SUBSTRATE EVALUATION ON POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF SWEET PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) FRUIT UNDER GRAVITY FED FERTIGATION

Fruit quality attributes and nutritive value are affected by nutrient availability and uptake, which is influenced by the chemical reactivity of the growing media.
A greenhouse trial was conducted investigating four physically and chemically different media; perlite (P), coconut coir (CC), and combinations of perlite with either rice straw compost (RSC) or bagasse based spent mushroom substrate (SMS) influence on sweet pepper (‘Destra’) fruit quality and nutrient content.
Three fruits per treatment were collected for determination of elemental nutrient content and fruit quality attributes respectively during early harvest.
The pH and EC of the growing media were also measured at that stage.
Significant differences were seen across media for fruit Ca and K content, pericarp thickness and vitamin C content.
For all quality properties except vitamin C content, P and P+SMS showed greater concentrations.
Correlation analysis revealed some association between fruit nutrient content and quality indices, with further influence of media EC and pH. The effects of chemically reactive media on physiological disorders and fruit quality should be considered.

III International Conference on Postharvest and Quality Management of Horticultural Products of Interest for Tropical Regions

G. Eudoxie, M. Martin, M. Mohammed

growing media, fertigation, fruit quality, sweet pepper

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1047.8