FLOWERING, FRUIT-SET AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRUIT AND SEED OF SWEET-PEPPER (CAPSICUM-ANNUUM-L) CULTIVATED UNDER CONDITIONS OF HIGH AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE

Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cvs E-84066 and Yolo Wonder were grown under ambient conditions in plastic covered greenhouses. Anthesis commenced five and six weeks after planting and rose to a peak of 39 (E-84066) and 19 (Yolo Wonder) flowers per week respectively after which there was a rapid fall. Temperatures throughout anthesis were high (> 38-degrees-C (maximum) and > 16-degrees-C (minimum)) and this is likely to have contributed to the magnitude of the flux. Fruit set was highest in the early stages of the crop, but subsequently declined as the majority of flowers aborted. Overall, fruit weight was correlated with seed weight and seed number, and declined throughout the life of the crop. By contrast, seed size and the percentage germination remained constant. The latter is of particular importance for seed crops where seed quality is of primary concern.