Pepper Production Research Articles

Hot pepper wilt intensity, management practices, and pathogenic variability of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici (FOC) isolates in northwest Ethiopia

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is essential in Ethiopian agriculture but is increasingly threatened by Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici, which severely affects yields and farmer livelihoods in Northwest Ethiopia. This study assessed wilt incidence, severity, and farmer practices across four districts in West Gojjam Zone (Womberma, Burie Zuria, Jabi Tehinan, and Dembecha Zuria). Surveys from 128 farmers and tests on 67 fungal isolates revealed that Burie Zuria faced the highest disease incidence (56.6%) and severity (52.5%), while Womberma had the lowest rates. The most pathogenic isolate, 4WBG1, showed 100% incidence and high severity (82.5%) and 100% AUDPC value. Agronomic practices like seed sourcing and crop rotation influenced disease control, yet only 23.4% of farmers used chemical or cultural controls, with 11% applying Mancozeb. These findings highlight the need for improved management strategies and resistant varieties to safeguard hot pepper production.

Comparative genomic analysis uncovered phylogenetic diversity, evolution of virulence factors, and horizontal gene transfer events in tomato bacterial spot Xanthomonas euvesicatoria

IntroductionBacterial spot, caused by diverse xanthomonads classified into four lineages within three species, poses a significant threat to global pepper and tomato production. In Taiwan, tomato bacterial spot xanthomonads phylogenetically related to an atypical Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. perforans (Xep) strain NI1 from Nigeria were found.MethodsTo investigate the genetic structure of Taiwanese Xep strains and determine the phylogenetic position of the atypical strains, we completed high-quality, gap-free, circularized genomes of seven Taiwanese Xep strains and performed comparative genomic analyses with genomes of X. euvesicatoria pathovars. Average nucleotide identity, core genome analysis, and phylogenomic analysis were conducted.ResultsThree sequenced strains were identified as typical Xep, while four clustered with the atypical strain NI1, forming a distinct genomovar within X. euvesicatoria, proposed as X. euvesicatoria genomovar taiwanensis (Xet). This new lineage likely originated in Taiwan and spread to Nigeria through global seed trade. At the genomovar level, chromosomes remained conserved among Taiwanese strains, while plasmids likely contributed to bacterial virulence, avirulence, and field fitness. Gap-free genomes revealed associations between the evolution of type III effectors, horizontal gene transfer events, plasmid diversity, and recombination.DiscussionThis study highlights the critical roles of horizontal gene transfer and plasmids in shaping the genetic makeup, evolution, and environmental adaptation of plant pathogenic xanthomonads. The identification of a new genomovar, X. euvesicatoria genomovar taiwanensis, provides insights into the diversity and global spread of bacterial spot pathogens through seed trade.

Studies on the Detection of Viruses Infecting Capsicum Species in the Northern Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence, detection, and geographical spread of viruses that infect pepper (Capsicum spp.) in six towns spanning two local government areas (Yala and Ogoja) in the northern zone of Cross River State. A total of 348 leaf samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic pepper plants were randomly collected from farmer's fields during a survey in 2023–2024. The samples were then preliminary tested using an antigen coated plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ACP-ELISA) with seven antibodies specific for ToLCV, Cowpea aphid borne mosaic virus (CABMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Potato virus X (PVX), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and Pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV). The findings showed that the viruses that infect pepper in Yala had a high cumulative mean incidence, accounting for 56.9% (198 infected samples). Yache in Yala had the highest virus incidence at 90%, while Bansara in Ogoja had the lowest at 40%. At different rates, ToLCV, CMV, PVY, and PVMV were found in the samples; PVX, TMV, and CABMV were not found. The CMV virus was the most commonly discovered of them. Additionally, mixed infections between the viruses—between ToLCV and PVY in Yache and between CMV and PVMV in Bansara—were found. This is the first report on account of viruses found in pepper in the northern part of Cross River State. The findings show that the viruses that cause the infections are common and might potentially be a threat to the production of pepper in that region.

Increase flavour quality of Sichuan pepper(Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.)with optimized cleaning technology: Soaking and spraying

The current study presents the development of a specialized cleaning device for Sichuan pepper, which explores the effects of soaking technology, a combined soaking and spraying technology, and uncleaned on the quality of Sichuan pepper and its processed derivatives. The findings reveal that the highest impurity removal ratio achieved through this combined method was 78.385%. Furthermore, after employing the soaking and spraying technology, the concentration of numbing compounds in dried Sichuan pepper increased from 90.86 mg/g to 102.62 mg/g over a storage period of 120 days. Following the application of three distinct methods, the numbing compounds in Sichuan pepper oils ranged 4.88–4.95 mg/g. Additionally, the volatile oil content in two varieties of cleaned dried Sichuan pepper was recorded at 11.79 mL/100 g and 11.65 mL/100 g, both of which exceeded the levels found in uncleaned pepper. These results suggest that cleaning demonstrated significant efficacy in impurity removal and in mitigating the deterioration of the color of dried Sichuan pepper. Notably, the combined soaking and spraying cleaning method exhibited superior preservation effects on the content of numbing compounds and volatile aromatic components in Sichuan pepper products, thereby effectively prolonging the shelf life of dried Sichuan pepper.

Brassinosteroids Alleviate Salt Stress by Enhancing Sugar and Glycine Betaine in Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).

Salt stress is a major abiotic factor that negatively impacts the growth, performance, and secondary metabolite production in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play a crucial role in enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stress, yet their potential in mitigating salt stress in pepper plants, particularly by promoting sugar and glycine betaine accumulation, remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the effects of the foliar application of 2,4-epibrassinolide (EBR) on salt-stressed pepper seedlings. Our findings revealed that EBR treatment significantly increased the levels of proline, sugar, and glycine betaine under salt stress compared to untreated controls. Moreover, EBR enhanced the antioxidant defense mechanisms in pepper seedlings by increasing sugar and glycine betaine levels, which contributed to the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation.

Biocontrol Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis Strain 00-50-5 Against the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii in Pepper

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii is a major constraint to pepper production in tropical regions. In the long-term practice of root-knot nematode management, bacterial nematicides have attracted increasing attention as effective biocontrol agents. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis strain 00-50-5 (Bt 00-50-5) against M. enterolobii through in vitro, greenhouse and field trials. The cell-free supernatant of Bt 00-50-5 exhibited potent nematicidal activity against second-stage juveniles (J2s) of M. enterolobii, with mortality rates of 98.0% and 100% after 24 h and 36 h of exposure, respectively. In addition, Bt 00-50-5 showed inhibitory effects on the hatching of M. enterolobii eggs, resulting in a remarkable 96.6% reduction in the egg hatching rate after 6 days compared to the control. The pot trials showed that both pepper root galls and egg masses were reduced, and plant growth was improved after treatment with Bt 00-50-5. The field trials showed that the gall index was significantly reduced, with a 66.3% and 68.2% reduction in disease index in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively, and pepper yield was improved, with a 96.2% and 93.1% increase in yield in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively, compared to the control. These results indicate the potential use of Bt 00-50-5 as an effective biocontrol agent against M. enterolobii.

Current knowledge and breeding strategies for management of aphid-transmitted viruses of pepper (Capsicum spp.) in Africa.

Aphid-transmitted viruses cause significant losses in pepper production worldwide, negatively affecting yield and quality. The emergence of new aphid-transmitted viruses or development of variants as well as the occurrence in mixed infections make management a challenge. Here, we overview the current status of the distribution, incidence and phylogeny of aphids and the viruses they transmit in pepper in Africa; outline the available genetic resources, including sources of resistance, resistance genes and molecular markers; and discuss the recent advances in understanding the genetic basis of resistance to the predominant African viruses infecting pepper. Pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV; Potyvirus); Potato virus Y (PVY; Potyvirus), Chili veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV; Potyvirus), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV; Cucumovirus) and Pepper veins yellow virus (PeVYV; Polerovirus) have been reported to be the most widespread and devastating aphid-transmitted viruses infecting pepper across Africa. Co-infection or mixed infection between aphid-transmitted viruses has been detected and the interrelationship between viruses that co-infect chili peppers is poorly understood. Establishing and evaluating existing and new diversity sets with more genetic diversity is an important component of developing host resistance and implementing integrated management strategies. However, more work needs to be done to characterize the aphid-transmitted viral strains across Africa and understand their phylogeny in order to develop more durable host resistance. In addition, a limited number of QTLs associated with resistance to the aphid-transmitted virus have been reported and QTL data are only available for PVY, ChiVMV and CMV mainly against European and Asian strains, although PVMV is likely the most important aphid-transmitted viral disease in Africa. There is a need to identify germplasm resources with resistance against various aphid-transmitted virus strains, and subsequent pyramiding of the resistance using marker-assisted selection could be an effective strategy. The recent advances in understanding the genetic basis of the resistance to the virus and the new breeding techniques that can be leveraged to accelerate breeding for aphid-transmitted virus in pepper are proposed as strategies to more efficiently develop resistant cultivars. The deployment of multi-genetic resistances in pepper is an effective and desirable method of managing viral-diseases in Africa and limit losses for farmers in a sustainable manner.

Evaluation of Yield and Quality Characteristics of Some Drying Red Pepper Lines in Antakya Conditions

This study aimed to evaluate the yield and quality performance of 12 S4-generation genotypes and 4 registered pepper varieties, developed through selection from the Kahramanmaraş pepper population by the East Mediterranean Transitional Zone Agricultural Research Institute, under the conditions of Antakya. The plant materials used were the genotypes 83, 331, 368, 373, 361, 378, 439, 449, 454, 472, 521, and 69, along with the varieties Sena, Dila, Bozok, and Yesemek. The results revealed that the highest fresh yield was obtained from genotype 83 with 1106 g plant-1, while the highest dry yield was recorded in genotype 472 with 270 g plant-1. The genotype 361 stood out with a total soluble solid content (SSC) of 13.30%, and the highest drying efficiency was observed in genotype 454 at 32.5%. In terms of fruit number, genotype 439 had the highest value with 127.33 fruits plant-1, while genotype 472 showed the highest fruit weight of 10.60 g fruit-1 and genotype 449 had the longest fruit length at 7.82 cm. The highest seed count was observed in genotype 378 with 347 seeds fruit-1, while Dila had the largest fruit width at 23.65 mm. According to the capsaicinoid (pungency) analysis, genotype 472 exhibited the highest pungency level with 147,483 scoville heat units (SHU), highlighting it as a notable quality trait. Furthermore, the lowest fruit flesh thickness was recorded in genotype 378 with 0.75 mm, and the highest 1000-seed weight was observed in genotype 373 with 6.50 g. Overall, considering the key criteria for dried pepper production, particularly dry yield and pungency, genotype 472 demonstrated superior performance due to its high dry yield and pungency levels. These findings suggest that the Antakya region is well-suited for the cultivation of high-yielding and high-quality pepper lines. Additionally, these genotypes hold significant potential for commercial production.

Characterization and Fungicide Sensitivity of Colletotrichum spp. from Capsicum peppers in South Korea.

Capsicum peppers, peppers from plants of the genus Capsicum (family Solanaceae), are widely cultivated in South Korea, where annual production was 92,756 tons in 2021, 54.4% higher than that of the previous year. Occurring throughout the production cycle, anthracnose is a major disease limiting commercial Capsicum pepper production worldwide, including in South Korea. This study investigates the diversity and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum species responsible for Capsicum pepper anthracnose in Gyeongbuk, South Korea, focusing on disease incidence and symptomatology in the field and the identification, morphological characteristics, pathogenicity, and fungicide sensitivity of the causative species. Disease incidence ranged from 30 to 50%, with samples categorized into three distinct symptom types, aiding accurate field diagnosis. Phylogenetic analysis classified 41 isolates into six species in the acutatum, gloeosporioides, and truncatum species complexes, revealing significant genetic diversity. Morphological characterization supported these identifications, providing a comprehensive profiling. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that all identified species induced typical anthracnose lesions, with lesion size variations suggesting differential aggressiveness. Temperature significantly influenced mycelial growth, with optimal growth between 20 and 26°C, and C. truncatum demonstrating high-temperature tolerance.In vitro fungicide sensitivity tests showed variable responses, with tebuconazole being generally effective. These findings underscore the need for species-specific fungicide recommendations and highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of Colletotrichum species. Future research should explore the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity, host specificity, and fungicide resistance, integrating these findings with breeding programs to develop resistant pepper varieties. This study provides critical insights for effective anthracnose management in pepper cultivation and future research directions.

Susceptibility of Capsicum varieties to Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) infestation for production optimization.

Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a major threat to the production and marketing of pepper (Capsicum spp.) in Ghana. To reduce the damage of the pest on pepper farming, it is important to find appropriate control methods, which may include the use of resistant host plants. This study investigated the relative susceptibility of 6 pepper varieties commonly cultivated in Ghana: Legon 18, Bird's eye, Scotch bonnet, Cayenne, KA2, and sweet pepper (Yolo wonder+ variety). Choice and no-choice ovipositional preference tests were conducted and the population growth rate of T. leucotreta was determined by establishing life table parameters including the net reproductive rates (R0), the mean generation time (G), intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), the population doubling time (T), and the finite rate of increase (λ). In the no-choice test, females exhibited oviposition preference for sweet pepper (12.08 eggs/fruit), while Bird's eye was the least preferred (5.00 eggs/fruit). The same results were observed in the choice test. However, the population growth rate of T. leucotreta was highest on the Scotch bonnet and Cayenne, with rm of 0.124 and 0.127, respectively, while the Bird's eye and sweet pepper recorded the least rm of 0.116. Thus, the tested varieties had varying levels of susceptibility to T. leucotreta infestation. Bird's eye was the least susceptible variety, while Cayenne and Scotch bonnet were the most susceptible varieties. These findings could direct farmers on the choices of pepper varieties for cultivation and proffer potential opportunities to breed new varieties resistant to T. leucotreta infestation.

Effect of Irrigation Depth and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Yield and Water Use Efficiency in Tselemty District, Tigray, Ethiopia

Optimizing agricultural crop production involves utilizing proper irrigation and fertilization techniques. A two-year experiment conducted in the Tselemty district during the off seasons of 2019 and 2020 aimed to assess the impact of varying irrigation levels and nitrogen fertilizer application rates on the growth, yield, and crop water productivity of pepper. The study included three irrigation levels (75%, 100%, and 125% of the required irrigation) and three nitrogen fertilizer application rates (75%, 100%, and 125% of the recommended amount). Analysis of the results using Gen-Stat software revealed that most pepper yield attributes were not significantly affected by the different irrigation and fertilizer levels. However, the marketable yield showed significant variation based on the combined application rates. The research indicates that, under ideal circumstances, the optimal approach for pepper growers is a combination of meeting 100% of the irrigation requirement and applying 100% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer rate. Nevertheless, in scenarios where water resources are limited and fertilizer expenses are high, a reduced irrigation level of 75% of the requirement coupled with 75% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer rate could be a viable alternative that does not lead to a substantial decrease in yield.

Physicochemical and Color Changes During Fruit Ripening in Pepper Species (C. annuum L., C. baccatum L., and C. chinense Jacq.) Exposed to Salt Stress

This study examines the impact of salt stress on the physicochemical and color characteristics of three pepper species (Capsicum annuum L., Capsicum baccatum L., and Capsicum chinense Jacq.) at different ripening periods. Peppers were exposed to 0 mM, 50 mM, and 100 mM NaCl during the green, breaking, and red ripening periods. The results showed that salt stress significantly influenced moisture content, total ash, pH, titratable acidity, water activity, and color parameters. C. chinense had the highest moisture content and water activity, while C. annuum demonstrated a higher total ash content and pigment density (ASTA value). As fruits ripened, moisture content decreased, and total ash content increased. Salt stress caused reductions in water activity, pH, and titratable acidity, with high salt concentrations leading to increased water loss and a decline in fruit quality. Furthermore, salt stress reduced color parameters and ASTA values, indicating suppressed carotenoid pigment synthesis. The study highlights the importance of developing salt-tolerant pepper varieties, as salt stress negatively impacts the physiological and biochemical quality of peppers. These findings suggest that appropriate agronomic strategies and careful environmental monitoring are essential for sustainable pepper production, particularly in areas with saline soils. The results provide valuable insights into the mechanisms through which salt stress affects pepper fruit quality and suggest avenues for improving crop resilience.

Isolation, identification and multi-locus sequence typing of Phytophthora capsici from capsicum fields and its cross-infectivity in different crop species

Phytophthora capsici is a major soil-borne oomycete plant pathogen, which severely affects the productivity of peppers including Capsicum annuum L., by causing fruit rot, root rot, and foliar blight diseases. It has a broad host range beyond Capsicum species and evolves rapidly to find new potential hosts for survival under different climatic conditions. In the present study, P. capsici was isolated from soil using castor seed baiting, and characterized through growth patterns and spore morphology. The species identification and molecular characterization were achieved through multi-locus sequence and phylogenetic analysis of three genomic loci (ITS, tef1 and cox), and also attributed given P. capsici isolate Pc_UHF into India-specific ITS-based evolutionary lineage Pc-X. Interestingly, dN/dS estimates revealed reasonably high positive selection in the tef1 gene, which could have possible implications on the pathogen's adaptation and/or virulence. Pathogenicity of this isolate was tested in three commercially growing bell pepper varieties and also in other crop species using detached leaf and/or in planta disease screening. Differential disease symptoms were induced by Pc_UHF in three bell pepper varieties, such as both collar rot and foliar blight symptoms observed in "Yolo Wonder" and "California Wonder", whereas only foliar blight symptoms were recorded in "Solan Bharpur". Furthermore, cross-pathogenicity was also recorded in tomato, citrus, cucumber and eggplant. This is the first report of molecular characterization and cross-pathogenically assessment of P. capsici isolate from farm soils in the North Western Himalayan region of India, which has a dynamic virulence profile and distinct host range.

Salmonella in black pepper (Piper nigrum): From farm to processing

Contamination of black pepper (Piper nigrum) with Salmonella is a frequent problem in retail and imported shipments. However, there is scarce information about the prevalence of the pathogen in the initial stages of black pepper production chain. This study sought to bridge this gap in research by determining the prevalence, as well as quantifying, and identifying the main Salmonella serovars present during black pepper primary production and processing. Black pepper (233) and environmental (175) samples were collected from farms (354) and processing plants (54) in Espirito Santo, Brazil. The pathogen was detected in soil (16.7 %), drying waste (20.4 %), fallen berries (3.7 %), threshed berries (14.3 %), and dried peppercorns (22.2 %) collected from farms. Salmonella was also detected in samples of raw material (11.1 %), export products (16.7 %), and processing waste (16.7 %) collected from processing plants. A total of 12 serotypes were identified, and Salmonella Javiana showed the highest prevalence (38.8 %). According to the results, contamination occurring in the post-harvest phase is not eliminated or reduced during processing. Therefore, the adoption of good agricultural and manufacturing practices, supported by hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), is crucial to mitigate this kind of contamination. These practices should be combined with decontamination treatments to ensure the safety of the final product.

Off-season production of Bell Pepper (Capsicum anuum, L.) as influenced by soil enhancers and mulching materials

In a study focused on off-season bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) production, 1,152 seedlings were sown, transplanted, and distributed across 48 plots measuring 4.4 sq.m. Each plot accommodated 24 seedlings, and meticulous care and observation were maintained throughout the study. Employing a 2x4 factorial design, this investigation aimed to assess the influence of soil enhancers and mulching materials on bell pepper cultivation. The data analysis was conducted using the analysis of variance in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with mean comparisons facilitated through Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The treatments consisted of two factors: Factor A involved soil enhancers, with Treatment A1 as the control, A2 as carabao manure, A3 as goat manure, and A4 as chicken manure. Factor B encompassed mulching materials, including B1 (control), B2 (rice hull), B3 (rice straw), and B4 (plastic mulching). The study's findings highlighted the substantial impact of soil enhancers, particularly chicken manure, on the vegetative growth phase of bell pepper. Furthermore, the combined application of soil enhancers and mulching materials, as well as individual applications, significantly affected the development of fruiting branches, with chicken manure particularly influencing the diameter of bell pepper fruits. In summation, the research suggests that the utilization of soil enhancers, especially chicken manure, constitutes a promising approach to enhance bell pepper vegetative growth during off-season production.

Analysis of changes in nutritional compounds of dried yellow chili after different processing treatments

Dried yellow chili is highly appreciated by consumers due to its excellent quality and flavor. The quality of products is determined by the drying and storage methods. In this study, dried yellow chilis were processed by natural air drying and hot air drying methods and then stored under three conditions: ambient temperature, ambient temperature with light avoidance, and at 10 °C with light avoidance for 12 months. The changes in the bioactive compounds during this period were analyzed attempting to reveal correlations between the different treatments and these compounds, with the aim of providing references for maintaining the bioactive compounds of pepper products. The results showed that samples treated with hot air had higher levels of fatty acids, resulting in a more pronounced flavor. During storage, samples stored at 10 °C with light avoidance were more effective in preserving soluble solids, total protein content, total phenols, capsaicinoids and most fatty acids.

Classification of wheat flour levels in powdered spices using visual imaging

The present research aims to investigate the ability of image processing in the detection of wheat flour adulterant in different spices. Different samples of black pepper, red pepper, and cinnamon were prepared with different levels of wheat flour adulteration. The images of the samples were captured using a visible camera. An image processing algorithm was designed and codded in MATLAB software to process the acquired images. Different color and textural features were extracted. The efficient features were selected and classified using artificial neural network and support vector machine. In the present research, the classification accuracies of artificial neural network analysis for black pepper, red pepper, and cinnamon products were 97.8, 100.00, and 100.00 %, respectively. During the experiment, these results were better than the performance of the support vector machine, (93.33, 100.00, and 98.88 %, respectively). Visible image processing can be used accurately to detect different adulterant levels that increase product quality while reducing operating costs.

Black Pepper Response to Different Irrigations Depths

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation depths on development, productivity and water use efficiency of black pepper. Theoretical Framework: Irrigation management is a very important technique from an economic and environmental point of view in an irrigated agricultural activity. Proper irrigation management can save water and energy, increase crop productivity and improve product quality. Method: The experiment had five treatments, four replications, with depth irrigation replacement related to the crop evapotranspiration (ETc). The treatments were T1: 25% of ETc; T2: 50%; T3: 75%; T4: 100%; and T5: 125%. In the first year we evaluated: number of leaves per plant (NLP), plants height (PH), stem diameter (SD) and leaf temperature (LT). In the second year the number of bunches per plant (NBP) and the productivity of fresh grains (PFG) and dry grains (PDG). Results and conclusion: The best results were, respectively, 52.5 (NLP); 173.1 cm (PH) and 13.5 mm (SD), with 100% of ETc. The lowest values of leaf temperature were in the 100% treatment. The best results for NBP and PDG were found in 75% and 100% depths, respectively. The total evapotranspiration that promoted the highest PDG was 563.2 mm, with a yield of 875.2 kg ha-1 and 0.155 kg m-3 of water use efficiency. Implications of research: Producing satisfactorily with water use efficiency is essential for the sustainability of irrigated agriculture. Originality/value: Studies that evaluate the efficiency of water use and its relationship with crop yield are in evidence and need to be encouraged.

Evaluation of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes for their reaction to wilt complex disease and yield performance in Jabi Tehena district, northwestern Ethiopia

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production and productivity is highly hampered by biotic and abiotic factors in Ethiopia. Among biotic factors, wilt complex disease is the major production constraint both in the study area in particular and wherever hot pepper is grown in general. Field experiments were carried out during the 2020 and the 2021 main-rainy growing seasons to evaluate the reaction of 14 hot pepper genotypes to the wilt complex disease and their agronomic performance. Analysis of variance revealed differences among genotypes in disease reaction, growth and yield performance. The local check had the highest disease incidence (58.04%), severity (56.33%), area under the disease progression curve (1471.67% days), and faster disease progression rate (0.0157 units per day) as compared to the rest of the genotypes. The results categorize eight hot pepper genotypes as susceptible (Bako Local, local check, Marko Fana, Melka Awaze, Melka Dear, Melka Oli, Melka Shote and Melka Zala) and six hot pepper varieties as moderately susceptible (Chala, Deme, Dinisire, Kume, Oda Haro and Revival). There were no hot pepper genotypes categorized under the resistant reaction class to the wilt complex disease. Melka Zala produced the highest number of fruits per plant (133.80), marketable dry fruit yield (2.13 t ha−1) and total dry fruit yield (2.30 t ha−1). Out of the evaluated genotypes, the varieties Melka Zala, Melka Dera and Melka Oli were superior in their yield performance. Providing those high-yielding hot pepper varieties in the study area may serve as a short-term solution for sustainable production and productivity of the crop.

Light-use Efficiency and Fruit Dry Matter Content Affect Fresh Yield of Sweet Pepper

Improving the productivity of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) is essential to meeting the increasing global demand. This can be partially accomplished by investigating and determining high-yield traits, thereby enabling the selection or breeding of high-yield plants. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the high-yield traits of sweet pepper by analyzing its yield components. We analyzed yield components of commercially available cultivars (red and yellow) that were hydroponically grown in a greenhouse (e.g., total fruit fresh weight, fruit dry weight, fruit dry matter content, total dry matter production, and light-use efficiency) using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). Our results showed the following: the total fruit fresh weight was positively and negatively correlated with the fruit dry weight (r = 0.83; P < 0.001) and fruit dry matter content (r = –0.70; P < 0.001), respectively; the fruit dry weight was positively correlated with the total dry matter production (r = 0.50; P < 0.01), and the total dry matter production was positively correlated with the light-use efficiency (r = 0.93; P < 0.001); and the cultivars with the high total fruit fresh weight were characterized by the notably low fruit dry matter content and high light-use efficiency (e.g., ‘Gialte’). In conclusion, high-yielding sweet peppers are characterized by a low fruit dry matter content and high light-use efficiency.