• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.419-427
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of two shading methods, shading agent spray on the glasshouse and internal shading screen treatment, on the growth and fruit quality of paprika (Capsicum annuum L. 'Cupra' and 'Coletti') in summer season cultivation. In the shading agent treatment, a commercial shading agent diluted with water at a ratio of 1 : 4 was sprayed on the roof of a glasshouse. In the internal shading screen treatment, a 10~20% shaded screen was used during the day time when the sun radiation was greater than $700W{\cdot}m^{-2}$. Compared to the unshaded control, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) decreased in the greenhouse in the shading agent (SA) and shading screen (SS) treatments by 20% and 30%, respectively. Lower air temperatures and higher relative humidities were observed in the SA than in both the control and the SS treatment. Time to reach the break point of humidity deficit $8g{\cdot}m^{-3}$ was 2 hours late in the SA than in both the control and the SS treatment. Compared to control, both the SA and the SS treatments showed lower instantaneous temperatures of leaf, fruit, and flower by $2^{\circ}C$, $5^{\circ}C$ and $3^{\circ}C$, respectively. There were no differences in number of branches, stem diameter, and leaf size among treatments although both shading treatments promoted plant height in both cultivars. Botrytis infection ratio declined with the SA treatment by 14.7% in 'Cupra' and 22.1% in 'Coletti' as compared to that in the control. Shading increased fruit size in both cultivars, whereas no differences were observed in the number of locules and thickness of fruit tissue among treatments. Shading treatment increased mean fruit weight by a range of 10 to 15 g per fruit, while it decreased soluble solids contents as compared to that in the control. Similar Hunter values were observed among treatments, while fruit firmness increased slightly in shading treatments. Compared to the control, shading treatments improved marketable fruits by 11.7~22.6% and increased the number of fruits per plant by 4~9.2 in both 'Cupra' and 'Coletti'. The results of this study indicate that shading agent application on the roof of glasshouse would be one of the most effective options to reduce heat stress imposed on the paprika crop in summer cultivation, resulting in improved crop growth and fruit yield.