Co-Authors:
Rylski, I., Institute of Field and Garden Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Spigelman, M., Institute of Field and Garden Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Abstract:
Shading was investigated as a treatment to delay fruit development of sweet red pepper and to protect them from excessive radiation, in order to slow down the development process during winter in the Arava Valley, a hot inland area of Israel. In one experiment the plants were grown throughout the growth season in screenhouses (25% shade), while in the other experiment plants were grown in the open, and shaded (18 or 30% shade) only after the fruits on flowering nodes 1-2 were already at the green-ripe stage. The first method of shading postponed the time of fruit picking by about 1 month, and the second method by 11 days. With the first method, fruit growth and ripening, and with the second ripening only, were slowed down, leading to a larger yield of top-quality fruits. Growing under screenhouses for the entire season led to better developed plants, bigger fruits and a higher total yield. © 1986.