Epidermal and exodermal tissue structures are characteristic for the long shelf-life ‘Kárpia’ pepper cultivar

\n\t\t\t\tIn this study two widely consumed Hungarian bell pepper cultivars ‘Hó’ and ‘Kárpia’, were examined. Aims of the investigations were to describe the postharvest behaviour of the cultivars and assign associated traits to the largely different shelf-life that is well known for these cultivars. ‘Hó’ is a white fruit flesh cultivar with average postharvest storability, while ‘Kárpia’ is of Capia type, with extended shelf-life. Postharvest water loss rates were measured, and differences between the cultivars were found. Interestingly, however, the longer shelf-life ‘Kárpia’ fruits showed higher water loss rate. Bright field microscopy was used to study the tissue structure of the outer pericarp of pepper fruits to find explanation for the good storability of ‘Kárpia’. Significantly more cell layers of the hypodermal collenchyma were found in ‘Kárpia’, than in ‘Hó’. Thicker cell walls were also found in this tissue but also in the epidermis. Fluorescent imaging confirmed these observations and also supported differences in the cuticular thickness between the cultivars. Our results highlight epidermal and hypodermal tissue structures as potential factors to influence the shelf-life of bell pepper fruits.\n\t\t\t