Cruz Carballo, Pedro E.

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    Effects of biostimulants and fertilization methods on potted chocolate beauty bell peppers grown in a protected structure
    (2016) Cruz Carballo, Pedro E.; Morales Payán, José P.; College of Agricultural Sciences; Ferwerda, Feiko H.; Rivera Ocasio, Dania; Department of Crops and Agro-Environmental Sciences; Almodóvar, Wanda
    Three experiments were conducted in order to assess the effects of combining different post-transplant N fertilization methods (GUF, SOF, & SUF) with commercially available foliar biostimulants (AQC, VTZ, SPX, & WTR) on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of potted ‘Chocolate Beauty’ bell peppers grown in a Quonset-style greenhouse at the Finca Laboratorio Alzamora in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. A broad mite infestation heavily affected the first experiment. In the first experiment, the combination of SOF + VTZ produced the greatest number of leaves, nodes, and buds at 71 DAS. The SOF method produced the greatest number of leaves, nodes and fruitlets at various stages during the crop cycle. The SOF method also produced the highest amount of total fruits per plant, and the greatest fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots. On the contrary, the SOF method produced unmarketable and total fruits with the shortest length. None of the biostimulants produced more marketable fruit weight per plant than the WTR (control). The highest amount of nitrate in fresh sap was obtained with the SOF method and the thickest pericarps of unmarketable and total fruits were achieved by combining SOF + AQC and SOF + VTZ. In the second experiment, the SUF method produced the greatest shoot dry weight and the most marketable and total fruits per plant. The highest marketable fruit weight per plant was achieved with the SOF + SPX combination. None of the biostimulants produced more total fruit weight per plant than the WTR (control). The greatest length and width of marketable fruits was obtained with the combination SOF + SPX. The thickest pericarps of marketable fruits were achieved with the SUF + WTR combination and the highest brix values of marketable fruits were obtained with the SUF + AQC, GUF + SPX, and SOF + VTZ combination. The earliest unmarketable and total fruit harvest times were obtained with the SUF + AQC and GUF + VTZ combinations while the latest were obtained with the SOF + SPX combination. The SUF and SOF methods produced the highest SPAD values. In the third experiment, the greatest number of leaves, nodes, and plant height is achieved with the SUF method. The SUF method also produced the highest amount of buds, flowers, and fruitlets during early development stages but the SOF method was not significantly different from the SUF on these variables after 47 DAT. Abscission of buds, flowers, and fruitlets was highest with the SUF method at 62 DAT but abscission of buds and fruitlets was highest with the SOF method at 70 DAT. The AQC biostimulant had the least amount of bud abscissions at 62 DAT also. In addition, the SUF method also produced the highest marketable fruit weight and quantity per plant, and the greatest fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots. The SOF + WTR combination produced marketable fruits with the greatest length but none of the biostimulants produced wider marketable fruits than the WTR (control). The earliest marketable and total fruit harvest times were obtained with the SUF method while the latest were obtained with the GUF and SOF methods.