Could research into eye health lead to more commercial production for orange capsicums?
A research project underway in Queensland has been able to link compounds found in orange capsicums to long term eye health, potentially paving the way for more growth and consumption in Australia in the future.
As part of the Queensland Alliance for Agricultural and Food Innovation (QAAFI), PhD student Rimjhim Agarwal from the University of Queensland is assessing orange capsicums and chillies for zeaxanthin concentration, which is vital for central vision. The study is being done as part of a Hort Innovation project, called ‘Naturally Nutritious’. It’s been good to determine that nearly all orange capsicums are good sources of zeaxanthin, Associate Professor Tim O’Hare said. Ms Agarwal is currently looking more deeply into the genetics and cell physiology of why some fruit have more zeaxanthin than others, whether this is due to more zeaxanthin being produced, or more storage capab