Bell pepper plants cultived in CO₂ enriched environment. III: Fruit characteristics

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at Esalq/USP, Piracicaba/SP and its objective was to study the effects of elevated CO₂ concentrations and water volume on pepper crops, Capsicum annum L. (Solanaceae), planted in pots inside plastic greenhouse. In the morning four levels of CO₂ (367, 600, 800 and 1000 µmol . mol^-1) were applied daily. A drip irrigation system, having one drip by plant, used to irrigate the pots every other day. Four water volumes (30.89 L; 40.7 L; 61.86 L and 82.83 L) with four replications were used. The fruit lengths, fruit widths and the pulp thickness were analyzed. An increase in pulp thickness was found in the CO₂ enriched environment for all water volumes applied. For the lowest water volumes the fruit width was higher in ambient with 800 and 1000 µmol . mol^-1. The fruit lengths were greater in the ambient enriched with 800 µmol . mol^-1 and water volume of 61.86 L