Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp1 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Influence of ethephon concentration on colour uniformity and postharvest quality of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) during storage

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.9639
Submitted
26 May 2025
Published
31-03-2026

Abstract

This study was conducted to gain insights into the impact of ethephon on the ripening and quality of paprika fruits (cv. US 1039). Mature green paprika fruits were immersed in different concentrations of an ethephon aqueous solution (500, 1000 and 1500 ppm) for 5 min, then placed in a plastic tray and stored at room temperature. The fruits' physicochemical properties were assessed from the stage of mature green to the point of senescent maturation. Applying the aqueous ethephon solution at 1500 ppm resulted in the highest percentage of ripening. The percentages of both ripening and rotting increased as with increasing ethephon concentration (500−1500 ppm) and with the duration the fruits were allowed to ripen. Although the titratable acidity (TA) of the fruits gradually decreased, the levels of ascorbic acid and lycopene rose as the ripening process continued, irrespective of the treatment used. Fruits harvested at the green mature stage exhibited red colour development by the 9th day following the ethephon solution; however, the rotting rate exceeded 30–35 % by that time, rendering the fruits unmarketable. In the control group, the ripening, firmness, rotting and quality metrics were significantly lower compared to those treated with the aqueous ethephon solution and the fruits did not achieve red colouration.

References

  1. 1. Prabaningrum L, Moekasan TK, Hasyim A, Setiawati W, Murtiningsih R, Udiarto BK, et al. Diversity of insect pests and their natural enemies in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) ecosystem of Indonesia. Appl Ecol Environ Res. 2022;20(4):3367−77. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/2004_33673377
  2. 2. Palma JM, Terán F, Contreras-Ruiz A, Rodríguez-Ruiz M, Corpas FJ. Antioxidant profile of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits containing diverse levels of capsaicinoids. Antioxidants. 2020;9(9):878. https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-0365-0579-4
  3. 3. Balali A, Fathzadeh K, Askari G, Sadeghi O. Dietary intake of tomato and lycopene, blood levels of lycopene and risk of total and specific cancers in adults: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Front Nutr. 2025;12:1516048. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1516048
  4. 4. Miazek K, Beton K, Śliwińska A, Brożek-Płuska B. The effect of β-carotene, tocopherols and ascorbic acid as antioxidant molecules on human and animal in vitro/in vivo studies: a review of research design and analytical techniques used. Biomolecules. 2022;12(8):1087. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12081087
  5. 5. Kolašinac S, Pećinar I, Cvetković M, Gođevac D, Stanisavljević N, Veljović M, et al. Carotenoids in paprika fruits and ajvar: chemical characterization and biological activity. Foods. 2025;14(6):914. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14060914
  6. 6. Rödiger A, Agne B, Dobritzsch D, Helm S, Müller F, Pötzsch N, et al. Chromoplast differentiation in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruits. Plant J. 2021;105(5):1431−42. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.15104
  7. 7. Gonzalez J. Use of ethylene (ethephon) in uniform ripening of processing (Lycopersicon esculentum) tomatoes in California. Acta Hortic. 1999;487:179−82. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.487.23
  8. 8. Dhall RK, Singh P. Effect of ethephon and ethylene gas on ripening and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) during cold storage. J Nutr Food Sci. 2013;3(6):244. https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9600.1000244
  9. 9. Yang B, Luo Y, Tan Y, Kan J. Effects of ethephon on ethephon residue and quality properties of chili pepper during pre-harvest ripening. J Food Sci Technol. 2021;58(6):2098−108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-020-04719-5
  10. 10. Bassetto E, Jacomino AP, Pinheiro AL, Kluge RA. Delay of ripening of ‘Pedro Sato’ guava with 1-methylcyclopropene. Postharvest Biol Technol. 2005;35(3):303−8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2004.08.003
  11. 11. Gomez KA, Gomez AA. Statistical procedures for agricultural research. 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1984.
  12. 12. Mutton LL. Effect of moisture stress on the ethephon response in tomatoes. Sci Hortic. 1978;8(4):299−305. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4238(78)90051-1
  13. 13. Mahajan BV, Kaur T, Gill MI, Dhaliwal HS, Ghuman BS, Chahil BS. Studies on optimization of ripening techniques for banana. J Food Sci Technol. 2010;47:315−9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-010-0050-0
  14. 14. Brinson K, Dey PM, John MA, Pridham JB. Post-harvest changes in Mangifera indica mesocarp cell walls and cytoplasmic polysaccharides. Phytochemistry. 1988;27(3):719−23. https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)84082-2
  15. 15. Solomos T, Laties GG. Cellular organization and fruit ripening. Nature. 1973;245:390−2. https://doi.org/10.1038/245390a0
  16. 16. Manzano-Mendez J, Hicks JR, Masters JF. Influence of storage temperature and ethylene on firmness, acids and sugars of chilling-sensitive and chilling-tolerant tomato. J Am Soc Hortic Sci. 1984;109(2):273−7. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.109.2.273
  17. 17. Sims W, Collins H, Gledhill B. Ethrel effects on fruit ripening of peppers. Calif Agric. 1970;24(2):4.
  18. 18. Fidler JC, Nash-Wortham JR. Ripening of tomatoes II. Further experiments on the effects of ethylene. J Hortic Sci. 1951;26(1):43−6. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221589.1951.11513724
  19. 19. Heinze PH, Craft CC. Effectiveness of ethylene for ripening tomatoes. Proc Am Soc Hortic Sci. 1953;61:397−404.
  20. 20. Moniruzzaman M, Khatoon R, Hossain MFB, Rahman MM. Ripening of tomato at different stages of maturity influenced by the postharvest application of ethrel. Bull Inst Trop Agric Kyushu Univ. 2013;36(1):17−30.
  21. 21. Centurión Yah AR, González Novelo SA, Tamayo Cortes JA, Argumedo JJ, Sauri Duch E. Effect of ethephon on the colour, composition and quality of mango (Mangifera indica cv Kent). Food Sci Technol Int. 1998;4(3):199−205. https://doi.org/10.1177/108201329800400306
  22. 22. Kulkarni SG, Kudachikar VB, Vasantha MS, Prakash MK, Prasad BA, Ramana KV. Effect of ethrel dip treatment on the ripening behaviour of mango (Mangifera indica L.) variety Neelum. J Food Sci Technol. 2004;41(2):216−20.
  23. 23. Mahajan BV, Singh G, Dhatt AS. Studies on ripening behaviour and quality of winter guava with ethylene gas and ethephon treatments. Haryana J Hortic Sci. 2008;37(1−2):81−4.
  24. 24. Park YS, Jung ST, Gorinstein S. Ethylene treatment of ‘Hayward’ kiwifruits (Actinidia deliciosa) during ripening and its influence on ethylene biosynthesis and antioxidant activity. Sci Hortic. 2006;108(1):22−8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2006.01.001
  25. 25. Bal ER, Kok DE. The effects of glycerin added ethephon treatments on fruit characteristics of Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward. Bulg J Agric Sci. 2007;13(3):291−5.
  26. 26. Bondad ND, Pantastico EB. Ethrel-induced ripening of immature and mature-green tomato fruits. Econ Bot. 1972;26:238−44. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861036
  27. 27. Huber DJ, Sargent SA, Crane JH. Postharvest ethylene treatment for uniform ripening of West Indian type avocado fruit in Florida. Proc Fla State Hortic Soc. 2002;115:68−71.
  28. 28. Smith RB, Lougheed EC, Franklin EW, McMillan I. The starch iodine test for determining stage of maturation in apples. Can J Plant Sci. 1979;59(3):725−35. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjps79-113
  29. 29. Paynter VA, Jen JJ. Comparative effects of light and ethephon on the ripening of detached tomatoes. J Food Sci. 1976;41(6):1366−9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1976.tb01173.x
  30. 30. Ochei CO, Basiouny FM, Woods FM. Calcium-mediated postharvest changes in storability and fruit quality of peaches. Proc Fla State Hortic Soc. 1993;106:266−9.
  31. 31. Rhodes MJ, Wooltorton LS, Galliard T, Hulme AC. Metabolic changes in excised fruit tissue I. Factors affecting the development of a malate decarboxylation system during ageing of disks of pre-climacteric apples. Phytochemistry. 1968;7(9):1439−51. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88589-1
  32. 32. Pool RM, Weaver RJ, Kliewer WM. Effect of growth regulators on changes in fruits of Thompson Seedless grapes during cold storage. J Am Soc Hortic Sci. 1972;97(1):67−70. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.97.1.67
  33. 33. Boe AA, Salunkhe DK. Ripening tomatoes: ethylene, oxygen and light treatments. Econ Bot. 1967;21(4):312−9. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02863156
  34. 34. Mandal P, Misra TK, Singh ID, Nayak CR. Chemical phytotoxicity and use of ethrel as ripening agent on productivity and quality of tomato. Indian J Agric Sci. 2008;78(7):581−3.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.