Evaluating the effects of variety and production system on the development of silvering in bell pepper fruit

View the project final report

Commodities

• Vegetables: peppers

Practices

• Crop Production: fertigation
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research
• Pest Management: field monitoring/scouting, genetic resistance, mulching - plastic, row covers (for pests), weather monitoring
• Production Systems: agroecosystems, holistic management
• Soil Management: soil analysis

Phytophthora-resistant bell peppers are one of the most widely grown vegetable crops grown in New Jersey and the Northeast. Silvering or skin separation has been linked to Phytophthora resistance in bell pepper. The more resistant a pepper variety is to Phytophthora blight, the more likely its’ fruit develop silvering. Production systems may also influence the amount of silvering that develops on pepper fruit. The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of production system and Phytophthora-resistance on silvering in bell pepper production.

In New Jersey, bell peppers are grown either 1) on high beds with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation 2) on high bare soil beds with overhead irrigation, or 3) on high bare soil beds with drip irrigation. This study will examine the effects of Phytophthora-resistance and production methods on development of silvering in 5 commonly grown bell pepper varieties in New Jersey.

In 2006, trials will be set up in 3 grower fields and at Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC) in New Jersey. Each trial will consist of a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. At three on-farm sites, bell pepper varieties with different levels of Phytophthora-resistance (Paladin, Aristotle, Revolution, Alliance and Camelot) will be grown according to one of three different production methods 1) on black plastic mulch with drip irrigation (Sheppard farm), 2) on high bare soil beds with overhead irrigation (Martino Farm) and 3) on high bare soil beds with drip irrigation (Laning Bros. Farm Inc.) to represent the three production methods on which bell peppers are produced in New Jersey. At RAREC, a single trial will be set up to duplicate the 3 production systems used at each on-farm site. At each farm site and RAREC peppers will be grown according to each farmer’s production methods (i.e. pesticide program, etc). At each harvest, peppers will be weighed, graded and separated according to USDA standards to determine the effects of variety and production method on the development of silvering. Irrigation and fertility schedules and production practices will be carefully monitored and recorded during the production season. Soil samples will be collected at each site at planting and harvest. Soil moisture probes will be set-up at RAREC to monitor soil moisture levels in each production system during the growing season. Collected data will be analyzed with SAS to determine if significant differences exist. After each harvest, pepper fruit will be given to each farmer.