Bell Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) under Colored Shade Nets: Fruit Yield, Postharvest Transpiration, Color, and Chemical Composition

Abstract

<jats:p>Colored shade nets may affect plant growth and fruit yield of horticultural crops. The understanding of how colored shade nets influence plants, however, is far from complete. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of colored shade nets on bell pepper fruit yield, postharvest transpiration, color, chemical composition, and antioxidant capacity. The experiment was conducted in Tifton, GA, during the spring of 2015 and 2016. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications and five colored shade net treatments (black, red, silver, and white nets, and an unshaded control). The nets were placed on the top of wooden rectangular structures (15 m wide × 6 m long × 5 m high), leaving the sides of the structures uncovered. Results showed that in both 2015 and 2016, marketable and total fruit number, yield, and individual fruit weight were reduced under the unshaded treatment. There were inconsistent differences in marketable and total fruit number, yield, and individual fruit weight among colored shade nets. Postharvest fruit transpiration and skin permeance were also reduced in unshaded conditions, and no differences were found among colored shade nets. Fruit color L* and b* values were highest, and a* value was lowest in unshaded conditions. Fruit soluble solids, total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity [Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC)] responded differently among colored shade nets in the 2 years. Total phenols, flavonoids, and TEAC, however, were among the highest in unshaded conditions. In conclusion, results of the present study support previous findings that shade nets increase fruit yield and quality in bell pepper compared with fruit produced in unshaded conditions. Nevertheless, there were no consistent differences in fruit total and marketable yield and postharvest fruit transpiration and chemical composition of fruit produced under colored shade nets.</jats:p>

Mineral Nutrients, Physiological Disorders, Postharvest Water Loss, and PR Gene Expression in Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Fruit under Shade Nets

“…In 2016, fruit grown under shading had reduced postharvest water loss compared to fruit from the open field, indicating that shade-grown fruit may have increased shelf life. An increased rate of postharvest water loss from the open field was also reported from bell pepper grown under colored shade nets (Díaz-Pérez et al 2020). In 2017, there were no differences in postharvest water loss among shade levels.…”

Impact of Colored Shade Nets on Biomass Production, Essential Oil Composition and Orientin and Isoorientin Content in Lippia gracilis Schauer

“…According to Akoyunoglou and Anni, as cited by García‐Caparrós et al., [38] the highest concentrations of chlorophyll under blue LED light may be the result of the positive and synchronized influence of blue light on both nuclear and plastid genomes and could have played a vital role in the formation of chlorophyll and chloroplast development. Recent research has reported that the increase in chlorophyll content is also a common response in leaves grown under reduced light conditions [39] . According to Takemiya et al., [40] the importance of blue light on growth responses, including leaf chlorophyll enhancement in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, was allowed by a better photosynthetic capacity.…”

“…Recent research has reported that the increase in chlorophyll content is also a common response in leaves grown under reduced light conditions. [39] According to Takemiya et al, [40] the importance of blue light on growth responses, including leaf chlorophyll enhancement in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, was allowed by a better photosynthetic capacity.…”

Phenology, yield, and phytochemicals of Capsicum spp. in response to shading

“…In C. annuum genotypes that grow under low incident radiation, it has been shown that the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents are higher than in plants grown under conditions of high incident radiation (Alkalai-Tuvia et al 2014). In contrast, the contents of polyphenols, FLV, and total soluble solids are higher in the fruits of C. annuum grown under open field conditions than in those grown under shade (Díaz-Pérez et al 2020). Shading by colored nets also influence the quality of C. annuum fruits.…”

“…Capsicum species increase their photosynthetic efficiency under intermediate incident radiation (450-500 μmol m -2 s -1) (Fu et al 2010), incident radiation that corresponds to the 70 % shading applied in this study (Figure 2). Several studies indicate that shade increase yield up to five times more in Capsicum (Ayala-Tafoya et al 2015, Zermeño-González et al 2019, Díaz-Pérez et al 2020. In C. annuum var.…”