Effect of different blue:red LED light ratios on habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) plants

Habanero pepper is the most economically important horticultural crop in the Yucatan peninsula. This crop under a controlled environment with LED lighting, would allow continuous production, with an exponential increase in yield, and be free of pests and diseases. The objectives were to evaluate the effects of five blue:red LED light ratios and a fluorescent control on plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, phenolic compounds and nutriments concentration in leaf; pollen germination, leaf thickness, ovary anatomy and anther of habanero pepper 'Mayan Ba'alche' grown under controlled conditions. The results showed that the treatments did not induce an effect on plant growth. Red light favored fruit yield and stomatal frequency. Monochromatic red light favored the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, Mg and Mn and induced a lower P and Cu concentration. Monochromatic blue light favored the concentration of phenolic compounds. The control induced a higher K concentration among some LED treatments and increased pollen germination and leaf thickness as well as monochromatic blue light. The anatomy of ovules in ovaries and pollen in anthers has no effect of the treatments.