12.01.06
Kalsec, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI, has filed a patent application titled “Capsicum variety exhibiting a hyper-accumulation of zeaxanthin and products derived therefrom.” This application describes a novel Capsicum (paprika) variety and the classical plant breeding techniques that were used to produce it. The inventive plants differ from normal paprika varieties in that very high levels of zeaxanthin are exhibited in the ripe fruit. These plants are the first known that are rich in zeaxanthin and a pigment content (as measured by ASTA value) that makes them a commercially attractive source of zeaxanthin.