EFFECTS OF PACLOBUTRAZOL ON GROWTH AND FRUITING CHARACTERISTICS OF ´PITANGA´ ORNAMENTAL PEPPER

Two experiments using container-grown ornamental pepper (Capsicum chinense ‘Pitanga’), were conduced to determine effects of paclobutrazol on growth and fruiting responses.
In experiment 1, paclobutrazol was sprayed on the canopy at concentrations of 0; 30; 60; 90; 120 and 150 mg ai•L^-1. In experiment 2, paclobutrazol drenches were applied at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 mg ai•L^-1. Increasing paclobutrazol concentration decreased plant height, plant diameter and plant dry mass but increased leaf chlorophyll content in both experiments.
Severe height retardation of plants was evident at 30 and 60 mg ai•L^-1 in the second experiment, also exhibiting phytotoxicity symptoms.
Paclobutrazol treated plants exhibited greener leaves compared to untreated plants.
Increasing paclobutrazol foliar application concentrations, the fruit diameter was increased and the fruit weight was unaffected.
Considerations of growth and fruiting response should be balanced when using paclobutrazol in ‘Pitanga’ ornamental pepper pot production.

V International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops

J.A. Saraiva Grossi, P.J. de Moraes, S. de Araújo Tinoco, J.G. Barbosa, F.L. Finger, P.R. Cecon

Capsicum chinense, plant growth retardant, ornamental, pot plant, plant height

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.683.41