Consumer sensory evaluation of Bulgarian sweet pepper mutant genotypes
Dida Iserliyska
, Nasya Tomlekova
Abstract: Sensory characteristics of fruits of pepper from two mutant genotypes were compared in order to evaluate their quality for market performance. Consumer sensory evaluation was engaged to identify the key sensory properties and to determine overall acceptability of pepper mutant genotypes with orange fruits “kapia” associated with high fruit β-carotene concentrations in comparison to the corresponding initial genotype (red fruits). Consumer acceptance test was run at the Sensory Analysis Laboratory of the Institute of Food Preservation and Quality (IFPQ), Plovdiv. Consumers (n=80) tasted two canned (marinated) samples of fruits of peppers (Albena and OKal38) assessing the overall liking, appearance, color, aroma, flavor, pepper flavor, sweetness and mouthfeel/texture of each genotype using a 9-point hedonic scale with descriptors: 1=dislike extremely, 5=neither like nor dislike, 9=like extremely. Analysis of variance (GLM) determined the significant differences between pepper samples and Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (LSD) test was performed to differentiate between the samples means (α=0.05). Regression analysis established the relationship between sensory attributes and overall acceptance. The orange-fruited mutant cultivar, which is associated with high fruit β-carotene concentrations rated higher on sensory attributes “color”, “flavor” and “sweetness”. It was determined the sensory attribute of flavor the most critical factor for consumer acceptance for pepper mutant genotypes evaluated. Enhancement of nutrients that are not major yield components takes new importance in breeding programs as market demands. Thence, the breeders may opt to raise cultivars of orange-colored flavorful sweet peppers that are high in carotenoids.
Keywords: advanced mutants; Capsicum annuum L.; consumer acceptance; sensory quality; β-carotene
Citation: Iserliyska, D., & Tomlekova, N. (2025). Consumer sensory evaluation of Bulgarian sweet pepper mutant genotypes. Bulgarian Journal of Crop Science, 62(3) 78-83
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| Date published: 2025-06-26
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