BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICES IN BELL PEPPER GROWN AT HIGH DENSITIES

Abstract

The accumulation and distribution of dry matter and its relationship with some indicators of physiological efficiency in Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cv. ‘Ariane’ cultivated in soilless culture and glasshouse under different management conditions were studied. Three different plant population densities were evaluated: 8 and 14 plants/m² pruned above the third and fourth bifurcation respectively (D8 and D14) and a control without pruning and 3.3 plants m^-2. Four samples were taken: at planting, 40 d after planting (dap) when the first fruit of each plant was setting; at 70 dap, when the first fruits were growing, and at 158 dap during harvesting. The photosynthetic rate was measured in light saturated leaves with an infrared gas analyzer in four dates (40, 54, 68 and 82 dap). Starting from 40 dap, the control accumulated more dry matter per plant than the other plant densities due to its a higher leaf area per plant. However, D8 and D14 produced higher leaf area indexes which were directly correlated with higher dry matter production and fruit yield per square meter than the control. Photosynthetic rate increased mealy 65 % during the growing period of the first fruits (from 12 to 20 µmol CO₂ m^-2 s^-1).