Accumulation of capsaicin in Seed, Pericarp and Placenta of Capsicum annuum L fruit

The accumulation of capsaicin in different parts of fruit viz, placenta, pericarp and seeds of Capsicum annuum L cv Punjab Lal was compared with the activities of first four enzymes of capsaicin biosynthetic pathway at various physiological stages. Capsaicin accumulation (mg g⁻¹ DW) was about ten fold higher in placenta (63.96), than in pericarp (7.12) and seeds (5.06) in ripe fruits. Capsaicin accumulation was 5.79 mg g⁻¹ DW at 28 DAF in whole fruit. The specific activity of PAL was also ten times higher in placenta, whereas the specific activities of Ca4H, Ca3H and CaOMT were about two times higher in placenta than in other parts of fruit. The trend CaOMT > PAL > Ca4H > Ca3H was observed with peak activity at 28 DAF for Ca3H and CaOMT and at 35 DAF for PAL and Ca4H in placenta. These four enzymes showed low activity during the period up to 21 DAF, and peak activities for these enzymes were obtatined at the time of maximum growth of fruit in length and thereafter.