Vol. 81 No: 4

Title:
Effects of an evaporative cooling system on greenhouse climate, fruit disorders and yield in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Authors:
A. BAR-TAL, B. ALONI, A. ARBEL, M. BARAK, L. KARNI, J. OSEROVITZ, A. HAZAN, S. GANTZ, A. AVIDAN, I. POSALSKI and M. KEINAN

pp: 599-606

Abstract:
The main goal of this research was to investigate the effects of a wet pad-and-fan evaporative cooling system (ECS) on the incidence of blossom-end rot (BER) and fruit cracking in greenhouse-grown bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).The specific objectives were: (i) to study the efficiency of the wet pad-and-fan ECS in improving plant water status and reducing transpiration; and (ii) to explore the impact of these conditions on fruit yield, fruit Ca content and the incidence of BER and fruit cracking. For 3 years, peppers were grown in the Lachish Region, Israel, in a greenhouse divided into two compartments, one with and one without (control) a pad-and-fan ECS. The results showed that the ECS increased total fruit yield and the incidence of cracked fruits, but reduced the incidence of BER. The efficiency of the ECS in reducing temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) decreased as the distance from the wet pad increased. Consequently, the incidence of cracked fruits decreased with distance from the wet pad, whereas the incidence of BER increased.

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