The goal of the present work was evaluate the genetic variability regarding the accumulation of total soluble solids, degradation of chlorophyll, synthesis of carotenoids and number of days to full ripening of Capsicum fruits treated with ethephon. The treatment with ethephon altered the content of soluble solids in the fruits of accessions BGH 4366 (C. baccatum) and BGH 4708 (C. frutescens), while the remaining accessions did not show any changes when treated with ethephon. The ripening was characterized by the degradation of chlorophyll and increase in the synthesis of carotenoids in all fruit, but there was no variability among the accessions when treated with ethephon. The ethephon was efficient in inducing the ripening of BGH 4179 (C. frutescens), BGH 6029 (C. baccatum) and Ca 6 (C. annuum) accessions.
ripening; ethylene; chlorophyll; carotenoids
