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Effects of pruning systems on growth, fruit yield and quality traits of three greenhouse-grown bell pepper ('Capsicum annuum' L.) cultivars

2013; Southern Cross Publishing; Volume: 7; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

1835-2693

Abdullah A. Alsadon, Mahmoud Wahb-Allah, Hesham Abdel-Razzak, Abdullah Ibrahim,

Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management

Pruning system plays a key role in efficient use of production area inside protected structures. Two experiments were performed to study the effect of pruning systems on vegetative growth, yield and quality traits of three hybrid bell pepper cultivars: 'Pasodoble', 'Lirica' and 'Sondela'. Cultivars were grown under greenhouse conditions in drip fertigated soil culture and plants were pruned leading to one main branch, two and four side branches. Vegetative growth, yield and quality traits were affected by cultivars or pruning systems and their interactions. 'Pasodoble' F1 yellow cultivar had the highest early and total yields due to the relative rapid fruit set and fruit number. 'Lirica' F1 yellow cultivar had large fruit size (heavier, longer, wider and thicker pericarp fruits). Meanwhile, 'Sondela' F1 red cultivar exhibited superior fruit quality (vitamin C, titratable acidity, total soluble solids and total sugars). Pepper plants pruned to one branch resulted in a significant increase in early yield, fruit size and internal fruit quality with a decrease in total fruit yield followed by plants pruned to two branches. However, plants pruned to four branches produced the highest yield, due to higher number of fruits plant-1. The best fruit number and total yield were obtained by pruning 'Pasodoble' F1 plants to 4 branches. On the other hand, pruning 'Lirica' F1 plants to one branch improved fruit weight, fruit size and gave thicker flesh width. Regarding to fruit quality traits; 'Sondela' F1 red pepper, especially under one branch pruning system represented a vital source of vitamin C.