The State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Agricultural Research Organization (Aro) (Volcani Center)

State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Organization

Hazera Genetics Ltd.

Arieh Levy

Joseph Kanner

Rina Granit

Ezra Menagem

Michal Barzilai

Nissim Yonash

Alon Haberfeld

Serge Benarous

The present invention provides pepper plants having edible fruit with altered vitamin content, specifically fruit comprising an elevated content of vitamin E, further comprising at least one of an elevated content of pro-vitamin A, an elevated content of vitamin C and combinations thereof. The concentration of vitamin E is at least 5 mg/100 g fresh weight, and the plants are selected to be lacking molecular markers linked to undesirable traits.

Pepper plants having fruit with altered vitamin content

A method of increasing a fraction of free carotenoids in a source of carotenoids in which at least some of the carotenoids are fatty acid esterified carotenoids is disclosed. The method is effected by contacting the source of carotenoids with an effective amount of an esterase under conditions effective in deesterifying the fatty acid esterified carotenoids, thereby increasing the fraction of free carotenoids in the source of carotenoids.

Methods for efficient extraction of carotenoids using an esterase

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.

Carotenoids rich paprika cultivars

Growing community of inventors

Rehovot, Israel

Arieh Levy