Novel pepper plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel plants, in particular to Capsicum annuum plants capable of producing fruits with extended storability after full coloring of the fruit, and to seeds and fruits of said plants. The present invention also relates to methods of making and using such plants and their fruits. In particular, fruits of plants of the present invention retain marketability over extended periods of time compared to presently available peppers.

1 . A method of extending the harvest time of a pepper fruit comprising:
 a) growing a pepper plant that produces fruits, wherein at least 60% of said fruits are marketable 3 weeks after full coloring, when said fruits are kept on the plant, wherein to be marketable a fruit must display the following characteristics:
 i. firmness remaining at the rating obtained at full coloring according to the scale of 0-9 described in Example 4; 
 ii. resistance to wilting at a score higher than 4 according to the scale of 1-5 described in Example 4; 
 iii. brightness score higher than 2 according to the scale of 1-5 described in Example 4; 
   b) allowing said plant to set fruit;   c) extending the harvest time of said fruit by about one week beyond the harvest time of a fruit of a standard pepper plant.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the harvest time of said fruit is extended by about two weeks beyond the harvest time of a fruit of a standard pepper plant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the harvest time of said fruit is extended by about three weeks beyond the harvest time of a fruit of a standard pepper plant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the harvest time of said fruit is extended by about four weeks beyond the harvest time of a fruit of a standard pepper plant. 
     
     
         5 . A method of producing pepper seed comprising:
 a) growing a pepper plant that produces fruits, wherein at least 60% of said fruits are marketable 3 weeks after full coloring, when said fruits are kept on the plant, wherein to be marketable a fruit must display the following characteristics:
 i. firmness remaining at the rating obtained at full coloring according to the scale of 0-9 described in Example 4; 
 ii. resistance to wilting at a score higher than 4 according to the scale of 1-5 described in Example 4; 
 iii. brightness score higher than 2 according to the scale of 1-5 described in Example 4; 
   b) harvesting fruit of said plant, and   c) extracting seed from said fruit.   
     
     
         6 . A method of making a harvest decision comprising:
 a) determining when a fruit of a  C. annuum  plant has reached full coloring;   b) comparing the price for a pepper crop on a market to a set target price for a pepper crop;   c) deciding to delay the harvest of said fruit for at least about three weeks in the hope that the price for a pepper crop on a market has reached or exceeds said target price.   
     
     
         7 . A method of making a harvest decision comprising:
 a) determining when a fruit of a  Capsicum annuum  plant has reached full coloring;   b) comparing the supply for a pepper fruit on a market to a target supply for a pepper fruit; and   c) deciding to delay the harvest of said fruit for at least about two weeks until the supply for a pepper fruit on a market has reached, or is below, said target supply.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said plant is a pepper plant that produces fruits, wherein at least 60% of said fruits are marketable 3 weeks after full coloring, when said fruits are kept on the plant, wherein to be marketable a fruit must display the following characteristics:
 i. firmness remaining at the rating obtained at full coloring according to the scale of 0-9 described in Example 4;   ii. resistance to wilting at a score higher than 4 according to the scale of 1-5 described in Example 4;   iii. brightness score higher than 2 according to the scale of 1-5 described in Example 4.