Elemental profiling of Balkan pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) core collection

• Mineral profiling of 183 pepper accessions across two years revealed wide variation in macro-, micro-, and trace elements. • Heritability (H²), genotypic (GCV), and phenotypic (PCV) coefficients of variation indicated substantial genetic control for key minerals such as Ca, K, and Sr. • ANOVA and LSD tests confirmed significant differences among varietal groups and individual accessions for most minerals. • Correlation and network analyses revealed strong positive associations among K–Mg–Ca and Mn–Cu–Fe–Zn, while Na and Li showed weak or inconsistent relationships. • Multivariate analyses (PCA and hierarchical clustering) grouped accessions by mineral composition, identifying both broad-spectrum and trait-specific candidates for breeding nutrient-dense peppers. Peppers ( Capsicum spp.) are valued for their rich mineral content, which is essential for human nutrition and crop improvement. However, comprehensive assessments of mineral variability across diverse accessions remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the mineral composition of 183 pepper accessions to identify nutrient-rich genotypes for potential breeding applications. Thirteen mineral elements, including macronutrients (K, Mg, Ca, Na) and essential micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn, etc.), were analyzed in 183 pepper accessions using ICP-OES across two consecutive years . Statistical analyses, including ANOVA, PCA, correlation analysis, were applied to assess variability and identify superior accessions. Potassium (K) showed the highest concentration across years (mean 1.79 %), followed by magnesium (Mg) (124.9 mg 100 g⁻¹) and calcium (Ca) (93.6 mg 100 g⁻¹). Sodium (Na) averaged 5.6 mg 100 g⁻¹. Among micronutrients, iron (Fe) was the most abundant (40.1 mg kg⁻¹), followed by zinc (Zn) (18.1 mg kg⁻¹) and manganese (Mn) (13.4 mg kg⁻¹). Variance component analysis indicated that genetic effects explained a substantial portion of variation for several minerals (e.g., K, Ca, Sr), with moderate-to-high heritability supporting their potential for selection. Ranking of accessions revealed CAPS-121 (pungent) among the top 10 % for eight minerals, CAPS-3 (pungent) for seven, and CAPS-120, CAPS-110, and CAPS-110A for six to five minerals each. Additional promising donors included CAPS-33A (pumpkin) for B, Cu, Fe, Zn and CAPS-118 (pungent) for Na, Li, Mn, Sr. These findings demonstrate considerable mineral variability within the Balkan Capsicum core collection, identifying both broad-spectrum accessions (e.g., CAPS-121, CAPS-3) and trait-specific donors (e.g., CAPS-33A, CAPS-118) as valuable resources for biofortification. This genetic diversity provides a strong foundation for breeding nutrient-dense peppers to improve dietary mineral intake and address global micronutrient deficiencies.