Protected cultivation of sweet pepper hybrids under net-house in Indian conditions

• Published in: Acta horticulturae no. 659; pp. 515 - 521
• Main Authors: Singh, D, Kaur, S, Dhillon, T.S, Singh, P, Hundal, J.S, Singh, G.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Society for Horticultural Science 01.01.2004
• Subjects: Aleyrodidae; altitude; Aphidoidea; Capsicum annuum; fruits; hybrids; insect control; insect pests; insecticides; integrated pest management; mites; protected cultivation; temperature; vegetables
• ISSN: 0567-7572
• DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.659.68

Sweet pepper, an economically potential vegetable is generally grown at high altitude (> 1000 ft.) but more recently its cultivation in Northern Indian plains is gaining popularity. The fruit size and productivity is very poor because of fluctuations in temperature and attack of fruit borer, aphid, mite and white fly in field conditions. The preliminary studies were conducted under net-house with an objective to produce early, uniform large sized fruits with minimum use of insecticides. Out of seven Capsicum hybrids, the hybrid ‘Bharat’ was significantly higher in yields having marketable yield (1.118 kg/plant) and total yield (1.170 kg/plant) as compared to other hybrids (0.468 – 0.910 kg/plant marketable and 0.511 – 930 kg/plant total yield). Fruits were more uniform, larger in size, and mature one month earlier to conventional cultivation. Insect pests were managed mainly by non-chemical methods and with the judicious use of insecticides. Incidence of fruit borer, mites, aphids, and whiteflies was recorded and reaction of different hybrids to these insect-pests is discussed. These results suggests that there is a great scope for protected cultivation of Capsicum and there is further need to develop IPM practices for the management of insect pests to reduce the dependence on insecticides.