Banana Pepper Research Articles

Firmness and phytochemical losses in pasteurized yellow banana peppers (Capsicum annuum) as affected by calcium chloride and storage.

The effect of calcium chloride brine treatment on firmness and retention of phytochemicals in pastuerized yellow banana peppers was studied. Shear force values declined during processing and storage, but CaCl(2) treatment resulted in greater firmness retention. Processing reduced ascorbic acid content by 63%, and after 124 days, <10% of ascorbic acid remained. Quercetin and luteolin contents declined 45% during processing, but levels stabilized during storage. Capsaicinoid content was stable during processing and storage. CaCl(2) treatment did not affect ascorbic acid, flavonoid, or capsaicinoid retention during pasteurization and storage. Retention of phytochemicals appeared to be related to their solubility and structural properties.

Planting Date, Fertilizer Rate, and Harvest Timing Affect Yield of Jalapeño and Banana Peppers

Planting date, fertilizer rate, and timing of harvest can affect yield of Jalapeño and banana peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Seedlings of the Jalapeño `Mitla' and Long yellow wax `Sweet Banana #504' were transplanted in Apr. and July 1995 into beds fertilized with either a recommended or a higher rate. Fruit were harvested either three times or once, the latter corresponding to the last of several harvests. Significantly higher yields were produced from the July planting of both cultivars and with once-over harvesting. The recommended rate of fertilizer increased yield of `Sweet Banana #504' and decreased that of `Mitla' compared to the higher rate.

Effects of Irrigation System on Pepper Transplant Production

A study was conducted in Fall 1995 at the Horticultural Greenhouse, North Carolina State University, to examine growth of banana (`Banana Supreme'), bell (`Camelot'), and jalapeno (`Mitla') pepper under overhead (OI), ebb and flood (EF), and float (F) irrigation systems. Plant emergence was fastest in the float system, but slowest in the OI system. Irrigation treatment was highly significant for all weekly sampling dates for root and shoot fresh weight, root and shoot dry weight, root length, stem diameter, height, and leaf area. Stem diameter of F plants was greater than both EF and OI. However, EF and OI plants had similar diameter regardless of sampling date. Root fresh weight did not differ among pepper cultivars. By 39 days after planting (DAP), F plants had 33% greater root fresh weight, by 46 DAP they were almost double, and at 53 DAP they were 44% larger compared to the EF treatment. Float plants had greatest root length, but EF and OI plants had denser root mass (visual observation) in the transplant container cell. At 46 and 53 DAP, EF plants were generally taller than OI plants, and by 60 DAP this difference was almost 30%. Float plants were about double the height of the EF and OI plants and this difference continued until the experiment terminated. Bell pepper had the greatest shoot fresh weight at all sampling dates after 25 DAP, while jalapeno was greater than banana only up to 39 DAP. Beyond 39 DAP, banana pepper fresh weight surpassed jalapeno pepper. By 53 DAP, shoot fresh weight of float transplants were almost 3 times greater than EF or OI plants. Float plants reached a satisfactory size (137 mm height) for transplanting by 8 weeks. Height of EF and OI plants at this time was 68 and 48 mm, respectively. This experiment is being repeated in Spring 1996.

Radium‐226 and Calcium Uptake by Crops Grown in Mixtures of Sand and Clay Tailings from Phosphate Mining

AbstractRadium‐226 is a naturally occurring radionuclide found in reclaimed clay and sand tailings from phosphate mining. Field studies were conducted to investigate the effects of sand/clay ratio (SCR), Ca supplement, and organic amendments on the 226Ra concentration in turnip (Brassica rapa L.), banana pepper (Capsicum annum L.), cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), yellow squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern &amp; Coss.] and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). For vegetables, treatment effects included SCR (2:1, 4:1, 6:1, and 8:1), phosphogypsum (PG) (0, 22, and 134 Mg ha−1), and peat (0, 100, 200 Mg ha−1). For alfalfa grown in a 1:1 SCR mixture, treatments included organic amendments (control, peat, sewage sludge, sawdust, composted sewage sludge, composted garbage and humate) applied at 44.8 Mg ha−1 (2.2 Mg ha−1 for humate). Plant 226Ra concentration tended to be higher in the 4:1 than in the 2:1 SCR mix but this depended on the crop and the season. Organic amendments and PG had no effect (p &lt; 0.05) on the 226Ra concentration in vegetables and alfalfa. Mean 226Ra concentration in plant tissues ranged from 3.4 Bq kg−1 in banana pepper fruit to 31.1 Bq kg−1 in turnip leaf. Sand‐clay mixtures contained 289 to 592 Bq 226Ra kg−1. A quadratic relationship based on 631 observations was observed between 226Ra and Ca concentration in plant tissues. The 226Ra/Ca ratio in plant tissues ranged from 0.85 to 2.13 kBq 226Ra kg−1 Ca and decreased with increasing plant 226Ra. Results indicated that wide differences in plant 226Ca concentration were related more to differences in plant Ca levels than to soil factors.

Interaction Between Spray Distribution and Systemic Activity of Insecticides for Control of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Peppers and Snap Beans

Interactions between spray distribution and insecticide mode of action in relation to control of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), on bell peppers ( Capsicum annuum L.), sweet banana peppers ( Capsicum annuum L.), and snap beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were investigated. Multiple treatments were applied using either a conventional boom sprayer or an air-curtain sprayer. Materials evaluated were fenvalerate (local activity) and acephate (systemic activity). Spray droplet distribution was evaluated with UV-spectrophotometric analysis of sprayed dyes. European corn borer egg massey were sampled weekly during the experiment, and crop injury was evaluated at harvest. Spray deposition with the air-curtain sprayer was much higher on the undersides of the leaves and on fruit than with the conventional boom application. Variability of spray deposition between samples also was reduced. Faceplate and fenvalerate significantly reduced banana pepper and bell pepper injury from European corn borer. However, significant reductions in injury due to air-curtain application occurred only with fenvalerate on bell peppers. Systemic activity of the acephate compensated, at least partially, for poor spray distribution with the conventional boom application. Virtually no injury occurred to the snap beans even in artificially infested, untreated plots. Total mortality caused by glandular trichomes was observed when larvae were introduced onto snap bean plants in the laboratory.

Insect Control in Peppers, 1987

Abstract Green bell peppers (var. KRG-3) and sweet banana peppers (open pollinated) were transplanted as separate trials on 29 May at the MSU Entomology Field Research Farm, East Lansing. Plots were 3 rows wide (30 inches between rows) by 30 ft long (18 inches between plants) arranged in a completely randomized design with 4 replications. Treatments were applied with a tractor-mounted boom sprayer at 30 gal/ acre and 40 psi on 22 and 29 Jul and 4 Aug. Two plants from the center row of each plot were examined on a weekly basis for European corn borer (ECB) egg masses and green peach aphids (GPA). Banana and bell peppers were harvested on 10 and 11 Aug, respectively. All fruit from 27 ft of the center row were harvested (a subset of 40 banana peppers were randomly selected) and examined for ECB damage. On 11 Aug, 4 leaves per plant (4 plants per plot) were examined for GPA.

Trash Removal from Mechanically Harvested Peppers

ABSTRACT MECHANICALLY harvested peppers generally contain a certain amount of leaves, plant branches and other extraneous matter. This trash must be removed before the peppers can be processed. The trash removal efficiency and damage of four trash removal systems were tested on cherry and banana peppers: counter-rotating rolls (two sizes), combing belts, and rubber starwheels (also tested on Jalapenos). The effectiveness of counter-rotating roll beds was significantly enhanced by first feeding the harvested peppers through differential-speed, double, pegged combing belts. Here, when sweet and hot cherry fruit with vegetation attached were run through the system, over 90% were singulated (detached from vegetation.)

Insect Control in Peppers, 1985

Abstract Bell, sweet banana and hot cherry peppers were transplanted on 6 May at the MSU Horticultural Experimental Staton in Sodus, MI (Berrien Co.). Each plot was 3 rows wide (5 ft spacing between rows) by 15-ft long. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications (= blocks) per treatment for each pepper variety. Treatments were applied to the center row of each plot with a CO2 pressurized hand held sprayer at 30 gpa on 1, 8, 15 and 22 Aug. Efficacy was determined by examining 2 plants from the center row of each plot on a weekly basis. Entire plants were examined for ECB egg masses, 4 leaves per plant were examined for GPA, and 20 mature fruit from the center of each plot were examined for ECB damage at harvest (28 Aug).

European Corn Borer Control in Hot Peppers, 1982

Abstract Separate blocks of hot cherry and banana peppers were transplanted into two-row plots 20 ft long on 42 in centers on 28 May, near Georgetown, De. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times for each pepper variety. Orthene treatments were applied on a 10-day schedule at the 1 lb (All/acre rate then on a 7-day schedule at the 0.5 lb (AI)/acre rate. All other treatments were applied on a 7-day schedule beginning 13 July and ending 29 Sept. for a total of 12 applications. All sprays at a rate equivalent to 41 gal/acre using a wheelbarrow design CO2 pressurized sprayer with a drop nozzle system (3 nozzles/row), at 40 lb./in2 . One Orthene treatment was applied as a drench at a rate equivalent to 300 gal/acre then treated on a 7-day schedule at a rate of 0.5 lb (AI)/acre. Peppers were harvested on 16 Aug., 10 Sep., and 4 Oct. and 50 fruit per plot were evaluated for European corn borer infestations.

Corn Earworm and European Corn Borer Control, 1982

Abstract Sweet banana peppers were transplanted 21 May near Benson, N. C. Treatment plots were replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Plots consisted of single rows 10 ft long on 42-in centers. Foliar treatments were applied using a CO2 pressurized backpack sprayer with a single hollow cone nozzle delivering 100 gal/acre at 40 lb/in2 Application dates were 30 June, 7, 14, 21, and 28 July, and 4, 11, and 18 Aug. Crown fruits were harvested 24 June. Subsequent harvests on 8 July and 23 Aug. were evaluated for European corn borer (ECB) and corn earworm (CEW) damage. ECB and CEW infestations did not occur until Aug. and were very light at this time. All treatments resulted in significantly less CEW but not ECB control when compared to the untreated check. No phytotoxicity was observed.

European Corn Borer and Corn Earworm Control on Banana Peppers, 1980

Abstract Hot and sweet banana peppers were transplanted into adjacent single-row plots 25 ft long. Treatments were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design with 5 ft alleys between blocks. Devrinol (1.5 lbs ai/acre) was incorporated preplant for weed control. Plants were drenched with Terraclor (10 lbs/100 gallons water) on Jun 27 to control southern blight. Weekly treatments of Bravo (1.0 lb/100 gallons water) were applied for disease control. Experimental treatments were applied weekly beginning Jul 18 and ending Aug 22 for a total of 6 applications. Applications were made using a 2.5 gal CO2 backpack sprayer with a single hollow cone nozzle operated at 40 psi. Application rate was equivalent to 100 gallons of water per acre. Insect counts were made 0, 7, 14, and 21 days after the last application.

European Corn Borer Control in Peppers, 1980

Abstract In July pepper plots were established in a commercial field located near Slaughter Neck, DE in a 24-row block of sweet cherry peppers and a 24-row block of hot banana peppers. Two row 20 ft long plots were replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. All treatments were applied between Jul 21 and Sep 26 on the following schedules: Sevin and Lannate on a 7-day schedule, a reduced rate of Orthene (0.75 lb ai/acre) on a 10-day schedule, Orthene at 1 lb ai per acre every 7 days until 21 days before harvest then reduced to 0.5 lb ai per acre for three applications on a seven day schedule and the alternating of Orthene and Lannate (Orthene - 10 day interval; Lannate - 7 day interval, etc.) A wheel barrow design, CO2-pressurized sprayer using three nozzles per row (2 drop nozzles and 1 overhead) delivering 43 gal per acre at 40 psi was used to apply all treatments. Peppers were harvested on Sep 4, Sep 12, and Oct 13 at which time 50 fruit from each plot were examined for European corn borer infestation.

European Corn Borer Control in Hot Peppers, 1979

Abstract In July pepper plots were established near Hazletteville, DE in a 16 row block of hot cherry and a 16-row block of banana peppers. Plots of 2 rows by 20-ft long were established in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. Sevin treatments were applied on a 7 day schedule and Orthene treatments on a 10 day schedule beginning Jul 17 and ending Sep 21. Kocide 101 was applied to all of the treatments every 10 days. A wheel barrow design, CO2 sprayer with a drop nozzle system (3 nozzles/row) delivering 43 gallons/acre at 40 psi was used to apply the foliar treatments. The Furadan 10G was applied by pouring a measured amount from a vial into a furrow approximately 3 inch to the side of the plants and 2 inch deep. This “side dress” application was made on Jul 13. Peppers were harvested on Jul 31, Sep 13, and Oct 2 and all fruits were examined for European corn borer infestation. Residue treatments were taken 7 days after treatment in the Orthene and check plots.