ISHS Acta Horticulturae 807: International Symposium on Strategies Towards Sustainability of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climate
SWEET PEPPER YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT AUXIN APPLICATION METHODS |
| Authors: | M.C. Salasa, M.M. Fernández, M. Urrestaraz |
| Keywords: | Capsicum annuum L., crop yield, NAA, NAA-amide, plant growth regulator, spray foliar application, fertigation |
| Abstract:
Auxins have been implicated in many processes of plant growth and development such as root initiation, growth, flowering and fruit set. Exogenously applied plant growth regulators may affect the growth and development of plant, but little is known about how they act when they are added to the nutrient solution. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse located in Almeria (Spain), to evaluate the effects of weekly applications of commercial auxins –naphtalene acetic acid (NAA) and NAA-amide (6.75 g L-1 NAA and 18 g L-1 NAA-amide; Agritone L®) a) as foliar sprays, and b) in the nutrient solution on plant growth, yield and fruit quality of pepper plants. Another objective was to evaluate the differential effect when auxins was applied as foliar spray or applied by fertigation. Two experiments were conducted on sweet pepper cultivars ‘Cyrus’ and ‘Setubal’. In each experiment three treatments were applied: no application of auxins (control); application of commercial auxins as foliar sprays (0.4 cm3 L-1); and application in the nutrient solution (0.6 cm3 L-1). The experimental design was arranged as a randomized complete-block design. The experimental plots were established using standard commercial practices for the growing region. In order to assess the effect of auxin treatments, the following data were collected: Plant height, thickness, early, total and marketable yield, fruit weight, length, diameter, wall firmness, dry matter and total soluble solids. The two sweet pepper cultivars did not respond differently to the treatment. In general, the yield of pepper plants was not significantly affected by commercial auxin treatments. However, the early and total yield was significantly higher when auxins were applied by fertigation, than foliar applications, while the fruit quality parameters were improved when commercial auxins were applied by foliar sprays. | |
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