Two chili cultivars, i.e., cv. Bullet and cv. Tejaswini, were evaluated on postharvest related ripening characteristics with varying durations under hydrogen peroxide, putrescine and silver treatments. The reducing sugar was inversely related to the maximum values at 7 days of ripening. Silver and putrescine were the most regulatory in terms of changing of the total carbohydrate content as compared to hydrolysis of the total reducing sugar. Regarding pectin methylesterase activity, both chilies were consistent, regardless of the number of days of incubation. Still, putrescine and silver were significant contributors to variations in cv. Bullet and cv. Tejaswani. For the pigment content, lycopene and chlorophyll increased in a linear manner, although these treatments significantly varied over time. Hydrogen peroxide and putrescine were responsible for the maximum accumulation of lycopene for both the cultivars, whereas, only cv. Tejaswani displayed maximum carotenoid for putrescine. Silver for both chili varieties was the most inhibitory for lycopene and carotenoid content. Superoxide had a good impact on the accumulation of lipid peroxides, irrespective of the chili variety. The maximum accumulation of lipid peroxide was recorded at seven days of treatment. Phenolics and flavonoids were in decreasing order for both the chili varieties, progressing through the days of the study period in a similar manner. Silver was the main contributor to variations in the phenolics and flavonoid contents in cv. Tejaswani. The solubilization of total carbohydrate into reducing sugar was in an inverse relationship, with the maximum values being reached at 7 days of ripening.
Keywords: chemical elicitors; chili; oxidative stress; ripening physiology; silver.