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Salinity is a major abiotic stressor that can significantly impact plant growth and productivity. To evaluate the physiological responses of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. Ps301) to gradual salinity stress (SLS) and shock salinity stress (STS), an experiment was conducted using a factorially based completely randomized design (CRD). The sodium chloride (NaCl) induced salinity treatments were administered in the nutrient solution in two forms: STS and SLS. The SLS was applied for 8 days, with stress levels increasing every 2 days; STS was administered for 48 h. The signaling response was activated more rapidly and abruptly in response to STS; however, after the various adaptive responses to salinity, these signals were more activated in response to SLS. The STS led to plant growth a greater decrease than SLS. The electrolyte leakage (EL) increased under both SLS and STS by 60% and 61% compared to the control, respectively. Other stress indices, such as phenol and abscisic acid (ABA) content, increased by 26% and 71% under SLS compared to STS. Salinity increased the leaf water potential (LWP) in two salt regimes, and the root water potential (RWP) in STS conditions only. Salinity stress decreased plasma membrane intrinsic protein gene expression in roots, especially in STS compared to SLS. The STS increased plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) expression in leaves more than SLS. It was concluded that salinity impairs the growth and physiological characteristics of pepper; however, the signaling and stress indices respond differently to STS and SLS application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to investigate the synergistic and antagonistic interactions of combined application of Phosphorus and Zinc fertilizers on sweet pepper in net house conditions. Pot experiment consists of thirteen treatments combinations set up in a completely randomized design. The treatment combinations comprising of four levels of phosphorus (0, 237.5, 355.5 and 475 kg Single Super Phosphate ha−1) and three levels of Zn (5, 7.5 and 10 kg Zinc Sulfate ha−1) including one control (100% NPK). The available macro and micronutrients content in potting mixture was confirmed in medium range before conducting the experiment. The results clearly demonstrate the treatment comprising 475 kg SSP ha−1 with 10 kg ZnSO4 ha−1 (T13) showed synergistic effects on vegetative characteristics, above and below ground nutrient content as well as nutrient uptake. When balanced phosphatic and zinc fertilizers (T13) are applied to soil, there is a low possibility of an antagonistic reaction. Antagonism problems arise most frequently when the soil's Zn content is extremely low in combination with excess application of P fertilizer limiting their availability to plants. To avoid P-Zn antagonism in the soil system, utilization of appropriate fertilizer methods, supplies, and rates was done. As a result, the present study confirms that recommended fertilizer doses combined with phosphorus @ 475 kg SSP ha−1 and zinc @ 10 kg ZnSO4 ha−1, is the best nutrient combination for improving plant growth parameters; however, in terms of soil parameters, P and Zn fertilizers affected micronutrient content in soil, which further interacted antagonistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the microclimate condition inside a greenhouse is very important to ensure the best indoor conditions for both crop growth and crop production. To this regard, this paper provides the results of a novel approach to study a greenhouse, aiming to define a porous media model simulating the crop presence. As first, an experimental campaign has been carried out to evaluate air temperature and air velocity distributions in a naturally ventilated greenhouse with sweet pepper plants cultivated in pots. Then, the main aspects of energy balance, in terms of mass transfer and heat exchange, and both indoor and outdoor climate conditions have been combined to set up a computational fluid dynamics model. In the model, in order to simulate the crop presence and its effects, an isotropic porous medium following Darcy's law has been defined based on the physical characteristics of the crops. The results show that the porous medium model could accurately simulate the heat and mass transfer between crops, air, and soil. Moreover, the adoption of this model helps to clarify the mechanism of thermal exchanges between crop and indoor microclimate and allows to assess in more realistic ways the microclimate conditions close to the crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIndigenous fermented liquid formulations (Panchagavya, Jeevamrut and Amritpani) are rich sources of beneficial microflora and fauna, vitamins, minerals and growth-promoting hormones. Small and marginal farmers of North-West Himalayan region popularly grow sweet pepper as commercial crop. Poultry manure and vermicompost are two cheap nutrient sources, popular among these growers. So, inorder to investigate the combined effect of these organic inputs, two-year field experiment with seven treatments and three replications; with randomized block design; comprised of 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40 per cent recommended dose of nutrients (RDN) which was applied through vermicompost and poultry manure along with Panchagavya (5%), Jeevamrut (5%), Amritpani (5%) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria which was isolated from experimental location, applied to all treatments, except T1; was carried out to study the response of these inputs on quality parameters of sweet pepper. Results revealed that treatment T2 that comprised of 90% RDN including Panchagavya, Jeevamrut, Amritpani and PGPR led to noticeably improvement in growth and quality parameters viz. chlorophyll-a (0.52 mg g−1), chlorophyll-b (0.73 mg g−1), ascorbic acid (29.47 mg 100 g−1), protein content (28.90%), capsaicin content (0.23 mg g−1), number of primary branches (8.20), average fruit weight (62 g), fruit yield (290.58 quintals ha−1), number of flowers per plant (24.97), leaf area index (4.73) and shelf life (6.03 days). Hence, it is concluded that the combined use of these inputs has the potential to enhance growth and quality characteristics of sweet pepper in achieving sustainable crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study explores how a wireworm (Agriotes lineatus L. [Coleoptera: Elateridae]) infestation affects sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants and their interactions with parasitic nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditidae). We found that A. lineatus damage decreases ascorbate levels in leaves but increases them in roots, along with higher cysteine and glutathione levels in leaves. These changes likely boost the plant's antioxidant defense mechanisms. We also observed increases in carotenoids and chlorophylls, which directly enhance the plant's protection against light stress. Additionally, wireworm-infested roots released several volatile compounds, among which, most notably, is hexanal that signals plant stress. Nematodes responded differently to tested exudates based on their species and environmental factors like temperature. The findings emphasize the need to consider these variables when using VOCs for the biological control of nematodes. Future research should focus on refining these strategies for better pest management in agriculture. This study of underground multitrophic communication, involving plant roots, insects, and parasitic nematodes, is an emerging field with significant implications for understanding plant–insect–nematode interactions. Our research investigated the impact of wireworm (Agriotes lineatus L. [Coleoptera: Elateridae]) infestations on the ascorbate–glutathione system in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants in order to study the potential role in root-exudate-mediated nematode chemotaxis. We observed that an A. lineatus infestation led to a decrease in leaf ascorbate levels and an increase in root ascorbate, with corresponding increases in the glutathione content in both roots and leaves. Additionally, a pigment analysis revealed increased carotenoid and chlorophyll levels and a shift towards a de-epoxidized state in the xanthophyll cycle. These changes suggest an individual and integrated regulatory function of photosynthetic pigments accompanied with redox modifications of the ascorbate–glutathione system that enhance plant defense. We also noted changes in the root volatile organic compound (VOC). Limonene, methyl salicylate, and benzyl salicylate decreased, whereas hexanal, neoisopulegol, nonanal, phenylethyl alcohol, m-di-tert-butylbenzene, and trans-β-ionone increased in the roots of attacked plants compared to the control group. Most notably, the VOC hexanal and amino acid exudate cysteine were tested for the chemotaxis assay. Nematode responses to chemoattractants were found to be species-specific, influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature. This study highlights the complexity of nematode chemotaxis and suggests that VOC-based biological control strategies must consider nematode foraging strategies and environmental factors. Future research should further explore these dynamics to optimize nematode management in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsicum annuum L. has worldwide distribution, but drought has limited its production. There is a lack of research to better understand how this species copes with drought stress, whether it is reversible, and the effects of mitigating agents such as salicylic acid (SA). Therefore, this study aimed to understand the mechanisms of action of SA and rehydration on the physiology of pepper plants grown under drought conditions. The factorial scheme adopted was 3 × 4, with three water regimes (irrigation, drought, and rehydration) and four SA concentrations, namely: 0 (control), 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM. This study evaluated leaf water percentage, water potential of shoots, chlorophylls (a and b), carotenoids, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration at different times of day, water conditions (irrigation, drought, and rehydration), and SA applications (without the addition of a regulator (0) and with the addition of SA at concentrations equal to 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM). In general, exogenous SA application increased stomatal conductance (gs) responses and modified the fluorescence parameters (ΦPSII, qP, ETR, NPQ, D, and E) of sweet pepper plants subjected to drought followed by rehydration. It was found that the use of SA, especially at concentrations of 1 mM in combination with rehydration, modulates gs, which is reflected in a higher electron transport rate. This, along with the production of photosynthetic pigments, suggests that H2O2 did not cause membrane damage, thereby mitigating the water deficit in pepper plants. Plants under drought conditions and rehydration with foliar SA application at concentrations of 1 mM demonstrated protection against damage resulting from water stress. Focusing on sustainable productivity, foliar SA application of 1 mM could be recommended as a technique to overcome the adverse effects of water stress on pepper plants cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out in a private greenhouse farm located in Al-Madaen city / old Diyala Bridge / Western Tuwaitha village (N 44, 29,47-E 36, 33,11) in the agricultural season 2020/2021 to study the effect of micronutrient absorption efficiency and yield of sweet pepper was grown in calcareous soil, Dutch Olombus sweet pepper was planted and used the nutrients (manganese at a concentration of 30 mg.l-1, copper at ca concentration of 25 mg.l -1 . Iron at a concentration of 50 mg.l -1, zinc at a concentration of 60 mg.l-1, The factorial experiment was carried out according to the split-plot design with two methods of nutrients application, one by spraying on shoots foliar application and the other with irrigation water, 16 treatments were used for each method of addition, which consisted of single, double, triple and quadruple addition of the nutrients that used in the experiment, with the control treatment for each method of addition and with three replicates for each treatment, there were 30 additions duration of the experiment, the first edition took place after two weeks of cultivation in the field, the period between each addition was one week, and the macronutrients N, P, K were used in concentrations (425 Kg N ha-1,175kg P ha-1 and 250 kg K ha-1 ), the results of highest cumulative yield was for the Fe+ Zn+ Mn treatment which added by spraying on shoots, which amounted to 159.15 Mg h -1 ., It also showed a highly significant superiority for all treatments of adding micronutrients sprayed on the shoot over the corresponding treatments of adding these nutrients with irrigation water on the efficiency of absorption of micronutrients in the fruits of the sweet pepper plant. The Fe+ Mn treatment gave the highest value for the iron absorption efficiency of 341.3%, while the Zn+ Mn+ Cu treatment gave the highest value for the zinc absorption efficiency of 113.17%. As for the manganese absorption efficiency, the Fe+ Mn treatment gave the highest value of 517.2%. As for the absorption efficiency of copper, the Fe+ Mn+ Cu treatment gave the highest value of 217.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the productivity of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) is essential to meeting the increasing global demand. This can be partially accomplished by investigating and determining high-yield traits, thereby enabling the selection or breeding of high-yield plants. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the high-yield traits of sweet pepper by analyzing its yield components. We analyzed yield components of commercially available cultivars (red and yellow) that were hydroponically grown in a greenhouse (e.g., total fruit fresh weight, fruit dry weight, fruit dry matter content, total dry matter production, and light-use efficiency) using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). Our results showed the following: the total fruit fresh weight was positively and negatively correlated with the fruit dry weight (r = 0.83; P < 0.001) and fruit dry matter content (r = -0.70; P < 0.001), respectively; the fruit dry weight was positively correlated with the total dry matter production (r = 0.50; P < 0.01), and the total dry matter production was positively correlated with the light-use efficiency (r = 0.93; P < 0.001); and the cultivars with the high total fruit fresh weight were characterized by the notably low fruit dry matter content and high light-use efficiency (e.g., 'Gialte'). In conclusion, high-yielding sweet peppers are characterized by a low fruit dry matter content and high light-use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of oviposition preference in insects is considered a key evolutionary strategy in the context of host–plant interaction. It is hypothesized that insects maximize the survival and fitness of the subsequent generations by preferring specific host plant(s), known as the "preference-performance hypothesis." In this study, we tested whether adult host preference reflects the immature performance in an oligophagous insect, Phthorimaea absoluta Meyrick, a rapidly emerging invasive pest in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Based on a preliminary survey of the potential host plants of P. absoluta , we selected 6 Solanaceae species, namely, tomato, potato, eggplant, black nightshade, sweet pepper, and tobacco, for the oviposition preference studies. The results indicated that the tomato was the most preferred host in no-, dual- and multiple-choice assays, followed by potato, eggplant, and black nightshade. Subsequently, the insect life-table parameters were found to be superior on tomato compared to other hosts. The order of oviposition preference on the host plants was strongly correlated with the life-table parameters of P. absoluta. Thus, we provide clear evidence for the preference–performance hypothesis in the host selection behavior of P. absoluta. We also emphasize the necessity of conducting oviposition behavior research at various geographic locations to develop tailor-made integrated pest management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work is to propose methods and tools for classifying sweet pepper into groups according to their degree of maturity based on color and spectral characteristics extracted from color images on the surface of the vegetables. The investigated pepper is two varieties of sweet - red Banji and yellow Liri. Five groups were formed, depending on the degree of maturity, and 16 color and 11 spectral indices were calculated for each of the groups. By successively using the ReliefF and PLSR methods, a selection of informative features and subsequent reduction of the vector formed by them was carried out, thereby aiming to increase the predictive results and minimize the time for data processing. The obtained classification errors between the individual stages of ripening vary according to the type of pepper and depending on which of the two types of maturity the fruits are in - technical or biological. For red sweet pepper, the separation inaccuracy obtained using a discriminant classifier with a quadratic separation function is in the range of 8 - 19%, while for yellow it is from 5 to 23%. The results obtained in the present work for the classification of pepper into groups according to their degree of maturity would support decision-making in selective harvesting and overall more accurate and efficient management of the harvesting process from the point of view of precision agriculture. The work will continue with studies related to the prediction of various compounds indicating changes in the color of peppers, including chlorophylls, carotenes and xanthophylls. In this way, it is possible to increase the accuracy in determining the degree of ripeness, since in pepper the color does not always follow the same pattern of change from green to yellow to orange to red. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of high temperature stress on photosynthetic apparatus and polen viability between two commercial sweet green pepper cultivars, Stryama and Milkana F1, was investigated. The first genotype is the father parent of the second, which was developed on the bases of male sterility. During the bud formation and flowering periods, the plants were treated with high temperatures of 40 and 45°C for 2 and 1 h, respectively. Chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content, pollen germination, flower tube length, and correlation links between the studied parameters were measured. The applied stress increased the initial (Fo) fluorescence in dark-adapted leaves and decreased the maximum (Fm) and variable (Fv) fluorescence. The quantum yield (Fv/Fm) of the PS II also decreased in stressed plants under two temperature treatments, with the highest increase at 45°C for 1 h. Results showed that the contents of chlorophyll in pepper leaves were significantly reduced when exposed to high temperature stress throughout the experiment. The photosynthetic efficiency of cultivar Milkana F1 revealed a trend towards higher tolerance than cultivar Stryama. The cytological results of the pollen germination and the high percentage of viable pollen showed the presence of heterosis effect in Milkana F1 cultivar in high temperature stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yogurt contains various health‐promoting components such as beneficial bacteria and bioactive peptides. However, plain yogurt is regarded as a poor source of phenolic compounds, vitamin C, and other substances that give a high antioxidant property to the product. Since the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the addition of different concentrated sweet pepper extracts (CSPE) to the yogurt milk formulation on some quality parameters of the probiotic set yogurt during 21 days of cold storage. For the production of probiotic yogurt samples, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 was used as probiotic bacteria. The functional set yogurts containing 5% of yellow, orange, or red CSPE were prepared and compared with probiotic control yogurt (without CSPE). With incorporation of CSPE, a functional yogurt with high viable cell counts of probiotics (>108 cfu/g), appropriate acceptability (acceptance scores more than 7, i.e., good acceptability), and textural quality produced. Fortified CSPE yogurt displayed large flakes with irregular surface and more compact texture as compared to the control sample. Based on the results of the study, the yogurt sample having orange CSPE was selected as the best functional product. After 21 days of storage, orange CSPE had the highest hardness (173.33 mg), consistency (1183.33 mg/s), and probiotic counts (8.3 log cfu/g) than other yogurt samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting technology has recently emerged as a potential and alternative approach to the comparatively sluggish conventional breeding procedures for increasing tolerance to abiotic stressors, soil pathogens, and improving production and quality features in fruit vegetables. Grafting has been used commercially on watermelons, muskmelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and eggplants to increase plant tolerance to a variety of abiotic conditions, such as soil salinity, drought, waterlogging, high or low temperatures, and heavy metal toxicity, as well as to increase vegetable crop output and quality characteristics. The purpose of this review was to create a complete evaluation based on the available literature on the role of grafting technique in combating various abiotic stresses and boosting yield and quality of vegetable crops. Such information may aid researchers and vegetable growers in improving vegetable quality, particularly under abiotic stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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AbstractAlthough over 350 species of plants have been documented to host the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), its invasion in West Africa has been mainly on maize. This study investigated the factors that limit the host utilization and tested the effects of intercropping of Poaceae (maize, sorghum, rice and Proso millet), Solanaceae (tomato and sweet pepper), and Fabaceae (cowpea and soybean) plants on FAW severity. The laboratory larvae fed with those crops showed higher pupation rates for maize (33.6%) than sorghum (20%), rice (24.2%), Proso millet (17.6%), tomato (fruit = 5.3% and leaf = 6 .4%), sweet pepper (fruit = 1.3% and leaf = 1.6%). Only larvae fed with Poaceae plants reached the adult stage. Female ovipositional potentiality was higher with maize compared to other Poaceae plants. In the field experiments, FAW severities were recorded only on Poaceae plants. However, the severity of FAW was significantly reduced on the intercropped maize with other crops compared to monocultures of maize. Therefore, intercropping can be considered as an eco-friendly FAW-IPM program in West Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet pepper, a globally commercialized horticultural crop, has been demonstrated to impede fat accumulation, but its mechanism remains incompletely understood. This study was designed to explore the potential mechanism of sweet pepper in reducing fat accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans through RNA‐seq and metabolome analysis. A total of 22 metabolites were identified from sweet pepper by UHPLC‐ESI‐TOF‐MS analysis. In vivo, sweet pepper significantly inhibited α‐glucosidase activity and reduced the levels of glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and the area stained with oil red O. Additionally, it increased body length and the number of head swings in C. elegans compared to the control group. The KEGG enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids signaling pathway among the differentially expressed genes and metabolites. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins (SREBPs) ortholog SBP‐1, as well as the stearyl CoA desaturase‐1 (SCD1), including fat‐5, fat‐6, and fat‐7, were significantly decreased after treatment with sweet pepper. Collectively, sweet pepper effectively reduces fat accumulation, which is probably related to downregulating the SREBP‐SCD axis, offering new insights for future functional food development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural productivity and sustainable crop management are pivotal aspects of global food security and economic stability. The quest for efficient and environmentally friendly practices in crop production has led to a surge in research exploring the utilisation of organic materials alongside conventional fertilisers to enhance crop growth and yield. An experiment was conducted over a growing period of three months, starting in August 2023 at the research field of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana, to investigate the effects of Albizia zygia leafy biomass in combination with NPK fertiliser on the growth and yield of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.). A randomised complete block design was employed with four treatment groups replicated four times, including various combinations of A. zygia leafy biomass and NPK fertiliser, alongside control groups of sole fertiliser application and untreated plots (T1). The treatments were as follows: T1 = No biomass, no NPK (control); T2 = 0.5348 kg of A. zygia leafy biomass per 4.86 m2 (1100.5 kg/ha of A. zygia leafy biomass); T3 = 0.2463 kg of NPK per 4.86 m2 (506.7 kg/ha of NPK); and T4 = 0.2674 kg of A. zygia leafy biomass per 4.86 m2 + 0.1231 kg of NPK (550.3 kg/ha of A. zygia leafy biomass + 253.4 kg/ha of NPK). The assessed parameters were plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, fruit yield and fresh fruit weight. Significant variations (p < 0.05) were observed in the growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves, number of branches) and yield attributes (fruit yield and fresh fruit weight) of sweet pepper among the treatments. The combined application of A. zygia leafy biomass and NPK fertiliser (T4) exhibited increased effects on plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, fruit yield and fresh fruit weight compared to individual treatments and control groups (p < 0.05). Notably, the treatment combining A. zygia leafy biomass and NPK fertiliser (T4) demonstrated a substantial increase in plant height (44.58 cm), a significant improvement in the number of leaves (42.98) and a remarkable enhancement in the number of branches (11.33) compared to the sole applications and the control group. Furthermore, the combined treatment significantly increased (p < 0.05) the yield parameters, including fruit yield and fresh fruit weight per hectare, showcasing an increase of 8796/ha and 23.91 t/ha, respectively, compared to sole fertiliser application and the control. The findings from this study demonstrated that the incorporation of A. zygia leafy biomass, either solely or in combination with NPK fertiliser, positively impacted the growth and yield of sweet pepper plants. These results highlight the potential of A. zygia leafy biomass as a valuable organic amendment for sustainable and enhanced crop production, offering promising implications for agricultural practices aimed at improving yield and plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of çemen pastes prepared in different formulations on physicochemical, microbiological, and textural properties of hamburgers during refrigerated storage (4°C; 60 d). Çemen pastes were produced by using different combination doses of fenugreek seed flour, sweet red pepper, and garlic powder. As a result of çemen paste usage in hamburgers, cooking losses and dimensional shrinkage decreased, whereas moisture and fat retention ratios increased (p <.05). The hardness, gumminess, and chewiness values of hamburgers containing çemen paste were generally lower than those of control (p <.05). Çemen paste addition to hamburgers generally did not cause a difference in terms of microbial growth and moisture, fat and ash contents. Protein contents of hamburgers containing çemen paste or breadcrumbs were generally higher than that of control (p <.05). Çemen paste usage in hamburgers generally decreased the L* values and increased the b* values (p <.05). In general, addition of 3.5% or higher doses of both sweet red pepper and garlic powder caused higher a* values in hamburger patties (p <.05). Lower oxidation levels were generally observed in hamburgers containing 3% or lower doses of fenugreek seed flour and 4.5% of garlic powder in çemen paste (p <.05). It was concluded that çemen paste usage in hamburger patty processing has the potential to improve the quality characteristics and delay oxidative changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet pepper is a crop that benefits from phytosanitary treatments with low environmental impact, especially the successful control of pests through the introduction of biological control agents in greenhouses. However, predators that naturally occur in these surroundings often enter greenhouses. The precise roles of these natural predators and their interactions with the introduced predatory insects and mites are often unknown. This study investigated the relationships between Nesidiocoris tenuis, which is naturally present, and Amblyseius swirskii and Orius laevigatus, which are two species of generalist predators released for the control of multiple pests. This study was conducted for two years on 13 commercial sweet pepper crops in various types of greenhouses (tunnels and traditional greenhouses) in Sicily. The environmental complexity value (ECV) for each site was estimated based on 18 points detected around the site according to the different habitats that occurred at each coordinate. The results showed that the occurrence of N. tenuis in greenhouses, independently of their typology (tunnel or traditional greenhouse), was mainly promoted by the greater diversification of habitats immediately surrounding the pepper crops (in a circular area with a diameter of 500 mt), with an increase in its density during the crop season. Moreover, N. tenuis–O. laevigatus's co-occurrence in flowers suggested that they were not impacted by each other's presence and that their co-occurrence had a significant effect on pest reduction, although their co-occurrence was density-dependent. As an intraguild predator, N. tenuis competed with O. laevigatus for Frankliniella occidentalis when many predators were present. In addition, N. tenuis also competed with A. swirskii when they both occurred in flowers at a higher density. This study highlights the importance of pepper plant flowers in promoting a higher occurrence of juvenile forms of N. tenuis within flowers. Amblyseius swirskii colonized the plants in 3 weeks, distributing itself almost uniformly over the leaves with a clear control action against not only Bemisia tabaci but also F. occidentalis when present on the flowers. Thus, this concurrent analysis of several commercial pepper sites within the same production area suggests that, even with similar pest control plans, the diverse variability in the presence of natural enemies must be considered when selecting control strategies for pepper crop pests and that N. tenuis, favored by complex surrounding habitats, contributes actively to pest reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein persulfidation is a thiol-based oxidative posttranslational modification (oxiPTM) that involves the modification of susceptible cysteine thiol groups present in peptides and proteins through hydrogen sulfide (H2S), thus affecting their function. Using sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits as a model material at different stages of ripening (immature green and ripe red), endogenous persulfidated proteins (persulfidome) were labeled using the dimedone switch method and identified using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS). A total of 891 persulfidated proteins were found in pepper fruits, either immature green or ripe red. Among these, 370 proteins were exclusively present in green pepper, 237 proteins were exclusively present in red pepper, and 284 proteins were shared between both stages of ripening. A comparative analysis of the pepper persulfidome with that described in Arabidopsis leaves allowed the identification of 25% of common proteins. Among these proteins, glutathione reductase (GR) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) were selected to evaluate the effect of persulfidation using an in vitro approach. GR activity was unaffected, whereas LAP activity increased by 3-fold after persulfidation. Furthermore, this effect was reverted through treatment with dithiothreitol (DTT). To our knowledge, this is the first persulfidome described in fruits, which opens new avenues to study H2S metabolism. Additionally, the results obtained lead us to hypothesize that LAP could be involved in glutathione (GSH) recycling in pepper fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient automation of stem‐cutting processes in agricultural practices is crucial but little‐studied for improving productivity and reducing labor‐intensive tasks. To address this need, we present a customized stem cutter and stem holder designed explicitly for sweet pepper harvesting. The stem cutter comprises a fixed plate and a moving plate with a blade, which moves in a single plane at an upward angle of 30° toward the fixed plate. The movement of the blade is facilitated by a soft bellows pneumatic actuator constructed using silicon rubber material. By applying air pressure from a DC air pump, the actuator extends forward, causing the blade part to make contact with the fixed plate and effectively cut the stem. The stem holder holds the stem securely before cutting. It contains two inflatable manipulators made of soft materials that expand inwards when air‐filled, ensuring that the stem is securely held and readily collected after harvest. Both simulation and experimental results are presented, in which the average cutting time was 2.356 s. We believe that these innovations represent an efficient method for automating the stem‐cutting process in sweet pepper cultivation and thus significantly contribute to the field of agricultural robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing evidence that plant-associated microorganisms play important roles in defending plants against insect herbivores through both direct and indirect mechanisms. While previous research has shown that these microbes can modify the behaviour and performance of insect herbivores and their natural enemies, little is known about their effect on egg parasitoids which utilize oviposition-induced plant volatiles to locate their hosts. In this study, we investigated how root inoculation of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) with the plant-beneficial fungi Beauveria bassiana ARSEF 3097 or Trichoderma harzianum T22 influences the olfactory behaviour of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis following egg deposition by its host Nezara viridula. Olfactometer assays showed that inoculation by T. harzianum significantly enhanced the attraction of the egg parasitoid, while B. bassiana had the opposite effect. However, no variation was observed in the chemical composition of plant volatiles. Additionally, fitness-related traits of the parasitoids (wasp body size) were not altered by any of the two fungi, suggesting that fungal inoculation did not indirectly affect host quality. Altogether, our results indicate that plant inoculation with T. harzianum T22 can be used to enhance attraction of egg parasitoids, which could be a promising strategy in manipulating early plant responses against pest species and improving sustainable crop protection. From a more fundamental point of view, our findings highlight the importance of taking into account the role of microorganisms when studying the intricate interactions between plants, herbivores and their associated egg parasitoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective strategy for enhancing fruit production continuity during extended sweet pepper season involves adopting innovative biostimulants such as potassium silicate (PS) and vinasse. Adjusting PS and vinasse concentrations are crucial for maintaining the balance between vegetative and fruit growth, particularly in sweet pepper with a shallow root system, to sustain fruiting over prolonged season. However, the interaction between PS and vinasse and the underlying physiological mechanisms that extend the sweet pepper season under greenhouse conditions remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PS and vinasse treatments on the yield and biochemical constituents of perennial pepper plants cultivated under greenhouse conditions. For two consecutive seasons [2018/2019 and 2019/2020], pepper plants were sprayed with PS (0, 0.5, and 1 g/l) and drenched with vinasse (0, 1, 2, and 3 l/m3). To estimate the impact of PS and vinasse on the growth, yield, and biochemical constituents of pepper plants, fresh and dry biomass, potential fruit yield, and some biochemical constituents were evaluated. Results revealed that PS (0.5 g/l) coupled with vinasse (3 l/m3) generated the most remarkable enhancement, in terms of plant biomass, total leaf area, total yield, and fruit weight during both growing seasons. The implementation of vinasse at 3 l/m3 with PS at 0.5 and 1 g/l demonstrated the most pronounced augmentation in leaf contents (chlorophyll index, nitrogen and potassium), alongside improved fruit quality, including total soluble solid and ascorbic acid contents, of extended sweet pepper season. By implementing the optimal combination of PS and vinasse, growers can significantly enhance the biomass production while maintaining a balance in fruiting, thereby maximizing the prolonged fruit production of superior sweet pepper under greenhouse conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilli peppers are widely consumed for their pungency, as used in flavoring the food and has many pharmaceutical and medicinal properties. Based on these properties an experiment was held using 83 varieties of chilli (Hot pepper and sweet pepper) were grown in suitable environment using Augment Block design and evaluated for fruit pungency and phytochemical contents using high proficiency liquid chromatography. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of traits showed highly significant for all traits except for fruit length and capsaicin contents. The value of Least significant increase (LSI)was ranged 0.27-1289.9 for all traits showed high variation among varieties. Highly significant correlation was found among fruit diameter to fruit weight 0.98, while moderate to high correlation was present among all traits. The most pungent genotype 24,634 was 4.8 g in weight, while the least pungent genotypes i.e. PPE-311 (32.8 g), green wonder (40.67) had higher in weight. The genotypes 24,627, 32,344, 32,368 and 1108 marked as higher number of seeds in their placental region. It was observed that chilli genotype 24,621 had maximum length with considerable high amount of pungency act as novel cultivar. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed the high variability of 46.97 for two PCs with the eigen value 2.6 and 1.63 was recorded. Biplot analysis showed a considerable variability for fruit pungency, while huge variability was found for all traits among given varieties. PPE-311, T5 and T3 are found as highly divergent for all traits. The findings of this study are instrumental for selecting parents to improve desirable traits in future chilli pepper breeding programs. It will help plant/vegetable breeders for development of highly nutrient and pungent varieties and attractive for the consumer of food sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutathione (GSH) has been studied for its potential to enhance stress tolerance in plant systems, but the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in GSH‐induced water stress tolerance in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is still under investigation. This study explores how H2S and GSH modulate water stress tolerance in pepper plants, addressing a research gap. The joint effect of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a donor of H2S, and GSH on water stress tolerance was determined through pre‐treatment with the H2S scavenger 0.1 mM hypotaurine (HT). Pepper seedlings were sprayed with 1.0 mM GSH or GSH + 0.2 mM NaHS once a week, with soil moisture content set at 80% and 40% for full irrigation and water stress conditions for a duration of 2 weeks. The results showed that water stress significantly reduced total plant dry weight, chlorophyll a and b content, Fv/Fm, leaf water potential, and relative water content by 50%, 56%, 33%, 27%, 52%, and 34%, while increasing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), proline, and H2S levels by 152%, 134%, and77%, respectively. Treatment with GSH and NaHS reduced water stress‐induced H2O2 production and improved plant growth, photosynthetic traits, proline, and the activity of L‐cysteine desulfhydrase (L‐DES), leading to the generation of H2S content. GSH reduced NADPH oxidase (NOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and H2O2 but increased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities. The interaction of NaHS and GSH led to further reductions in NOX, SOD, and H2O2 values but increased GPX activity. The combined GSH and NaHS treatment increased nitric oxide (NO) production but decreased the activity of S‐nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), potentially accelerating S‐nitrosylation. Hypotaurine negated the positive impacts of GSH on water stress tolerance by reducing H2S concentration in pepper plants, but this was corrected by the concurrent application of NaHS and GSH + HT. Therefore, water stress tolerance requires H2S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Egypt, serious piercing-sucking pests such as the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, white fly, Bemisia tabaci, the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus, and the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae cause significant yield losses in sweet pepper crop grown in greenhouses. The purpose of this research is to assess the effectiveness of two phytoseiid mites, Amblyseius swirskii and Neoseiulus californicus, as biological control agents for piercing-sucking pests on sweet pepper in greenhouses, compared with chemical acaricides. Three release rates were assessed: 10 adults of A. swirskii/plant, 10 adults of N. californicus/plant, and 7 adults of A. swirskii + 7 adults of N. californicus combined. The highest population density of B. tabaci and F. occidentalis was on yellow 'Qiuda' followed by significant damage with T. urticae. Red 'Grand bell', on the contrary, was consistently more susceptible to T. urticae and moderately prone to whitefly infestation. Both biological and chemical pest control were efficient in reducing pest populations on sweet pepper in greenhouses. The results indicated that A. swirskii, alone or in combination with N. californicus, was more effective against F. occidentalis, B. tabaci, and P. latus on both pepper cultivars than acaricides sprayed under the same conditions. Moreover, the predatory mite, N. californicus, outperformed A. swirskii and acaricides against T. urticae. Together, the predatory mites, A. swirskii and N. californicus can improve biological control of piercing-sucking pests. The yield increased by 37.4 to 40.0% over the control treatment using the biological control candidates. Furthermore, biological control program resulted in the highest cost reductions for sweet pepper production (35.7-40.7 and 16.2-27.2%) compared to the control and acaricides treatments, as well as a safe yield free of chemical residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chili is a globally significant spice used fresh or dried for culinary, condiment, and medicinal purposes. Growing concerns about food safety have increased the demand for high-quality products and non-invasive tools for quality control like origin tracing and safety assurance. Volatile analysis offers a rapid, comprehensive, and safe method for characterizing various food products. Thus, this study aims to assess the impact of the drying process on the aromatic composition of various Capsicum species and to identify key compounds driving the aromatic complexity of each genetic makeup. To accomplish these objectives, the aroma was examined in fruits collected from 19 different pepper accessions (Capsicum sp.) belonging to four species: one ancestral (C. chacoense) and three domesticated pepper species (C. annuum, C. baccatum and C. chinense). Fresh and dried samples were analyzed using a headspace PTR-TOF-MS platform. Our findings reveal significant changes in the composition and concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from fresh to dried Capsicum. Notably, chili peppers of the species C. chinense consistently exhibited higher emission intensity and a more complex aroma compared to other species (both fresh and dried). Overall, the data clearly demonstrate that the drying process generally leads to a reduction in the intensity and complexity of the aromatic compounds emitted. Specifically, fresh peppers showed higher volatile organic compounds content compared to dried ones, except for the two sweet peppers studied, which exhibited the opposite behavior. Our analysis underscores the variability in the effect of drying on volatile compound composition among different pepper species and even among different cultivars, highlighting key compounds that could facilitate species classification in dried powder. This research serves as a preliminary guide for promoting the utilization of various pepper species and cultivars as powder, enhancing product valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and twenty red fantail male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) with an average weight of 0.64 ± 0.07 g were fed ad libitum a control diet without any herbals (0), 20 g/kg garlic, 20 g/kg red onion, and 20 g/kg sweet red pepper powders in 12 circular tanks for 60 d. The herbal treatments had significantly higher weight gain (94.70 ± 0.89 to 96.26 ± 0.90%), protein (3.58 ± 0.05 to 3.72 ± 0.06 mg/ml), ACH50 (1.41 ± 0.00 to 1.56 ± 0.00 U/ml), Ig (0.16 ± 0.00 to 0.32 ± 0.02 mg/ml), lysozyme activity (60.33 ± 0.88 to 68.00 ± 1.15 U/ml), carotenoids in lateral skin body (5.75 ± 0.025 to 8.26 ± 0.003 µg/g), and caudal fin (6.49 ± 0.003 to 10.10 ± 0.005 µg/g) than the control. Therefore, dietary garlic and sweet red pepper can be used for immunity and coloration in red fantail male guppies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IN EGYPT, water scarcity is the main problem the agricultural sector faces. Salicylic acid (SA) as a plant growth regulator may help mitigate the adverse effects of deficit irrigation water on pepper plants. Sweet pepper (cv. S702 F1) plants subjected to deficit irrigation (DI40%= 60% of crop evapotranspiration, ETc) regularly during growth stages produced decreases in plant height, total chlorophyll, fruit number per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume, fruit yield, fruit carotenoids, and total dry matter comparing with the full irrigation (FI= 100% of ETc). However, water use efficiency (WUE), proline, free amino acids, ascorbic acid, total sugars, total soluble solids (TSS), total phenols content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), and nitrate content were enhanced under deficit irrigation conditions. The results showed that under FI or DI40% with foliar application of SA at 1.0 mM was more effective than 0.5 and 1.5 mM in improving vegetative growth and yield parameters. However, FI produced the highest significant values of plant height, total chlorophyll, fruit yield, carotenoids, and total dry matter. Conversely, the pepper plant's ability to withstand DI40% was enhanced by the 1.0 mM SA treatment, which resulted in the highest accumulation of ascorbic acid, total sugars, TSS, TPC, and TFC. Moreover, the application of SA significantly increased WUE and decreased fruit nitrate content. It could be concluded that the foliar application of SA can alleviate the detrimental effects of deficit irrigation on pepper plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluates biochar from crop residues as a solution to soil degradation in continuous monoculture within greenhouse agriculture, focusing on its impact on soil microbial communities and cucumber plant growth. Methods: We analyzed biochar derived from tomato straw (TSB), sweet pepper straw (SPSB), and eggplant straw (ESB), assessing their nutrient content, cation exchange capacity, and adsorption rates. This study examined the effects of three concentrations (2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% w/w) of the more promising SPSB on soil properties and cucumber growth. Results: SPSB showed significantly higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with superior adsorption capacity compared to TSB and ESB. The 5% w/w SPSB concentration notably improved cucumber growth, increasing plant height by 13.01%, stem thickness by 20.79%, leaf area by 50.26%, and dry weight by 58.56% relative to the control. High-throughput sequencing revealed this concentration significantly altered soil microbial community structure, enhancing bacterial and fungal diversity. It increased beneficial bacterial groups (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacillus) and modified fungal communities, with a decrease in Ascomycota and Aspergillus and shifts in Penicillium abundance. Functional genomic analysis indicated enrichment in bacterial metabolic pathways and fungal replication and expression genes. Conclusion: SPSB, especially at a 5% w/w concentration, emerges as an effective soil amendment in greenhouses affected by continuous monoculture. This approach represents a sustainable method to enhance soil health and crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in soil salinity has a negative effect on the growth and yield of plants. Mitigating the negative effects of soil salinity is therefore a difficult task and different methods are being used to overcome the negative effects of salt stress on crop plants. One of the often-used approaches is seed priming that can increase plants' vigor and resilience. In this paper, we tested the effects of hydropriming, proline priming, and salicylic acid priming on the mitigation of the negative effects of salt stress on two bell pepper varieties (Capsicum annuum L.): Herkules and Kurtovska kapija. Sweet bell pepper seeds were primed following desiccation to achieve the original water content, and subsequently cultivated in salt-supplemented medium. The positive effects on vigor (in the form of increased germination and seedling establishment) as well as on level of tolerance for salt stress were recorded for both cultivars. The positive effects varied between the priming treatments and pepper cultivar used. The results of germination, seedling performance, photosynthetic pigments, and osmolytes were measured for seedlings grown from unprimed and primed seeds with under 0, 25, and 50 mM of NaCl. Both cultivars demonstrated greater germination when primed with proline and salicylic acid, while the Herkules cultivar demonstrated a higher tolerance to salt when proline was used as the priming agent. Priming with salicylic acid and proline in the seed improved germination and seedling performance, which could be related to the increase in proline content in the seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of agriculture, measuring the leaf area is crucial for the management of crops. Various techniques exist for this measurement, ranging from direct to indirect approaches and destructive to non-destructive techniques. The non-destructive approach is favored because it preserves the plant's integrity. Among these, several methods utilize leaf dimensions, such as width and length, to estimate leaf areas based on specific models that consider the unique shapes of leaves. Although this approach does not damage plants, it is labor-intensive, requiring manual measurements of leaf dimensions. In contrast, some indirect non-destructive techniques leveraging convolutional neural networks can predict leaf areas more swiftly and autonomously. In this paper, we propose a new direct method using 3D point clouds constructed by semantic RGB-D (Red Green Blue and Depth) images generated by a semantic segmentation neural network and RGB-D images. The key idea is that the leaf area is quantified by the count of points depicting the leaves. This method demonstrates high accuracy, with an R2 value of 0.98 and a RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) value of 3.05 cm2. Here, the neural network's role is to segregate leaves from other plant parts to accurately measure the leaf area represented by the point clouds, rather than predicting the total leaf area of the plant. This method is direct, precise, and non-invasive to sweet pepper plants, offering easy leaf area calculation. It can be implemented on laptops for manual use or integrated into robots for automated periodic leaf area assessments. This innovative method holds promise for advancing our understanding of plant responses to environmental changes. We verified the method's reliability and superior performance through experiments on individual leaves and whole plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an autonomous robotic system to prune sweet pepper leaves using semantic segmentation with deep learning and an articulated manipulator. This system involves three main tasks: the perception of crop parts, the detection of pruning position, and the control of the articulated manipulator. A semantic segmentation neural network is employed to recognize the different parts of the sweet pepper plant, which is then used to create 3D point clouds for detecting the pruning position and the manipulator pose. Eventually, a manipulator robot is controlled to prune the crop part. This article provides a detailed description of the three tasks involved in building the sweet pepper pruning system and how to integrate them. In the experiments, we used a robot arm to manipulate the pruning leaf actions within a certain height range and a depth camera to obtain 3D point clouds. The control program was developed in different modules using various programming languages running on the ROS (Robot Operating System). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative control techniques are increasingly preferred in the management of vegetable pests because of the detrimental effects of pesticides on the environment and human health. Two popular environmentally friendly control strategies include natural enemy release and intercropping. In this study, the impact of intercropping aromatic plants (sweet pepper, sweet fennel, and marjoram) with three cucumber varieties (Hule, Muluki, and Basha) on the population density of Whitefly and Bemisia tabaci compared with non-intercropped plants was indicated during two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022) under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that planting marjoram significantly reduced the population density of B. tabaci, followed by sweet pepper and sweet fennel. Our findings demonstrate the possibility of optimizing sustainable pest management through the integration of alternative pest control technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploitation of heterosis is one of the potential means for improvement of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum var. grossum L.) that can further be utilized for identification of desirable recombinants. Promising hybrids could be acceptable to growers of tropical and subtropical climates if it is a high yielder with attractive fruit colour and blocky shape. Seven diverse parents were selected through multivariate analysis and were crossed in half diallel mating design to determine the extent of heterosis, mode of gene action, combining ability effects, and dominance estimates for 18 quantitative characters. Expression of fruit colour and shape at physiological maturity stage in the F1 generation indicated the dominance of red coloured group over other fruit colour groups and dominance of blocky fruit shape over elongate and round fruit shape. Preponderance of non-additive gene action for most of the characters under study suggested the usefulness of exploitation of hybrid vigour. Three genotypes, 8/4, C/4, and Baby Bell were found most promising donors. The hybrids, Arya×Baby Bell, 8/4×Baby Bell and C/4×8/4 were identified as promising based on per se performance, heterosis manifested, and relevance of specific combining ability effects, for possible commercialization under low cost protected structure of tropical and subtropical climates after critical testing. Partial to over dominance response in inheritance of most traits contributed to the genetic basis of heterosis. Isolation of pure lines from the segregating generation of heterotic hybrids emerged as a promising approach to develop line-bred variety having improved fruit yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pest thrips species damage fruits, vegetables, field crops, and ornamental plants. They are difficult to control effectively using only insecticides. Semiochemicals produced by plants or animals are useful in integrated pest management (IPM) to reduce insecticide use in crop production. These chemicals attract arthropod pests and/or natural enemies of arthropod pests into cropping systems. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPV) or plant-produced semiochemicals such as methyl salicylate (MS) attract natural enemies and can be used as a pest management tactic. This research, conducted in Tennessee in 2018 and 2019, focused on investigating the efficacy of MS and the aggregation pheromone neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate (NMB), an attractant of western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis, a severe pest of many crops, as a thrips management technique when compared with a no-lure control using sweet pepper as the crop plant. Our results show that the key species of thrips attracted to both lure treatments and the no-lure control was Frankliniellatritici, a significant pest of young cotton plants, which can also reduce the pest pressure from F. occidentalis by increasing its numbers in crop plants, banker plants, or trap crops. We discuss the possibility of using MS lure as a herbivorous thrips management practice in crop production. Herbivorous thrips that damage fruits, vegetables, field crops, and ornamentals are challenging to control using insecticides and need an integrated approach (IPM) for their management. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are semiochemical plants produced to attract natural enemies (NEs) of arthropod herbivores. Sex pheromones are animal-based semiochemicals that can attract males or females of conspecifics. The HIPV methyl salicylate (MS) is used in IPM to attract NEs. We conducted field experiments in 2018–2019 in Tennessee to study the efficacy of MS and the aggregation pheromone neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate (NMB), which attracts Frankliniella occidentalis (FO), a dominant pest of many crops, in attracting thrips using sweet peppers. We found a significantly higher number of thrips in traps baited with MS than in the traps containing NMB when compared with a no-lure control. All treatments caught only one thrips species, Frankliniella tritici (FT), a significant pest of young cotton. It can also lower the abundance of FO in other crops. Our findings show that although FO was not found in the study location in Tennessee, traps baited with MS are suitable for managing FT and reducing FO in susceptible crops by increasing FT and attracting NEs to crop productions that use IPM-based management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimum water need of sweet pepper and the critical irrigation level to be applied in order to achieve a reasonable economic yield was determined. Greenhouse (controlled) was conducted with sweet pepper subjected to three (3) varying water applications; 100% full irrigation treatment (FIT), 70% FIT and 50% FIT. Crop water use (evapotranspiration) was determined using the water balance method. For the agronomic parameters measurement, weekly measurements of plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and canopy temperature were measured. The sweet pepper were determined in batches during harvest. Result showed that the growth parameters significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increase in water application. The highest value of 707.78 g was recorded at irrigation treatment that received 70% of FIT while the least value was recorded in treatment that received the least amount with a value of 665.2 at 50% FIT. Overall, similar yield (p > 0.05) was observed in the yield quantification. This showed that about 50% of irrigation can be saved to irrigate additional plant. Highest values of irrigation for the irrigation and crop water efficiencies were obtained at the deficit irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an approach to address the challenges of recognizing the maturity stage and counting sweet peppers of varying colors (green, yellow, orange, and red) within greenhouse environments. The methodology leverages the YOLOv5 model for real-time object detection, classification, and localization, coupled with the DeepSORT algorithm for efficient tracking. The system was successfully implemented to monitor sweet pepper production, and some challenges related to this environment, namely occlusions and the presence of leaves and branches, were effectively overcome. We evaluated our algorithm using real-world data collected in a sweet pepper greenhouse. A dataset comprising 1863 images was meticulously compiled to enhance the study, incorporating diverse sweet pepper varieties and maturity levels. Additionally, the study emphasized the role of confidence levels in object recognition, achieving a confidence level of 0.973. Furthermore, the DeepSORT algorithm was successfully applied for counting sweet peppers, demonstrating an accuracy level of 85.7% in two simulated environments under challenging conditions, such as varied lighting and inaccuracies in maturity level assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, bell peppers are cultivated for both fresh and processed markets, with California, Florida, and Georgia producing most of the crop. Production varies across states, and, in Florida, bell pepper production varies by region within the state with growing seasons ranging from July to March for northern Florida and August to February for southern Florida. This publication provides information on conventional bell pepper acreage, volume, and pricing for the top three producing states: California, Florida, and Georgia. It will be useful to producers, Extension agents, and others interested in trends concerning specialty crop commodities. It serves as a single location where important information about the specialty crop market and production trends can be found.

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on healthy eating. Concerns about general healthiness, food safety, evolving culinary preferences and the shift towards healthier lifestyles are shaping consumers' intentions when it comes to food purchases, impacting the demand for food items that are perceived as healthier than other options. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the significance that consumers place on perceptions of food digestibility, with a specific focus on sweet peppers as a case study. To explore signals linked to consumers' perceptions of digestibility, a questionnaire was administered to 582 Italian consumers. Employing an econometric estimation as the methodological approach, we aim to elucidate the relationship between various factors and the perception of digestibility. The results suggest that intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of sweet peppers, culinary preparations and sociodemographic traits of consumers may influence perceived digestibility. In conclusion, the study finds that Italian consumers pay significant attention to the digestibility of sweet peppers, and these insights can serve as a valuable tool for the gastronomy sector. This paper introduces novel aspects to the literature, as–to the best of the authors' knowledge–no previous study has explored consumers' perceptions of food digestibility.

Summary: Image‐based high‐throughput phenotyping promises the rapid determination of functional traits in large plant populations. However, interpretation of some traits – such as those related to photosynthesis or transpiration rates – is only meaningful if the irradiance absorbed by the measured leaves is known, which can differ greatly between different parts of the same plant and within canopies. No feasible method currently exists to rapidly measure absorbed irradiance in three‐dimensional plants and canopies.We developed a method and protocols to derive absorbed irradiance at any visible part of a canopy with a thermal camera, by fitting a leaf energy balance model to transient changes in leaf temperature. Leaves were exposed to short light pulses (30 s) that were not long enough to trigger stomatal opening but strong enough to induce transient changes in leaf temperature that was proportional to the absorbed irradiance.The method was successfully validated against point measurements of absorbed irradiance in plant species with relatively simple architecture (sweet pepper, cucumber, tomato, and lettuce). Once calibrated, the model was used to produce absorbed irradiance maps from thermograms.Our method opens new avenues for the interpretation of plant responses derived from imaging techniques and can be adapted to existing high‐throughput phenotyping platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study synthesizes magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles from agro-waste sweet pepper extract, exploring their potential as antioxidant additives and in food preservation. Iron (III) chloride hexahydrate is the precursor, with sweet pepper extract as both a reducing and capping agent at pH 7.5. Characterization techniques, including microscopy and spectroscopy, analyze the sweet pepper extract-magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Antioxidant capacities against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl are assessed, incorporating nanoparticles into banana-based bioplastic for grape preservation. Microscopy reveals cubic and quasi-spherical structures, and spectroscopy confirms functional groups, including Fe–O bonds. X-ray diffraction identifies cubic and monoclinic magnetite with a monoclinic hematite presence. Sweet pepper extract exhibits 100% inhibitory activity in 20 min, while sweet pepper extract-magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles show an IC50 of 128.1 µg/mL. Furthermore, these nanoparticles, stabilized with banana-based bioplastic, effectively preserve grapes, resulting in a 27.4% lower weight loss rate after 144 h compared to the control group (34.6%). This pioneering study encourages institutional research into the natural antioxidant properties of agro-waste sweet pepper combined with magnetic iron and other metal oxide nanoparticles, offering sustainable solutions for nanopackaging and food preservation. Current research focuses on refining experimental parameters and investigating diverse applications for sweet pepper extract-magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in varied contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of spraying plants with 0.03% salicylic acid (SA), 0.7% calcium nitrate (Ca), and 0.03% salicylic acid together with 0.7% calcium nitrate (SA + Ca) on plant growth, yield, and fruit quality of peppers grown in a mineral wool substrate. The control plants were sprayed with water (C). Two red-fruited sweet pepper cultivars were used in the study: 'Aifos', and 'Palermo', which produce fruits characterized by different shapes. Biometric measurements of the plants showed a higher growth rate of pepper plants when SA and Ca were applied foliarly compared to the control. Plants treated simultaneously with SA and Ca were characterized by the highest steady-state fluorescence yield [Fs]. The relative chlorophyll content of pepper leaves was also higher in plants sprayed with SA, Ca, and SA + Ca than in plants in the control. The analysis of pepper yield showed in both cultivars the effect of foliar treatment of plants with SA and Ca and SA + Ca on increasing pepper resistance to the occurrence of Ca deficiency on pepper fruit (Blossom end rot). Pepper fruits harvested from plants treated with SA, Ca, and SA + Ca had more juicy flesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]