Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) hybrids agronomical evaluation

Abstract

Objectives:  to evaluate the yield and the quality of 11 bell pepper hybrids.  Methodology:  the trial was established in protected environment, in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The plants were sown in a substrate of coconut fiber, and the nutrient supply was by fertigation.  Results:  There was an important variability among hybrids for days at start of harvest (75 – 82 days after transplant), amount of first quality fruits (5.29 – 14.84fruits/m²), mean first quality fruit weight (173.20 – 238.10g), and marketable (4.41 – 7.62kg/m²) and total yield (5.63 – 8.97kg/m²).  Conclusions:  The hybrids SEO-13 and SKX-31 showed the highest quantity of first quality fruits (14.84 and 14.15fruits/m², respectively).  There were no differences among hybrids for first quality fruit weight.  SKX-31 and SEO-15 showed the highest commercial yield (7.62 and 7.17kg/m², respectively), and these results were higher than those obtained by the hybrids SKX-39, SEO-11 and SKX-36.