A CAPSICUM VARIETY EXHIBITING A HYPER-ACCUMULATION OF ZEAXANTHIN AND PRODUCTS DERIVED THEREFROM

摘要

The present invention is concerned with Capsicum plants producing greater than
about (0.4%) zeaxanthin, by weight in the dried, ripe fruit pod flesh, which
plants have been developed from commercially grown Capsicum cultivars by plant
breeding techniques. Zeaxanthin is the dominant carotenoid in the dried ripe
fruit pod flesh, when measured in non-esterified forms. Alternatively, these
plants may be characterized as exhibiting a high pigmentation measured as an
ASTA value and further characterized by the predominant presence of
zeaxanthin. The zeaxanthin derived from these Capsicum plants can be used in
applications that include nutritional supplements, foods, functional foods,
cosmetics, animal feeds, aquaculture feeds, and pharmaceuticals.