Published 2019-04-19
Abstract
Plants utilize the full spectrum of visible light with different colors of the spectrum having differing effects on plant growth and development. This study investigated growth and yield responses of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum ‘Jalapeño’) to different colored shade netting in field conditions in Homestead, Florida. Jalapeño peppers were placed in cubic shade structures (1 m3) covered on the top and sides with either aluminet (50% light exclusion), white (30% light exclusion), red (30%, light exclusion), pearl (30% light exclusion), or black (50% light exclusion) or with no cover (control). Plant height, stem diameter, leaf chlorophyll index and net photosynthesis were measured periodically for plants in each shade cloth treatment. Dry weight was also determined for plants in each treatment. Leaf chlorophyll index did not differ among treatments. Stem diameter and plant height increased over time for all treatments but increased less for plants in the control (no shade) treatment than in the shade treatments. Net photosynthesis and the number of fruit per plant were greater in the aluminet treatment than in other treatments. Plant dry weight was not influenced by shade treatment.