EFFECTS OF WATER STRESS AT DIFFERENT GROWTH STAGES ON PEPPER YIELD

The effects of water stress occuring at various stages during the growth cycle of peppers were studied in greenhouse-grown plants under stable climatic conditions. The water stress was applied to 4 phenological stages: vegetative growth, flowering, fruit setting and fruit formation. An evaluation of the sensitivity of phenological stages submitted to identical water stress was obtained by comparing 4 yield components analyzed on a plant scale (fresh and dry weight, fruit size and number) to those of a well-irrigated plant. The sensitivity was gratest at the early fruit setting stage. These observations could have an effect on methods for care and irrigation of peppers.