''Capsicum pubescens'' is a plant of the genus ''

Capsicum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the Solanum, nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their edible fruit, which are generally known as "peppers" or "capsicum". Chili peppers grow on five s ...

'' (pepper). The species name, ''pubescens'', refers to the hairy leaves of this pepper. The hairiness of the leaves, along with the black seeds, make ''Capsicum pubescens'' distinguishable from other Capsicum species. ''Capsicum pubescens'' has pungent yellow, orange, red, green or brown fruits. This species is found primarily in Central and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

, and is known only in cultivation. It is consumed fresh, as a paste, dried, or ground. It is called ''rocoto'' ( Quechua, ''rukutu'', ''ruqutu'') in

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

and

Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...

, ''locoto'' in

Bolivia Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...

and

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

( Aymara, ''luqutu''), and in

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

''manzano'' ( Spanish for "appletree") pepper for its apple-shaped fruit. Of all the domesticated species in the genus ''Capsicum'', it is the least widespread and most genetically distinct.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Like all other species of the genus ''Capsicum'', plants of the species ''Capsicum pubescens'' grow as a shrub, but sometimes as climbing plants. They grow into four-meter woody plants relatively quickly, and live up to 15 years, which gives them, especially with age, an almost tree-like appearance. After initial growth, the plant branches at a height of about 30 cm for the first time, and further growth divides into a bushy appearance. More shoots develop from the leaf axils. Some varieties have purple discoloration on the branches, as can be observed in other ''Capsicum'' species. The leaves have a 5–12 mm long petiole and a leaf blade ovate to 5–12 cm long, 2.5 to 4 cm wide, tapering at the top and the base is wedge-shaped. In addition to the relatively long life, ''Capsicum pubescens'' differs in many other characteristics from related species.

Flowers

The flowers appear singly or in pairs (rarely up to four) on the shoots, and the branches are at about 1 cm long flower stems, which extend on the fruit to around 4–5 cm. The calyx has five triangular pointed teeth, which have in the fruit a length of about 1 mm. A characteristic different from other cultivated species of the genus ''Capsicum'' is the blue-violet-colored petals, brighter in the centre. The anthers are partly purple, partly white.

Phytochemicals

Capsaicinoids

Capsaicinoids (capsaicin) are naturally occurring phytochemicals responsible for the heat in chili peppers. While other chili varieties are dominated with up to 80 % by capsaicin, ''C. pubescens'' has an almost equally high concentration of dihydrocapsaicin. ''C. pubescens'' is a domesticated chili pepper that has not been explored extensively for its phytochemicals. While some types of ''C.pubescens'' are considered mild, other varieties are some of the hottest peppers. The pungency level varies according to two different studies between 2400-31,000 Scoville scale, 15,000-80,000 Scoville scale and 50,000-250,000 Scoville scale. ''C. pubescens'' is a poor source of carotenoids and has a low amount of

ascorbic acid Ascorbic acid is an organic compound with formula , originally called hexuronic acid. It is a white solid, but impure samples can appear yellowish. It dissolves freely in water to give mildly acidic solutions. It is a mild reducing agent. Asco ...

and total

polyphenol Polyphenols () are a large family of naturally occurring phenols. They are abundant in plants and structurally diverse. Polyphenols include phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannic acid, and ellagitannin, some of which have been used historically as ...

s compared to ''

Capsicum annuum ''Capsicum annuum'' is a fruiting plant from the family Solanaceae (nightshades), within the genus Capsicum which is native to the northern regions of South America and to southwestern North America. The plant produces Berry, berries of many color ...

''. Furthermore, removing the seeds of this pepper during food processing reduces the total polyphenol content by 50%.

Aroma

The growing interest for this species is related to its cucumber aroma. The aromatic structure of ''C.pubescens'' is different than that of other chili peppers. Four aromas are dominant in the odor profile: green, cucumber, earthy-peas, and

paprika Paprika is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers, traditionally ''capsicum annuum''. It can have varying levels of Pungency, heat, but the peppers used for hot paprika tend to be milder and have thinner flesh than those used to produce ...

or bell pepper, due possibly to the higher amount of

sulfur Sulfur ( American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphur ( Commonwealth spelling) is a chemical element; it has symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms ...

and nitrogen compounds (pyrazine) and cucumber-like aldehydes with a low contribution to

esters In chemistry, an ester is a chemical compound, compound derived from an acid (either organic or inorganic) in which the hydrogen atom (H) of at least one acidic hydroxyl group () of that acid is replaced by an organyl group (R). These compounds c ...

and

ionones The ionones, from greek ἴον ion "violet", are a series of closely related chemical substances that are part of a group of compounds known as rose ketones, which also includes damascones and damascenones. Ionones are aroma compounds found in ...

. The aromatic differences between ''C. chinense'' (a commonly used chili pepper) and ''C. pubescens'' is the contribution of several ionone esters and ectocarpene. This explains the exotic, fruity aromatic character of ''C. chinense'', which is presented only in small quantities in ''C. pubescens''.

Uses

Food properties

The fruits of ''Capsicum pubescens'' are a versatile food in South American cuisine. The flesh is thicker than that of other chilis, closer to the consistency and size of

bell pepper The bell pepper (also known as sweet pepper, paprika, pepper, capsicum or, in some parts of the US midwest, mango) is the fruit of plants in the Grossum Group of the species ''Capsicum annuum''. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in diff ...

s. The level of spice is comparable to other common known chilis, with 50,000 to 250,000 Scoville Heat Units recorded.

Fresh uses

The seeds and the white membranes, which contain most of the spice, are cut out. It is advised to wear gloves when handling ''Capsicum pubescens''. To reduce the spiciness the fruits can be boiled. The prepared rocoto chilis are used for a variety of dishes. Rocoto relleno is a popular dish in

Arequipa Arequipa (; Aymara language, Aymara and ), also known by its nicknames of ''Ciudad Blanca'' (Spanish for "White City") and ''León del Sur'' (Spanish for "South's Lion"), is a city in Peru and the capital of the eponymous Arequipa (province), ...

, a city in the Andes of

. The hollowed out and boiled rocotos are filled up with a mixture of ground beef, onions, garlic and spices. It is topped off with a piece of cheese and baked in the oven. The fruits of the ''Capsicum pubescens'' are also used as additions to other meals. Chili paste is made by mixing the chilis with oil. Chili cream is made by mixing rocoto chilis with fresh cheese. Aji de Huacatay is a green sauce which contains green rocoto chilis and is served typically with potatoes. Additionally, rocotos are used for fresh salsas.

Processed uses

Due to the thick flesh and the high moisture content, drying of peppers solely with sunlight is not as effective as with other species of Capsicum. A closed drying tunnel can reduce the moisture of 80 kilograms of fresh rocoto to 6.4 kilograms of dried rocoto.

Origin and distribution

''Capsicum pubescens'' is native to Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, dating to pre-Incan times. Traces of its presence have been found in the Guitarrero Caves. The existence of ''Capsicum pubescens'' was documented by ancient Peruvians of the Paracas, Nazca, Moche, and Chimu cultures, through textiles, ceramics, and domestic remains. ''Capsicum pubescens'' is likely to belong to the oldest domesticated plants in the Americas, its domestication dating back to 6000 BC. ''Capsicum pubescens'' is believed to have evolved from other, more primitive wild ''Capsicum'' species occurring in the same area. Of all the domesticated species of peppers, this is the least widespread and genetically furthest away from all others. It is reproductively isolated from other species of the genus ''Capsicum'' and forms a distinct genetic lineage. In the early 1900's ''Capsicum pubescens'' was introduced to Indonesia where it is now grown along other Capsicum species. The routes of introductions remain unclear, as ''Capsicum pubescens'' is found on multiple Indonesian islands. A white flower mutant of ''Capsicum pubescens'' is widely distributed in West and Central Java, which differentiates it from the normally purple flowering plants. ''Capsicum pubescens'' is rare outside of Central America, being found in cultivation primarily in

and

where it likely originated. It is commonly cultivated from Mexico to Peru, as well as in Indonesia. The plants are usually grown at small scale in courtyards and family gardens, and only surpluses reach markets. Given its cold tolerance, ''Capsicum pubescens'' grows at higher elevations than other species, and cannot survive the tropical heat in the lowlands. However, ''Capsicum pubescens'' is not frost-tolerant and requires a long vegetation period of about 9 months. These climate requirements are the main challenges for introducing it to other locations.

Cultivation

Production

The Viru and Lambayeque valleys are the main production areas, 1000 km north of the capital of Peru. In the Netherlands, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers share more than 90% gross area of greenhouse production. Between April and November, ''C. pubescens'' is grown in greenhouses in the Netherlands. In the rest of the year, it has limited availability, and is grown in Spain or Italy.

Planting

''C. pubescens'' is genetically different and unique in ''Capsicum'', as it is the only one to tolerate cooler temperatures. A clear temperature difference during the day (15 °C) and at night (8 °C) is preferred, which is similar to the mountainous regions of Peru and Bolivia. However, frost and high heat cause serious damage. Cultivation methods of ''C. pubescens'' include growing in a nursery for 1 to 1.5 months in early February, then planting in the field when there is no frost risk, generally around March. Potassium, magnesium and zinc are used after transplantation, or after branching or flowering, and are generally applied once every 2 months after harvesting began. Some farmers cultivate ''C. pubescens'' among tea trees, '' C. annuum'', or other crops.

Pests

The plants resist pests in Europe. However, ''C. pubescens'' is the host plant of '' Anastrepha ludens'' (Mexican fruit fly). ''A. ludens'' is one of the most threatening pests of '' Anastrepha''. It is considered an A1 quarantine pest by EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization). Thus, the importation of fresh ''C. pubescens'' is restricted by many countries, and only frozen and manufactured import food are authorized in European market.

Pathogens

The plants are resistant to several diseases, including the oomycete pathogen '' Phytophthora capsici'', a severe pathogen of pepper production over the world, causing more than $100 million in losses annually. ''C. pubescens'' has a thick waxy cuticle which becomes detached during the infection process, called ''pealing pealing'' disease in the areas around Oxapampa,

Harvesting

''C. pubescens'' matures at least 3 months after flowering, with harvesting 3 to 8 months after transplantation into fields. Fruits were collected weekly every 2 weeks, and the harvesting is continued for 2-3 years, up to 5 years before the occurrence of diseases. Yields produce approximately 0.5 kg per plant per harvest, from up to 40 chilies for one meter tall.

Gallery

Image:Ripe-manzanos.jpg, A 'Manzano' pepper plant with ripe pods Image:Cap1033-botao1.jpg, ''Rukutu'' flower bud with many

trichome Trichomes (; ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a plant ...

s, characteristic that gives this species its name Image:Capsicum pubescens flower.jpg, Typical flower of a ''rukutu'': purple corolla with white spots in the center image:Bag of frozen rocoto.jpg, A bag of frozen ''rukutu'' for sale at a California market, 2009, and the orange variety is commonly cultivated in coastal Southern California and can be found fresh year-round in produce sections of ethnic markets. Image:Capsicum pubescens (Rocoto).JPG, Red Rocoto fruit cross section showing black-seeded fruit Image:Rocoto Pepper Plant.jpg, Rocoto plant prior to flowering

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q133428 pubescens Chili peppers Crops originating from Mexico Crops originating from Peru Taxa named by José Antonio Pavón Jiménez Taxa named by Hipólito Ruiz López