California Wonder Research Articles

Effect of elevated CO2 and temperature on crop growth and yield attributes of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Investigations were carried out during 2014 and 2015 to study the effect of elevated CO2 and temperature on growth and yield contributing parameters of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under open top chamber (OTC) at research farm of Department of Environmental Science, Dr Y.S. Parmar UHF, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh with four treatments [T1(eCO2): OTC with elevated CO2 550±10 ppm; T2(eT & eCO2): elevated temperature by 1°C and elevated CO2 550±10 ppm; T3(aT & aCO2): ambient temperature and CO2 and T4: natural condition] and each treatment had two varieties (California Wonder and Solan Bharpur) of bell pepper which were replicated thrice. Results revealed that bell pepper recorded maximum plant height, leaf area, yield attributes under eCO2 which were significantly higher than all other treatments. However, the harvest duration and days to first harvest was lowest under eCO2. Higherfruit size as well as fruit weight was recorded with eCO2 followed by eT and eCO2, aT and aCO2 and open natural condition. But maximum number of fruits and highest fruit yield was obtained with natural condition which was significantly superior over eCO2 as well as over eT and eCO2 because increase in temperature negated fruit set due to less pollen viability under eCO2 and eT & eCO2 as compared to open. In open natural conditions due to higher pollen viability and more fruit setting as compared to higher CO2 andtemperature conditions, it resulted more yield. Solan Bharpur recorded higher total fruit yield (800.2 g plant-1) than California Wonder (399.1 g plant-1). Elevated CO2 has positive effect on plant growth and yield attributes in both cultivars of bell pepper. However, under interactive effect of elevated CO2 and elevated temperature, rising temperature negated the positive effects of elevated CO2 on crop production.

Effects of Interspecific Grafting Between Capsicum Species on Scion Fruit Quality Characteristics

Production of Capsicum annuum peppers is often limited, especially in tropical environments, by susceptibility to soil pathogens including Ralstonia solanacearum. Grafting desirable cultivars onto selected rootstocks can increase adaptation to abiotic stress and is an alternative to pesticides for managing soilborne pathogens. Cultivars of two other pepper species, Capsicum baccatum and Capsicum chinense, are tolerant or resistant to an array of soilborne pathogens and have potential as rootstocks; however, knowledge of how interspecific grafting may affect scion fruit quality is lacking. Flowering time, yield, and fruit quality characteristics were evaluated in 2017 and 2020 for C. annuum cultivars Dulcitico, Nathalie (2017), Gypsy (2020), and California Wonder used as scions grafted onto Aji Rico (C. baccatum) and Primero Red (C. chinense) rootstocks, including self-grafted and nongrafted scion checks. In 2020, the rootstocks per se were evaluated. The two rootstocks (‘Aji Rico’ and ‘Primero Red’), three scions, and self- and nongrafted scions were evaluated using a factorial, replicated, completely randomized design in fields at the West Madison and Eagle Heights Agricultural Research Stations located in Madison, WI, in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Differences among the main effects for scion fruit quality characteristics were consistent with cultivar descriptions. No scion × rootstock interactions were observed. Rootstocks did not result in changes in total fruit number, yield, fruit shape (length-to-width ratio), or soluble solids of scion fruit compared with self- and nongrafted checks. The rootstock ‘Primero Red’ increased fruit weight and decreased time to flowering regardless of scion compared with self- and nongrafted checks. All scions were sweet (nonpungent) cultivars and both rootstocks were pungent cultivars. No capsaicinoids were detected in the fruit of sweet pepper scions grafted onto pungent pepper rootstocks. The results indicate that interspecific grafts involving ‘Aji Rico’ and ‘Primero Red’ will not have deleterious effects on fruit quality characteristics of sweet pepper scions.

Evaluation of Growth and Yield of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Varieties under Net Protected Conditions

An experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Horticulture Department, Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh during winter season of 2013-2014 to evaluate growth and yield of sweet pepper varieties under net protected condition. The two-factor experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Three popular sweet pepper varieties viz. BARI Mistimorich-1, California Wonder and Yolo Wonder were grown under three protected systems viz. fine net (120 mesh), coarse net (40 mesh) and open field. Considering the effect of varieties, the highest value for all the parameters viz. fruit length (10.01 cm), fruit diameter (5.90 cm), number of fruits/plant (13.61), fruit yield per plant (0.77 kg), fruit yield (21.31 t/ha) were found in California Wonder followed by BARI Mistimorich-1 and Yolo Wonder. Again, considering the effect of net protection system, maximum values for parameters viz. early flowering, fruit length (10.58 cm), fruit diameter (6.29 cm), number of fruits/ plant (16.14), fruit yield/plant (0.94 kg) and per hectare (26.86 t/ha) were recorded under fine net protection system. Under fine net covering plants produced better quality fruit than open field condition. The earliest flowering (60.67 days), the highest number of fruits per plant (19.18) and the maximum fruit yield (35.71 t/ha) were observed in BARI Mistimorich-1grown under fine net system followed by California Wonder grown under coarse net protected system. Benefit cost ratio (BCR) for fine net (5.28) and coarse net (6.75) protected system were much higher than that of open field (1.64) condition indicating bright future for sweet pepper cultivation under net protected system. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2020) 24(2) : 85-94

Tolerance to Virulence Phenotypes of Phytophthora capsici in Pasilla Pepper Cultivars

Phytophthora capsici is the most important limiting factor in the production of chile pepper in Mexico. This pathogen presents virulence phenotypes capable of infecting diverse cultivars of this crop. The search and development of resistance in chile pepper is an excellent alternative for the management of P. capsici. The objective of this work was to evaluate the response of four pasilla pepper cultivars to infection with five virulence phenotypes of P. capsici. Pasilla pepper landraces PAS-1, PAS-2, PAS-3, and PAS-4 were inoculated with P. capsici isolates MX-1, MX-2, MX-7, MX-8, and MX-10. Two experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions from April through June 2017 and April through June 2018. ‘California Wonder’ was included as a susceptible control, and uninoculated plants were included as a negative control. In each experiment, groups of six 56-day-old plants from each pepper cultivar were inoculated with each virulence phenotype. Disease severity was evaluated 20 days after inoculation using an individual plant severity scale. All pepper cultivars were classified as resistant = R, moderately resistant (MR), tolerant (T), moderately tolerant (MT), or susceptible (S), according to the frequency of resistant plants (severity 0–1). ‘California Wonder’ and ‘PAS-4’ were susceptible to all five virulence phenotypes. The rest had different responses to the virulence phenotypes, but ‘PAS-2’ and ‘PAS-3’ were susceptible to only one of the five virulence phenotypes. Pasilla peppers with low severity exhibited a slow rate of infection, which is a mechanism we have called “slow wilting.” The pasilla pepper cultivars PAS-1, PAS-2, and PAS-3 could be used in plant breeding programs as sources of genetic tolerance and moderate resistance against P. capsici.

Effects of mulching and irrigation levels on greenhouse capsicum (Capsicum annuum)

The experiment was conducted during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 under naturally ventilated greenhouse condition at Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology (CPCT), ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. The capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) variety California Wonder was planted under colored plastic mulches (silver, yellow and black) and non-mulched (control) condition in combination with three levels of irrigation, viz. 100%, 80%, and 60% ETc.. The yield of capsicum was observed significantly higher under silver mulch (63-71.6 t/ha) followed by yellow mulch (60.04-67.04 t/ha) at 100% ETc and silver mulch (59.72-70.8 t/ha) at 80% ETc for three consecutive years. Growth parameters were significantly affected by different combination of treatments. The highest and lowest plant height (149.9 cm and 56.5 cm), leaf area (1.98 m2/m2 and 1.09 m2/m2) and total dry matter (120.4 g and 57 g) were observed under silver mulch with 100% and non-mulched with 60% ETc respectively during all the three years of experiment. Highest growth parameters were at par with silver mulch with 80% ETc treatment. Significantly higher crop water productivity (43.30-36.53 kg/m3) in silver mulch with 80 % ETc treatment was observed compared to other combination of treatments. The results revealed that, capsicum cultivation under silver coloured plastic mulch in the naturally ventilated greenhouse not only saved irrigation water but also enhanced yield, crop growth and crop water productivity at reduced level of irrigation (80% ETc). Silver colour plastic mulch was found to be best suitable for growing capsicum crop inside the naturally ventilated greenhouse.

Responses of pepper to Alfalfa mosaic virus and manganese nutrition under greenhouse conditions: preliminary results

Purpose: The present research was conducted to evaluate interactive effects of manganese (Mn) and Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) on some physiological characteristics of two pepper varieties including PS301 and California Wonder under greenhouse conditions. Research Methods: Treatments included two levels of virus infection (infected and non-infected), three levels of Mn concentrations (No manganese: 0ppm, 5ppm and 10ppm) and two varieties (California Wonder and PS301). After three weeks, total chlorophyll (Chl), carbohydrate, antioxidants, phenolic compounds, dry weight and proline were measured in aerial parts. Findings: The highest antioxidant activity observed in California Wonder treated with AMV and 5ppm Mn. The highest total Chl observed in PS301 when treated with 10 ppm Mn. Interaction between Mn and AMV showed the highest dry weight in virus infected plants without Mn supplying. Simple effects of AMV did not influence on total Chl, total carbohydrate and antioxidant, but significantly dcreased dry weight. Application of Mn significantly increased proline and carotenoid contents in infected plants. Research limitations: analysis of proteins that play important roles in resistance mechanism to plant viruses has not been measured because of restriction of accessibility of western blotting at the University of Birjand. Originality/Value: It is concluded that AMV infection could be ameliorated by manganese supplying because of improvement of antioxidant system and phenol content that lead to viral tolerance in pepper.

Evaluation of Capsicum annum L. genotypes against salinity induced by NaCl

Soil salinity harmfully effect bell pepper production being salt sensitive crop. The aim of this study was to compare capsicum (bell-pepper) cultivars for their ability to tolerate salt stress. Electrical conductivity of different levels i.e., control (no sodium chloride), 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 dS m-1, was developed by using NaCl, after 30 days of seedling emergence of six cultivars (Yolo Wonder, California Wonder, Cop-amber Hybrid, F1 Pangs No. 206, Sweet Pepper F1, Kaka F1). These cultivars were evaluated based on morphological (shoot and root length, plant fresh and dry biomass), physiological (chlorophyll content) and biochemical attributes (nitrogen concentration, and protein contents). Minimum chlorophyll contents (SPAD units) in Kaka F1 (16.77 SPAD units) at 1.5 dSm-1. However, maximum value of chlorophyll contents was observed in Sweet Pepper F1 (49.23 SPAD units) at control followed by “Yolo Wonder” (41.53 SPAD units) at control. Maximum dry biomass was found in California Wonder (0.468 g) at 1.5 dSm-1, while minimum value of dry biomass (g) was observed in Kaka F1 (0.095 g) at 4.5 dSm-1. Six cultivars of capsicum were categorized into three groups. Salt tolerant cultivars included “California Wonder” followed by “Yolo Wonder”. “Kaka F1” was proved most salt sensitive and all others were moderately salt tolerant.

Effect of Different Spacing on the Growth and Yield of California Wonder Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) on Sandy Loam Soil in the Gambia

Optimum plant spacing ensures proper growth and development of crops resulting in maximum crop yield and economic use of land. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different planting spacing on the growth and yield of California Wonder Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) on sandy loam soil of The Gambia, from January to May 2018. The design used for this experiment was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments (T1: 50 x 50 cm, T2: 50 x 40 cm, T3: 50 x 30 cm and T4: 50 x 20 cm) and three repetitions and the parameter of plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, fruit length, fruit circumference, individual fruit weight, yield per plant, and yield per hectare. The plant spacing had a significant effect on plant height, stem girth and the number of leaves of the growth parameters, whereas for the yield parameters, individual fruit weight, yield per plant and total biomass yield were found significantly in treatments with the highest plant spacing (50 x 50 cm). In conclusion, wider plant spacing (50 x 50 cm) boosts the plants to develop the maximum number of branches and fruits.

EXPRESIÓN DE GENES RELACIONADOS CON PATOGÉNESIS EN CHILE (Capsicum annuum L.) INOCULADO CON Bacillus subtilis Y Meloidogyne enterolobii

El cultivo de chile (Capsicum annuum L.) destaca por el valor agro-alimenticio alto del producto, aunado a su valor comercial. Los nematodos Meloidogyne incognita y M. enterolobii (Me) afectan al cultivo; M. enterolobii (Me) es el más relevante por su agresividad notable. El estudio de alternativas ecológicas es de interés para control estos fitoparásitos. Los objetivos de esta investigación fueron conocer el efecto de Bacillus subtilis (Bs) (CH90) sobre la expresión de los genes PR-1, PR-5, y PR-12 que codifican proteínas relacionadas con patogénesis en chile cv. California Wonder (Cw) infectado con Me; y evaluar el efecto de Bs sobre agallamiento (A) y producción de huevos (H) del nematodo en raíces de Cw. Dos experimentos independientes (E1 y E2) se establecieron con diseño completamente al azar. En E1 y E2 los tratamientos fueron: Cw inoculado solo con Me (CwMe), Cw con Bs y Me (CwBsMe), Cw solo con Bs (CwBs), y Cw sin inoculación (Cw). En ambos experimentos, el nivel de inóculo de Bs fue 108 UFC mL-1, y para Me fue 500 J2 por planta. En E1 la expresión génica se determinó a 3, 7, y 14 d después de inoculación (DPI) con Me. En E2 las variables A y H se evaluaron 45 DPI con Me. PR-1 y PR-5 se sobre expresaron 3 y 7 DPI en los tratamientos CwBsMe y CwBs, en contraste con CwMe (p≤0.05). A los 14 DPI, los genes en todos los tratamientos tuvieron una expresión menor (p≤0.05). La sobre expresión máxima de PR-12 se registró a 14 DPI en los tratamientos CwBsMe y CwBs (p≤0.05). Las plantas de cv. C. Wonder tratadas con B. subtilis CH90 solo o en combinación con M. enterolobii activaron las rutas de defensa dependientes del ácido salicílico (AS) y jasmónico (AJ) pero dicha activación no afectó la reproducción del nematodo en raíces de chile.

Field-grown donor plants and arabinogalactan proteins improve microspore embryogenesis in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

An effective culture system for producing embryos was developed from isolated microspores of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The present work aimed to define exogenous arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) on the embryogenesis of sweet pepper under the growth environments of donor plants. The experiments were performed with the cultivars Arancia, California wonder, Californium, Camelot, Inspiration, Plato, and Taranto under three different growth environments of the donor plants. The impacts of the different numbers of sweet pepper ovaries (0, 5, 10, and 15) were evaluated on microspore embryogenesis of cultivars in a factorial design with five replications. The simultaneous application of 10 ovaries in stress (sucrose starvation; temperature) and induction media resulted in the highest embryogenesis of the seven aforementioned cultivars under field conditions. Also, the impacts of 0, 80, 120, and 200 mg L−1 gum arabic were studied on embryogenesis in stress and induction media. The treatments containing 120 mg L−1 gum arabic showed the highest embryogenesis across all cultivars, except the California Wonder cultivar in the field conditions. Also, the simultaneous impact of the number of ovaries and concentrations of gum arabic on embryogenesis were studied. A combination of ten ovaries and 120 mg L−1 gum arabic generated the highest embryogenesis in the majority of cultivars. The results revealed that ovaries of sweet pepper and gum arabic had a significant impact on the efficiency of microspore embryogenesis in sweet pepper plants under field conditions.

Effect of Aloe vera gel and Arabic gum coating on quality characteristics of green bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) during storage

Introduction: Capsicum annuum L. fruits have amount of natural antioxidants and essential nutrients such as: vitamin C, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and elements like potassium. Appearance of the crops, such as the shape, color, size, freshness of the fruit, lack of physiological disorders and microbial diseases, have a very important role in the marketability of green bell peppers. Therefore, this crop always requires a method to reduce losses and maintain marketability in postharvest. One of the methods for reducing postharvest losses of horticultural crops is using of edible and non-edible coatings that, increased shelf life of crops by changing of exchange of gas and water surrounding of horticultural crops. Background and objectives: In order to reduce the losses and preserve the quality of green bell peppers (“California Wonder” cultivar), this study was designed by using a factorial experiment in basic of completely randomized design in Ilam University at 2018. Experimental treatments were consisted immersion of fruits in Aloe vera gel 25% and 50%, Arabic gum 5% and 10%, Aoe vera 25%+Arabic gum5%, Aloe vera 25% + Arabic gum10%, Aloe Vera 50%+Arabic gum 5%, Aloe vera 50% + Arabic Gum 10% and control, which their effects on the characteristics of green bell pepper was investigated during 14 and 28 days of storage at 10 C and RH 90%. Results and Discussion: The results showed that with increasing the storage period, the quality and marketability of pepper fruits decreased, but the experimental treatments maintained the quality and marketability of green bell pepper in storage. In this study, Arabic gum10%, Aloe vera 25% + Arabic gum 10% and Aloe vera 50% + Arabic gum 10% treatments in most of the studied characteristics were more effective in maintaining the quality of green bell peppers in storage. These treatments showed less weight loss and ion leakage compared to other treatments and maintained marketability, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total phenol, total antioxidant capacity, total chlorophyll and activity of catalase and peroxidase enzymes during 28 days of storage. It is likely that a thicker layer and fewer exchanges of atmosphere surrounding the fruit would be due to the greater efficiency of 10% Arabic gum in these treatments than other treatments. Therefore, according to this results the use of Arabic gum 10% or in combination with Aloe vera gel 25 and 50% are recommended as a method for reducing losses and maintaining the quality and marketability of green bell peppers during the storing and marketing.

Growth and photochemical efficiency of photosystem ii in seedlings of 2 varieties of Capsicum annuum L. inoculated with rhizobacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

An alternative for sustainable management in the cultivation of Capsicum annuum L. has focused on the use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This research selected PGPRPGPR and AMF based on their effect on Bell Pepper and Jalapeño bell pepper plants. Five bacterial strains isolated from different localities in the state of Mexico (P61 [Pseudomonas tolaasii], A46 [P. tolaasii], R44 [Bacillus pumilus], BSP1.1 [Paenibacillus sp.] and OLs-Sf5 [Pseudomonas sp.]) and 3 AMF treatments (H1 [consortium isolated from Chile rhizosphere in the state of Puebla], H2 [Rhizophagus intraradices] and H3 [consortium isolated from lemon rhizosphere from the state of Tabasco]). In addition, a fertilized treatment (Steiner solution 25%) and an absolute control were included. Jalapeño bell pepper “Caloro” and Bell Pepper “California Wonder” seedlings were inoculated with AMF at sowing and with CPB 15 days after emergence, and grown under controlled environment chamber conditions. In Jalapeño bell pepper, the best bacterial strain was P61 and the best AMF treatment was H1; in Bell Pepper the best strain was R44 and the best AMF were H3 and H1. These microorganisms increased the growth of jalapeño bell pepper and Bell Pepper seedlings compared to the unfertilized control. Likewise, P61 and R44 positively benefited the photosynthetic capacity of PSII.

Tissue specific colonization of Phytophthora capsici in Capsicum spp.: molecular insights over plant-pathogen interaction

Root and crown rot (RCR) caused by Phytophthora capsici is present in all crop production areas of pepper and chili worldwide. This pathogen was recently reported at the Pacific coast of Ecuador (province of Manabi), as an etiological agent of wilt and root and crown rot in commercial fields of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum). This study aimed to evaluate the resistance of ten Capsicum spp. genotypes artificially infected with P. capsici and to compare the tissue-specific colonization of P. capsici under greenhouse conditions. Disease intensity, mycelial growth incidence and pathogen DNA content in root and hypocotyl tissues of P. capsici infected Capsicum germplasm was evaluated at 17 days after infection (dai). Results indicated that genotypes Nathalie, ECU-12831, ECU-9129, Codigo 5, and ECU-1296 were found to be resistant, and ECU-11995, ECU-2254 B, California Wonder, Quetzal and Marcato showed susceptibility to the disease. The amount of pathogen DNA in roots was the only variable that did not correlate with the resistance or susceptibility of the genotypes. In fact, in resistant genotypes the pattern of pathogen DNA content was higher in roots than hypocotyls (but also in the susceptible ECU-11995), while in the susceptible genotypes (e.g. ECU-2254 B, C. Wonder, Quetzal and Marcato) showed the opposite pattern. The present work provides new insights of host-pathogen interaction, which might be used in breeding programs aiming to develop Capsicum cultivars with resistance to RCR.

Evaluation of capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes for variety improvement

An experiment was done at Horticulture Research Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Khumaltar, Nepal under polyhouse condition to access different traits of six capsicum genotypes: HRDCAP-001, HRDCAP-003, HRDCAP-004, HRDCAP-005, HRDCAP-006, and California Wonder (check variety) with the objective to evaluate yield and quality. The experiment was done by using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications for each treatment. All the collected data were analyzed by using Gentstat statistical software package. Results revealed that tested genotypes were significantly different (p<0.05) in terms of traits characteristics considered for the study. Accordingly, California Wonder was the best for fruit length (86.11 mm), fruit width (70.45 mm), and fruit weight (126.12 g) while HRDCAP-001 was superior in pericarp thickness (6.44 mm), fruit yield (2.46 kg per plant; 68.3 t/ha) and shelf life (6.80 days). California Wonder had lowest physiological weight loss at different days after harvest. This study recognizes HRDCAP-001 to be a promising genotype. Hence, there is a possibility to release this genotype as a variety for commercial cultivation, however, a multi location trial prior to its release is deemed necessary. Furthermore, all evaluated genotypes through this research could be utilized for capsicum breeding in Nepal.

Evaluation of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Varieties as Influnced by Nitrogen Levels in Chitwan, Nepal

An experiment was conducted to assess the performance of sweet pepper varieties as influenced by nitrogen levels from August 2014 to February 2015 at Mangalpur, Chitwan. The experiment was laid out in two factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications having sixteen treatments. Varieties and levels of nitrogen significantly affected growth, yield and qualitative parameters of fruits. Hybrid Indra and NS 632 performed better than open pollinated varieties viz. Sagar and California Wonder. Days to fifty percent flowering of NS 632 were earlier than California Wonder. Indra variety had the highest plant height (52.18 cm), number of secondary branches per plant (13.51) from 250 kg N/ha through chemical fertilizer while number of leaves per plant was higher in NS 632 variety (57.22) than Sagar variety (47.37). Indra variety showed the highest fruit weight (87.59 g) and total yield (39.45 t/ha) but NS 632 variety produced more number of fruits per plant (9.25) than California Wonder variety. This study showed that sweet pepper yield of hybrid varieties applied with 250 kg N/ha through chemical fertilizer was appropriate dose to get optimum yield under Chitwan condition.

Effectiveness of Different Storage Conditions and Sanitizers of the Post Harvest Performance of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) in Chitwan District, Nepal

To investigate the effectiveness of different Storage conditions and Sanitizer treatments on the postharvest performance of the fruits of Sweet pepper var. California Wonder, an experiment was laid out in two factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Fruits subjected to Sanitizer treatments viz Sodium hypochlorite @ 0.02%, Calcinated calcium @ 0.1%, Neem extract @10%, Aloe vera @10% and Control were stored under Evaporative Cooling (EC) and Ambient conditions. Observations were recorded for Physiological loss in weight (PLW), Total soluble solid (TSS), Titratable acidity (TA), Vitamin C, Spoilage percentage and Shelf life of the fruits. At the end of the shelf life, the main effects of Storage conditions and Sanitizers were found significant for PLW, Spoilage percentage, TSS, Vitamin C and Shelf life. The lowest PLW (13.19%) was observed in the fruits stored in EC condition compared to the fruits kept in Ambient storage (21.61%). EC storage showed the lowest Spoilage percentage (41.1%), the longest Shelf life (13.8 days), the highest TSS (3.16°Brix) and Vitamin C (53.7 mg/100g). Among the Sanitizers, the lowest PLW (14.69%) and Spoilage percentage (37.5%) were recorded in the treatment of Sodium hypochlorite followed by Aloe vera solution. Likewise, the highest TSS (3.63°Brix), Vitamin C (52.8 mg/100 g) and the longest Shelf life (13.33 days) were recorded under the treatment of Aloe vera solution. The treatment combination of EC storage and Sodium hypochlorite exhibited the lowest PLW on 9th day (11.05%) of storage. The results suggest that the postharvest quality and shelf life of sweet pepper can be extended by storing the sweet pepper fruits in energy efficient EC storage after the application of Sanitizers viz. Sodium hypochlorite and Aloe vera.

Impact of Mother Plant Saline Stress on the Agronomical Quality of Pepper Seeds

Seed quality has been an important factor in achieving high germination and uniform growth rates in agricultural crops. Meanwhile, pepper plants are moderately sensitive to salt stress at electrical conductivity (EC) in the nutrient solution in the range of 1.2–3.0 dS m−1. We are unaware of any studies regarding the effects of mother plant saline stress on the agronomical quality of pepper seeds. We assessed the effects of three levels of electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution used for mother plant fertigation (2.2, 3.5, and 4.5 dS m−1) on the agronomical quality of pepper seeds (Capsicum annuum L. var. California Wonder). We have analyzed the following seed quality traits: (1) size and weight of seeds and number of seeds per fruit, (2) seed germination and vigor, and (3) chemical composition and histological features of mature seeds. The electrical conductivity treatment of 3.5 dS m−1 caused a statistically significant reduction in the seed size and vigor, as well as partial histological damage to seed endosperm. Moreover, the electrical conductivity treatment of 4.5 dS m−1 caused further reduction in the seed agronomical quality and generalized histological damage to seed endosperm. The electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution used for the fertigation of mother pepper plants should be below 3.5 dS m−1. Future studies should be performed to better gauge the effect of nutrient solutions with electrical conductivity in the range of 2.2–3.5 dS m−1 on the seed quality traits.

Transferring the cultured anther to a medium without activated charcoal overcomes the recalcitrance in pepper genotypes

Anther culture is a relatively easy and high-efficiency technique; however, low efficiency in plant regeneration may restrict its use in crop breeding. Activated charcoal is often used in in vitro culture, and it may ameliorate or hinder in vitro growth depending on genotype and tissue used. Pepper is one of the main vegetable crops of the Solanaceae family, but some pepper genotypes are known to be recalcitrant to androgenesis and formation of haploid regenerants. Therefore, this study was aimed to explore the effect of activated charcoal on response to androgenesis in pepper genotypes. The plant material included 34 Long Green (LG), 13 Bell pepper (BP), 13 Charleston (Ch), 6 California Wonder (CW), and 23 Capia (CP) advanced breeding lines. Initially, anthers were cultured in a medium with activated charcoal (WAC) for 25, 35, or 45 d, and then they were transferred to the same medium without activated charcoal (NAC). In the WAC medium, 15 lines of LG genotype showed the highest recalcitrance while many lines of CW had the lowest recalcitrance to androgenesis; however, after transferring the 35-d-old anthers to a NAC medium, the androgenesis was observed in recalcitrant LG lines. The results indicated that transferring the cultured anthers from WAC medium, ideally after 35 d, to a NAC medium overcame the recalcitrance to androgenesis in pepper.

Respuesta morfo-productiva de plantas de pimiento morrón biofertilizadas con Pseudomonas putida y dosis reducida de fertilizantes sintéticos en invernadero

La población mundial genera un alto consumo de alimentos, situación que provoca el incremento del uso de fertilizantes sintéticos, los cuales, son costosos y contaminan al medio ambiente. Las bacterias rizosféricas son una alternativa a la aplicación de fertilizantes sintéticos, debido a que estimulan el crecimiento y la productividad de las plantas, no contaminan al medio ambiente y su aplicación es de bajo costo. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el efecto de la inoculación de tres cepas rizobacterianas de Pseudomonas putida y aplicación de dos concentraciones de fertilización sintética sobre parámetros morfológicos y rendimiento de fruto en plantas de pimiento morrón variedad ‘California Wonder’ en condiciones de invernadero. Las plantas fueron inoculadas con tres rizobacterias de P. putida catalogadas como FA-8, FA-56 y FA-60 de manera individual y combinada. La concentración de la fertilización sintética fue del 100 y 75%. Se determinó la altura, el diámetro de tallo, longitud y volumen de raíz, biomasa fresca y seca, rendimiento y contenido de solidos solubles totales de fruto y población bacteriana. Los resultados indican que las bacterias y las dosis de fertilización sintética incrementaron todos los parámetros morfológicos y de productividad del pimiento morrón. El uso de P. putida como un bio-fertilizante puede ser importante dentro de la producción sustentable de cultivos hortícolas como el pimiento morrón.

Improved Resistance to Root-knot Nematode Species in an Advanced Inbred Line of Specialty Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Bell and chili peppers are important vegetable and spice commodities worldwide. Significant yield reductions have been attributed to damage caused by root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne spp.). This study addresses the need for developing pepper varieties that have high resistance to RKN, which is now of increasing importance due to restrictions on the use of fumigant nematicides. Our goal is to provide a nonchemical alternative to sustain commercial pepper production in Florida, which is a major producer of peppers in the United States. We evaluated ‘UFRJ107(6)A3’, an advanced inbred line developed from a cross between Capsicum annuum L. ‘Jalapeno’ and ‘Round of Hungary’, for resistance against the nematode in comparison with the parental and three other Capsicum cultivars, namely, C. annuum ‘Charleston Belle’, ‘California Wonder’, and C. chinense Jacq. ‘Datil’ in two separate growth chamber experiments. Based on egg mass indices and reproduction factors, ‘UFRJ107(6)A3’ was significantly more resistant to M. incognita compared with the other five cultivars. When tested with five RKN species, ‘UFRJ107(6)A3’ showed comparably high levels of resistance to M. arenaria and M. floridensis as ‘California Wonder’ based on the nematode reproduction factor. In ‘UFRJ107(6)A3’, however, there were no detectable M. arenaria egg masses, and M. incognita reproduction was minimal compared with that of ‘California Wonder’; both cultivars supported the reproduction of M. enterolobii and M. javanica, although the reproduction factors of M. enterolobii were ≈10-fold higher than M. javanica. To characterize the mechanism of high resistance to M. incognita in ‘UFRJ107(6)A3’, we examined the extent to which infective second-stage juveniles (J2s) were able to penetrate its roots in comparison with the susceptible ‘California Wonder’ and ‘Datil’ in two independent experiments; we conducted RKN root penetration assays with a single plant in a pot and two plants in a single-pot choice test using ‘Datil’ and ‘California Wonder’, respectively, as susceptible standards. In both assays, M. incognita J2s were absent in the roots of ‘UFRJ107(6)A3’ 7 days after inoculation but were present in the susceptible cultivars, indicating that resistance has an effect at the root invasion stage. In growth chamber experiments, at constant temperatures of 28 and 30 °C, ‘UFRJ107(6)A3’ exhibited M. incognita resistance superior to its parents and to the standard resistant bell pepper ‘Charleston Belle’, thus offering the potential to enhance specialty pepper production and for use as a nematode-resistant rootstock for commercial bell peppers.