Phytochemical evaluation of the fruits and green biomass of determinate-type sweet pepper ( Capsicum annuum L. fasciculatum) grown in terrestrial bioregenerative life-support research facilities

Abstract

This study explores the potential feasibility of cultivating two determinate-type bell peppers, i.e. Hungarian Enigma Hot (HEH) and Hungarian Enigma Sweet (HES), in a ground bioregenerative life-support device. Fruits of the Hugarian Engima Sweet (HES) variety is advantageous for digestion due to it has thin cuticle and collenchyma at the same time the parenchyma of mesocarp of it is thin. β-carotene and caspanthin were the dominant carotenoids in both fruit varieties. Up to 55 tentative phytochemicals were not only in fruits but also in green juice processed from green leafy shoots. The green juice was also a rich source of protein (24–27% w/w) and a source of macro- and microelements. The findings of this study could hold valuable insights for the advancement of sustainable food production and resource utilization in space environments, with potential applications for long-duration space missions and beyond.