Carotenoids rich paprika cultivars

Abstract

Paprika cultivars being characterized by fruits having total carotenoids content higher than 10 mg/g dry fruit weight and a branching pattern suitable for mechanical harvesting and methods and systems generating same.

1 . A method of producing a carotenoid-rich composition from paprika fruit, the method comprising: 
 (a) obtaining at least one paprika fruit from paprika plant  Capsicum annuum  cv. 1056 or 1057; and    (b) extracting the carotenoid from said paprika plant,    thus producing a carotenoid-rich composition.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of freeze-drying said at least one paprika fruit following step (a) and before step (b).  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of grinding said at least one paprika fruit following step (a) and before step (b).  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising a step of grinding said at least one paprika fruit following said freeze-drying and before step (b).  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said extracting is acetone extraction.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of chromatographically purifying said carotenoid composition.  
   
   
       7 . A carotenoid-rich composition produced by the method of  claim 1.