Eli5: why do chilli plants turn red to attract animals to disperse seeds but also produce the spicy chemical to put them off?

Question

Eli5: why do chilli plants turn red to attract animals to disperse seeds but also produce the spicy chemical to put them off?

In: 6541

Answer 1

Everyone in this thread saying capsicum is for dispelling mammals and attracting birds is slightly off. This is said to be a byproduct of the plants evolution to protect itself.

Capsicum stops mould and decay of the fruit. The fact birds cant taste capsicum helped spread the genetics.

If there was ever a form of capsicum that birds could taste, it’s genetics would be spread as far. The plant didn’t evolve to attract anything, it evolved to protect itself.