Better Chemistry Through Breeding
25.03.11
The typical bell pepper ( C. annuum ) is a green plant with green fruit that gradually turn orange, then red as they ripen. In the process, chlorophyll is broken down in the fruit as carotenoids accumulate. Although you won’t likely see these varieties in stores, C. annuum can also produce immature fruit that are dark purple or almost black (containing normal chlorophyll and anthocyanins) or violet (lacking chlorophyll but containing anthocyanins). Either way, the black or purple fruit will turn orange and red as carotenoids replace chlorophylls and (in this case) anthocyanins. There are also varieties that lack chlorophyll (and anthocyanins) in immature fruit – and therefore start from white or yellow-green and ripen through orange to red. It’s a pretty powerful visual statement to see rows of pepper plants with masses of mixed green-orange-red, white-orange-red or purple-orange-red fruit. The dark purple and violet-fruited
Source: Biofortified