MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT IN SWEET PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.) THROUGH ADJUSTMENT OF PLANTING TIME.

Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most popular and high value vegetable crops grown for its immature fruits throughout the world. In Pakistan it is cultivated as warm season crop in open fields during summer and in plastic tunnels during winter. Optimum planting date in sweet pepper production is key to better yield as it determines the period of maximum crop potential, efficient use of resources, lesser competition of plants with weeds and insect pests. It is the need of time to understand the negative impact of climate change on phenological development of sweet pepper. Therefore, the current study was designed to mitigate the effect of climate on growth and yield of sweet pepper cultivars at agro-ecological area of Multan, Pakistan by adjusting planting date. Three transplanting dates (viz. February 15th, March 2nd and March 16th) were evaluated during year 1 whereas five transplanting dates (viz. February 1st, February 15th, March nd, March 16th and April 1st) were assessed during year 2. There were three sweet pepper cultivars (Ganga, Winner and Savio) under study. Overall plant growth (stem height, average canopy diameter, number of leaves per plant and fresh and dry mass of plant parts) was significantly higher in the earliest planting dates (viz. February 15th in year 1 and February 1st in year 2) and it reduced as the planting was delayed. Plant yield, number of fruits and average fruit weight were also significantly greater in the earliest planting dates, and significantly lesser in later planting dates. During year 1, the effect of cultivar was prominent, and Winner performed better regarding growth characteristics while the effect was non-significant on yield attributes except average fruit weight which was also significantly higher in Winner as compared with other two cultivars. During year 2, cv. Winner performed better in growth attributes, whereas significantly greater number of fruits was found in cv. Savio, average fruit diameter was greater in cv. Winner and average fruit length was higher in cv. Ganga. It is concluded that nursery of sweet pepper should be planted in 1st week of February to achieve maximum growth and yield of fruits. In cultivar selection, cv. Winner should be preferred among sweet pepper hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]