Evaluation of Growth Characteristics of Long-term Hydroponically Grown Sweet Pepper Based on Yield Components

Abstract

To clarify factors determining the fresh fruit yield of sweet pepper plants, we examined and compared yield components of four kinds of sweet pepper plants (‘Artega’, ‘Nagano’, ‘Nesbitt’, and ‘Torirosso’) under a rockwool hydroponic system. Cultivation lasted for 250 days. Significant cultivar differences were found in the fresh fruit weight, fruit dry matter content, total dry matter production (TDM), dry matter fraction to fruits, intercepted amount of light by plant canopy (IL), leaf area index (LAI), and light use efficiency (LUE). In yield component analyses, the fresh fruit weight was significantly correlated with the dry fruit weight (P < 0.001). Additionally, the dry fruit weight was significantly correlated with TDM and LUE (P < 0.001), and TDM was correlated with LUE (P < 0.001). Significant cultivar differences were found in LAI, IL, and dry matter fraction to fruits, but their effects on the fresh fruit weight was low. In conclusion, LUE has a marked effect on the fresh fruit weight of sweet pepper. Choosing a high LUE cultivar and increasing LUE with CO₂ enrichment may be a promising methodology to achieve a high fresh fruit yield.