IMPROVEMENT OF PEPPER FRUIT QUALITY AND TIMING OF HARVEST BY SHADING UNDER HIGH SOLAR RADIATION CONDITIONS

The effect of different levels of shading under high solar radiation was investigated during the summer months in the north western Negev desert, and in winter in the Arava (desert) Valley.
During winter plants were grown throughout the season in screenhouses (25% shade), or under shading starting from the green ripe stage.
In both the winter and summer seasons, when solar radiation was reduced throughout the growth season, plant height, number of nodes and leaf size increased.
However, shading inhibited the development of lateral shoots.

Plant development, being changed by shading, affected fruit set, number of fruits per plant, fruit location on the branches, fruit development and yield.

The time of fruit picking was delayed by about 1 month when plants were grown throughout the winter season in screenhouses, and by 11 days when they were covered only at a later stage of their development.
In all experiments, as a result of shading, fruit ripening and shrinking were slowed down, leading to a larger yield of top quality fruits.
Shading during summer eliminated also sun scald damage.

Symposium on Protected Cultivation of Solanacea in Mild Winter Climates

I. Rylski

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.191.23