Researcher: J.W. Zandstra and R.C. Squire, Ridgetown College, University of Guelph

Objectives:

1. Evaluate new pepper cultivars for yield, quality and acceptability to Ontario processors when produced under Ontario growing conditions.

2. Coordinate yield and quality evaluations with disease resistance evaluations in order to provide a more complete package on new cultivar performance.

Methodology:

Fifteen bell pepper cultivars were seeded in the greenhouse into 200 cell trays containing BM-2 growing media on 10 April 2000. They were transplanted on 12 June 2000 into a Brookston clay loam sand spot phase soil on the Ridgetown College research farm, with a row spacing of 1.0 m and in row spacing of 45 cm (22 222 plants/ha).

Weeds were controlled with a preplant incorporated treatment of Edge. Weed escapes were controlled with cultivation and hoeing.

Nitrogen fertilizer was applied preplant at rate of 35 kg/ha actual N. Phosphorous and potassium applications were based on soil analysis.

European corn borers were controlled with sprays of Ambush and aphids were controlled using Pirimor. There were a total of 2 Ambush and 1 Pirimor sprays applied.

Mature green peppers were harvested until 27 October.

The trial was established in a randomized complete block design with four replications. A single plot consisted of 1 rows, 8 m in length with 1.0 m between the rows.

Results:

While the growing season was relatively cool and harvest was delayed, a long frost-free fall allowed for good yields. Yields were considerably higher than in 1999. Plant size was good and fruit size was large. King Arthur continued to be the top yielding cultivar (30.8 t/acre) followed by Boynton Bell (27.4 t/acre) EX 12292 (26.9 t/acre) and PR99 Y-3 (25.6 t/acre). Fruit numbers per plant appeared closely tied with total yields, with the top yielding cultivars producing 8.5 - 10 fruit per plant, while the poorest yielding cultivar has 4 fruit per plant.

PR99 Y-3 was also the largest fruiting, averaging 317 g/fruit, followed by Orion at 287 g/fruit. The fruit of Boynton Bell averaged 249 g.