's influence on ripening inhibition, in higher AOX activity and carotenoids content, could reduce decay in pepper fruit and maintain better fruit quality after harvest.