Effect of rootstock on refraction of forced fresh pepper Capsicum annuum L.

Abstract

Fresh pepper {Capsicum annuum L.) production has a great tradition in Hungary. In 2014 fresh pepper was forced on 1600 ha, which reached approximately a 10 kg/m2 yield. While in case of tomato, which belongs to the Solanaceae family, the use of grafted plants is relevant today, the practice of grafted plants in the cultivation of hungaricum fresh pepper is a not so known and used method. Therefore, the main objective of the experiment was to study the qualitative changes in response to grafting and to determine the appropriate rootstock - scion combination. The experiment was set up in unheated plastic house at the research garden of Szent István University in Soroksár. Combination of two fresh pepper varieties SV 9702 (white type) and Karpex (kapia type) and two rootstocks Snooker and Capsifort were tested in soil and soilless culture. For soil culture the soil of the plastic house and for the soilless culture coconut fiber slabs was used. Grafted and non-grafted white type fresh peppers were placed at a row width and plant spacing of 110+40 x 33 cm (4 plants per m2) while kapia at 110+40 x25 (5.3 plant per m2). After the picking the Brix content was determined at the analytical laboratory of the department. From each repeat, 6 fruits were blended and measured with manual digital refractometer (PAL-1, ATAGO). After our studies both Snooker and Capsifort rootstock are recommended in combination of SV 9702 white type and Karpex kapia type fresh pepper in soilless culture.