Colored benches improved quality of ornamental pepper

Abstract

Ornamental pepper species belonging to the Solanaceae family and the Capsicum genus have gained commercial visibility and high demand due to their morphological diversity. Growing ornamental plants in protected environments offers considerable advantages, allowing for more precise management of micrometeorological elements. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of colored benches in the biometric aspects, photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange of the ornamental pyramid pepper. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, covered with low-density polyethylene film and aluminized mesh with 42-50% shading under the film and side screens with 30% shading. The wavelengths were promoted by reflective colored laminates on the growing benches. Five treatments were assessed in a completely randomized design with four replications and five plants per plot, as follows: bright white laminate material, bright yellow laminate material, bright red laminate material, bright dark blue laminate material, and control – with no material on the surface of the growing bench. The colors (white, yellow, and red) increased the supply of photosynthetically active radiation except for blue. The colors increased pepper fruit production, with the white, yellow, red, and blue colors promoting increases of 37.5%, 27.6%, 26.5%, and 42.2%, respectively. The colors influenced and promoted ornamental pepper plants with higher biometric quality than the control, showing the influence of the wavelength in promoting plant quality, both visually and in terms of fruit quantity, essential aspects in the marketing of ornamental plants