Seasonal Effect on Growth Parameters and Macronutrient Use of Sweet Pepper

Abstract

Sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) grown under greenhouse conditions differed widely in the rate of production of their total dry mass and their harvestable weight, although there was not shortage in water or nutrient supply. Plants were grown in aerated nutrient solutions along two different growing seasons. The differences in plant productivity were mainly due to the environmental conditions of the growth cycle. During the increasing day length season, from the beginning of spring to summer (13.0 to 14.8 h day −1 ), plants produced the largest amount of fruits, but with a 10% blossom-end rot incidence. In the season of short photoperiod, progressing from the beginning of autumn to winter with 13.3 to 10.3 light h day −1 , the total dry weight and yields gradually decreased, but blossom-end rot in fruit did not appear. Different growth patterns were found for morphological and physiological parameters, because of the different light loads received by the canopy, being adjusted to the seasonal variables. Reduced light load markedly reduced leaf area and leaf thickness, but increased specific leaf area, which gave plants an increased ability to intercept light. Not only the amount of initial biomass, but radiation and the age of the pepper plants were the main growing driving factors, influencing relative growth rate, nitrogen (N)-use efficiency, and calcium (Ca) partitioning. Moreover, mathematical approaches for prediction of biomass production and N accumulation as a function of radiation are given in order to establish in the future a sweet pepper growth model. 1803 1804 M. Prieto et al.

Agronomical Response and Water Use Efficiency of Sweet Pepper Plants Grown in Different Greenhouse Substrates

“…Therefore, this provides a robust way to predict the aerial DM of the plant at any plant stage of the crop cycle. Our values of LUE are higher than those obtained by Prieto et al (2007) (0.42 g/MJ) but similar to those of Dorais (2003) (1.0 g/MJ).…”

“…Additionally, a reduction of the sum of intercepted radiation of 4.8% was observed. Under a Mediterranean climate, Prieto et al (2007) obtained less leaf area in hydroponic culture (54% lower compared with our plants grown in CC). In similar cultivars and plant cultures, Assouline et al (2006) obtained values of leaf area index (4.3 m 2 Ám -2 ) slightly higher than ours.…”

Leaf gas exchange, physiological growth, yield and biochemical properties of groundnut as influenced by boron in soilless culture

“…Higher LA accelerates the production of metabolites. Prieto et al (2007) stated that higher LA resulted in an increase in the plant's ability to intercept light. The higher the growth parameter i.e.…”

The effect of various light conditions and different nitrogen forms on nitrogen metabolism in pepper fruits

“…This may explain sugar accumulation in fruits grown in higher radiation. A high positive correlation between radiation and dry matter content in pepper fruits was observed by Prieto et al (2007). In addition, a high light intensity increased sugar concentration in pepper (Caruso et al 2004).…”

“…Different results were reported by Caruso et al (2004), who observed a reduction of nitrates in pepper at better light conditions. According to Prieto et al (2007), higher light intensity could stimulate the accumulation of nitrogen in pepper. Lower ammonium content in pepper fruits in the case of higher radiation was also observed in the presented experiment.…”