The color and functionality of paprika fruits (Capsicum annuum L.) are important factors that determine consumption preferences. Paprika contains a large amount of functional phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols. In this study, the total polyphenol content by total phenol content (TPC) assay, antioxidant activity by 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total red pigment content by American spice trade association (ASTA) color were evaluated in a total of 93 commercial cultivars and germplasms of red paprika. In results, the total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity by ABTS and FRAP, and total red pigment content ranged from 6.35-11.84 mg GAE⋅g^-1 dry weight (DW), 19.80-44.84 mg trolox⋅g^-1 DW, 8.82-31.06 mg trolox⋅g^-1 DW, and 5.30-75.03 ASTA value, respectively. For each trait, there were 2, 31, 16, and 44 germplasms, respectively, which were higher than those of the commercial cultivars. The correlation analysis between the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP) showed highly positive correlations, with r=0.69 and r=0.75, respectively. In contrast, the ASTA values showed very low negative correlations with ABTS (r=-0.15) and FRAP (r=-0.26). These results imply that the antioxidant activity in paprika was largely affected by the total polyphenol content but was hardly affected by the ASTA value. Accessions 30, 31, and 56 were selected with high red pigment content, and accessions 5, 21, 24, and 26 had high antioxidant activity as well as high polyphenol content. These germplasms will be useful for the development of new paprika varieties with high red pigment content or high antioxidant activity.

We developed high-quality Korean pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) varieties to compete with imported chili peppers from China. The ‘OH95’ line, which was introduced from Hungary in 1997, was self-pollinated, and the resulting ‘62067L2’ was selected as a pigment-rich maternal line in 2003. However, RSS and LV2319, both developed in 1993, were cross-bred, after which the paternal line ‘62027R3’ was developed by consecutive selections and generation advancement. After the cross combinations were performed, their horticultural characteristics were evaluated for two years, and subsequently, regional adaptation trials were conducted for at three different sites over three years. Of these, a new pepper variety, ‘Jeockyoung’ exhibited an average ASTA value of 175, representing pigment content, which was approximately 43% higher than that of a commercial cultivar ‘Manitta’. In addition, the capsaicinoid content of ‘Jeockyoung’ was 114.4±11.6 mg/100 g, which was slightly higher than that (86.3±2.8 mg/100 g) of the control cultivar. Moreover, regional adaptation trials revealed that the new variety showed regional differences in annual yield; however, the yield was approximately 18% higher than that of the commercial cultivar. Fruit weight, length, and diameter of the new variety were approximately 21.8 g, 14.3 cm, and 2.2 cm, respectively. The flowering period was approximately 101 days after sowing, which was similar to that of the control cultivar. In addition, leaf length and plant height were also not different from those of the control cultivar.