Assessment of morphological variability in different dried pepper genotypes

Morphological analysis of pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.) represents a valuable source of information on phenotypic traits of genotypes, which constitute important genetic resources for adaptation. This study evaluated key morphological characteristics in 10 local and domesticated varieties of dried pepper, including fruit length, fruit width, fruit index, peduncle length, and calyx length. The morphological characterization revealed significant phenotypic variability among the analysed fruits, allowing classification into two main groups. The first group comprised long pepper types, with fruit lengths ranging from 15 to 17.5 cm, widths from 1.6 to 3 cm, and a fruit index between 5.1 and 10.6. Capsaicin was absent in two varieties, while four exhibited its presence. The second group included medium-length peppers, with fruit lengths ranging from 5 to 10 cm, widths from 1.5 to 3.5 cm, and a fruit index between 1.43 and 3.3. The shortest peduncle length (2 cm) was observed in a sweet medium-length variety, while the longest (4.5 cm) was recorded in the “bukovka” type. These findings highlight the dual agronomic and nutritional value of traditional pepper varieties and emphasize the importance of conserving and utilizing local germ plasma as a sustainable approach for improving productivity, nutritional quality, and resilience across diverse cultivation systems.