Effect of Night Temperature on Shape and Size of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)1

Abstract

Abstract The correlation of fruit size with seed no. was high (r = 0.96 to 0.99) in fruit growing at high or low night temperatures. The proportionate wt of fruit per seed decreased with increasing seed no., and was higher in fruit growing under low temp than under high temp. The night temp prevailing before anthesis was not significant for parthenocarpic fruit development, but low temp after anthesis did enable such fruit to develop. High (18-20°C) temp during flower development is a prerequisite for the formation of good-shaped, elongated fruit. The highest length/diam ratio in both fertilized and non-fertilized fruit was obtained with high night temp up to anthesis and low (8-10°C) thereafter.