Influence of Stage and Intensity of Reproductive Organs Pruning on Quality of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) At Humbo, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted on farmer’s field from 2009 to 2010 at Humbo, Southern Ethiopia, to assess the effects of stage and intensity of reproductive organs pruning on quality of pepper. Four levels of pruning (control, one-reproductive organ, two-reproductive organs and three-reproductive organs) and three stages of pruning (bud, anthesis and fruit set), were arranged in factorial combination in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Pepper cultivar called ‘Marekofana’ was used. The interaction effect of three- reproductive organs pruned treatment with fruit set stage gave the highest fruit length (14.64 cm), pericarp thickness (3.65 mm) and fruit diameter (2.98 cm) and the least values were obtained from the control. The interaction effect of three- reproductive organs pruned treatment with anthesis stage gave the highest fruit volume (33.98 cm³) and the least values were obtained from the control.

Key words: Stage, intensity, reproductive organ, pruning, pepper