Chilli [Capsicum annuum, family Solanaceae] is an important vegetable-cum-spice crop rich in vitamins yielding capsaicin, oleoresin and extractable colour. It includes all the commercially important types, viz., red pepper, paprika, cayenne, chilli and sweet pepper. Capsicum is derived from the Greek word ‘Kapso’ meaning ‘to bite’. Among the five cultivated species viz., C. annuum, C. frutescens, C. chinense, C. baccatum and C. pubescens, most of the commercially cultivated chilli types including paprika belong to the species C. annuum. Chilli originated from Mexico, with secondary centres in Guatemala and Bulgaria.

   The genus Capsicum is renowned for its affluence in diversity with respect to pungency, colour, shape and other characters. Though the chilli family is endowed with different types of chilli, paprika enjoys a premier position. Paprika is defined in the world market as non-pungent brilliant red ground capsicum powder,....