Research advisor: Allen Van Deynze
The Pepper Team had two main breeding projects: jalapeño and bell pepper. The goal of the jalapeño pepper project was to breed a pepper with an enlarged cavity preferred for making jalapeño popper dishes. The goal for the bell pepper project was to breed for sunscald tolerance, while maintaining a comparable yield, fruit color, and flavor to varieties that are used on California organic farms.
This project was initiated in 2012 in the Student Farm with Jorge Berny, Raoul Adamchak, Ildi Carlisle-Cummins, and Anne Bossange making initial crosses and planting on small trials for population advancement and selection. Students Saarah Kuzay, Nidhi Solanki, Glenda Li, and Mengyuan Xiao have also been a big part of the breeding efforts.
The pepper team has developed two advanced jalapeno pepper lines with enlarged cavities that are being prepared for release.
Bell pepper project:
Damage due to sensitivity to sun exposure (sunscald) has been the most important factor reducing quality and marketability on the Student Farm and other farms in sunny California. There has not been much research, much less variety development regarding this issue. The goal of the bell pepper project was to develop a bell pepper cultivar with good fruit quality and high yield under organic conditions as a result of sunscald resistance.
The pepper team has developed one advanced yellow bell pepper line that is being prepared for release.