Abstract
This study assessed the influence of three plant populations (18518, 27777 and 40000 plants ha-1) on fruit and seed yield characters in 16 genotypes of Capsicum frutescens in 2010 and 2011 cropping years using a 3 x 16 split plot arrangement fitted into a randomized complete block design. Plant population and genotype formed main and sub-plots, respectively. Data collected on fruit and seed yield characters were subjected to analysis of variance after which means were separated using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference. Correlation analysis was also carried out among the characters. Significant and highest (P < 0.01) number of fruits per plant, single fruit weight, fruit weight per plant, number of seeds per fruit, 100 seed weight, seed weight per plant and seed weight per fruit were obtained under 18518 plants ha -1 while highest (P < 0.05) fruit yield ha -1 (11.3 tons) and seed yield ha-1 (698.7 kg) were obtained under 40000 plants ha-1. Top fruit and seed yielding genotypes across the three plant population were PP9955-15 and Chilli 14, respectively. Number of fruits per plant showed negative and highly significant correlation with single fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, number of seeds per fruit, 100-seed weight and seed weight per fruit. Significant positive or negative correlations were also observed among other characters. Plant population of 40,000 ha -1 using 50 x 50 cm spacing is recommended for high fruit and seed yield in C. frutescens production. Key words : Cayenne pepper, plant population, seed production efficiency, seed yield
Highlights
A uniform distribution of plants per unit area is a prerequisite for yield stability (Diepenbrock, 2000)
The effect of plant population density on the fruit and seed yield parameters evaluated across genotypes of cayenne pepper (C. frutescens) showed that number of fruits per plant, single fruit weight, fruit weight per plant, fruit length, number of seed per fruit, 100 seed weight, seed weight per plant and seed weight per fruit were significantly highest under 18518 plants ha-1 (60 x 90 cm) while similar values were recorded under 27777 plants ha-1 (60 x 60 cm) and 40000 plants ha-1 (50 x 50 cm)
Mean performance of fruit and seed yield characters of the 16 cayenne pepper genotypes across plant population density (Table 2) revealed that Ata wewe was significantly highest in terms of number of fruits (207.83), followed by Cayenne slim (125.72) and Chilli 14 (100.39) while PP9955-15 (51.61) had the lowest number of fruits
Summary
A uniform distribution of plants per unit area is a prerequisite for yield stability (Diepenbrock, 2000). Plant spacing of 60 x 60 cm has been suggested by Herman et al (2011) for hot pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) production in Trinidad and Tobago. This implies that there is an opportunity to choose from wide range of spacing to use considering the Please cite as: Abdul-Rafiu A.M., Adebisi M.A., Daniel I.O., Bodunde J.G., Ajayi O.O., Muhammad S.M. and Dixon H.G. Influence of plant population on fruit and seed yield characters of cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) genotypes. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of plant population densities on fruit and seed yield components in genotypes of cayenne pepper (C. frutescens)
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