An Approach of Colored Shade Nets on Photosynthetic Efficiency of Capsicum chinense and Capsicum frutescens

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to assess the effect of red, pearl and aluminet shading nets on the photosynthetic efficiency of Capsicum chinense and C. frutescens. The experiment was carried in entirely randomized block design. C. chinense and C. frutescens were cultivated under red, pearl and aluminet with 35% shading and direct sunlight as control for 150 days. Leaf area, area duration and area ratio; specific leaf area and harvest index were higher in C. frutescens. Net CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance were higher in C. frutescens cultivated under red net and C. chinense cultivated under aluminet net. Transpiration was higher in C. chinense cultivated under the aluminet net. Water use efficiency and relative chlorophyll content and intrinsic water use efficiency were higher in C. frutescens cultivated under the red net. Initial and maximum chlorophyll were also higher in C. frutescens cultivated under red net. Maximum quantum efficiency and chlorophyll fluorescence rate decrease were lower in C. chinense cultivated under red net. Linear flux electron was lower in C. chinense cultivated in the control. PSII open centers fraction was higher in control, pearl net for C. frutescens. Non-photochemical extinction coefficient and dissipation of absorbed light were higher in C. chinense cultivated under red net. C. frutescens cultivated under red net had higher photosynthetic efficiency, considering water use efficiency in dry matter conversion and several mechanisms to maximize the photosynthetic process under shaded conditions.

Keywords

• chlorophyll fluorescence
• dry matter conversion
• photosynthetic process
• shading
• ornamental plants