Author
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Russo, Vincent |
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Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2002 Publication Date: 7/1/2003 Citation: RUSSO, V.M. PLANTING DATE AND PLANT DENSITY AFFECT YIELD OF PUNGENT AND NONPUNGENT JALAPENO PEPPERS. HORTSCIENCE. 2003. V. 38. P. 520-523. Interpretive Summary: Tomato and pepper based value-added food products can be prepared with different levels of pungency, or "heat", which is derived from the pepper component. It is important to the industry that the batch-to batch pungency be consistent. New non-pungent peppers have been developed that maintain the appropriate flavor while the "heat" component from extracted capsaicin is added in controlled amounts during production. The cultural methods that favor the most efficient production for these new peppers have not been determined for many potential production areas. To determine if planting date or the number of plants used affected yield and quality, the non-pungent jalapeno peppers were transplanted in mid-April and mid-June of 2000 and 2001, with one or two seedlings at each planting site. Some of the cultivars which produce larger fruit had yields that were as good as, or better than, other of the cultivars tested. Over the course of the experiment there were more fruit produced, and higher yields, when there were two plants per site. If the increased income from higher yield can compensate for the economics of producing, and establishing, two seedlings at each planting site then this technique should be employed when these type of peppers are transplanted to the field early in the year. Technical Abstract: There is little known about cultural conditions that affect yield of non- pungent jalape#o peppers (Capsicum annuum L). Greenhouse grown seedlings of the non-pungent jalapeno peppers 'Pace 103', 'Pace 105', 'Pace 108', 'TAM Sweet2' and 'Dulce', as well as the pungent jalape#o peppers 'TAM Jalape#o1' and 'Delicias' for comparison, were transplanted in mid-April and mid-June of 2000 and 2001, with one or two seedlings at each planting site. Marketable and cull yields were determined. The Pace cultivars, which generally have larger fruit, produced fewer fruit, but yields were as good as, or better than, the other cultivars in both years. In 2000, planting date did not affect yields, but in 2001 yields were lower for the mid-June planting. In both years there were more fruit produced, and higher yields, when there were two plants per site. If the increased income from higher yield can compensate for the economics of producing two seedlings in each transplant tray cell then this technique should be employed when these type of peppers are transplanted to the field early in the year. |
