2006 Green Pepper Cultivar Evaluation

Bob Precheur, Rick Callendar, Herminio Perez, Francisco Cuevas and Martin DeAnda

Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science, OSU Columbus, Manager and Staff,

Muck Crops Branch. Celeryville, OH

In Cooperation with Wiers Farms Inc., Willard, OH

Summary of Results:

Six varieties were transplanted on June 7 at a grower’s location in Celeryville, OH. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Plots were double rows, 25 feet long. Eight plants from the middle were harvested to determine yield and quality.

The first harvest was 21 Aug 2006 and the second harvest on 11 Sep 2006. The third harvest was made on 2 Oct. 2006.

The top performing varieties (boxes per acre of extra large + large fruit) in the first harvest were: 9928002, Paladin and PX9927141 which had significantly higher yield than the other 3 varieties (see Table 1.). In 2005, the yield of variety 9928002-A was significantly greater than all other varieties but it was considered a half long type with an average fruit length between 4.5 to 6 inches long. This larger size, in 2005, contributed to a significant increase in yield. This year, the size or length of 9928002 was similar to the other varieties in the trial averaging about 4.5 inches in length. The top 3 varieties had 400 boxes/A or greater while the yield of the bottom three ranged from 212 to 246 boxes/A. Variety PS 9915776 (#2) had blotchy skin on a high percentage of the fruit rendering most of them unmarketable.

The first harvest was the largest and yield declined dramatically in the last two harvests. This is probably associated with the late planting date and the very cold weather in Sep. The first harvest was about 2-3 weeks later than in previous years and usually the second harvest has been the largest. For total harvest, PX9927141 (#1) and 9928002 (#4) produced over 500 boxes/A of extra large + large fruit and significantly higher than Snapper, PS 9928302 and PS 9915776 (see table 2). The old standard, Paladin, remain consistent and reliable and was not significantly lower in yield than the top two varieties.

Table 3 shows the percentage of marketable fruit in the large size categories (% marketable large) for the first harvest and all harvests. Percent marketable represents every size category that can be sold from extra large down to the select category. 9928002 was the only variety with 60% or more of its fruit in the large size category for the first harvest. For total harvest, only 9928002 (70%), PX9927141 (53%) and Paladin (51%) had 50% or more of their fruit harvested in the large size categories.

Table 1. Yield of extra large¹, large and extra large plus large fruit, (First Harvest)

Id#	First Harvest	Extra Large	Large	Id#	Extra Large + Large
	Cultivar	Boxes/A	Boxes/A		Cultivar	Boxes/A
4	9928002	281	153	4	9928002	434
1	PX9927141	225	177	6	Paladin	406
6	Paladin	221	184	1	PX9927141	403
5	Snapper	123	124	5	Snapper	246
3	PS 9928302	119	93	2	PS 9915776^2	239
2	PS 9915776^2	75	164	3	PS 9928302	212
	LSD 0.05	71	70			118

1. The extra large category includes Jumbo and extra large fruit sizes.

2. This variety had blotchy, mottled skin (some fruit not marketable).

Table 2. Yield of extra large¹, large and extra large plus large fruit, (Total Harvest)

Id#	Total (3)	Extra Large	Large	Id#		Extra Large + Large
	Cultivar	Boxes/A	Boxes/A		Cultivar	Boxes/A
4	9928002	384	200	1	PX9927141	598
1	PX9927141	336	261	4	9928002	584
6	Paladin	230	238	6	Paladin	467
3	PS 9928302	222	180	5	Snapper	413
5	Snapper	182	231	3	PS 9928302	403
2	PS 9915776^2	126	275	2	PS 9915776^2	401
	LSD 0.05	88	75			143

1. The extra large category includes Jumbo and extra large fruit sizes.

2. This variety had blotchy, mottled skin (some fruit not marketable).

Table 3. Percent Marketable Yield (Extra Large + Large + Medium + Small + Select)

First Harvest				Total (3 Harvests)
Id#	Cultivar	% Marketable Large^1	% Marketable^2	Id#	Cultivar	% Marketable Large^1	% Marketable^2
4	9928002	69	84	4	9928002	70	86
6	Paladin	57	93	1	PX9927141	53	91
1	PX9927141	54	91	6	Paladin	51	90
5	Snapper	51	90	5	Snapper	47	88
2	PS 9915776^3	47	94	3	PS 9928302	47	87
3	PS 9928302	39	88	2	PS 9915776^3	39	91
	LSD 0.05%	12.3	9.9			11	9.1

1. % Marketable Large = the number of Extra Large + Large fruit divided by the number of Extra Large + Large + Medium + Small + Select + Cull fruit times 100.

2. % Marketable = the number of Extra Large + Large + Medium + Small fruit divided by the number of Extra Large + Large + Medium + Small + Select + Cull fruit times 100.

3. This variety had blotchy, mottled skin (some fruit not marketable).

The following are the 6 green pepper varieties in the trial. Use the 6 inch ruler on the left side for a size reference

Bottom and Top Views

Size comparison of variety 9928002 between 2005 and 2006 (use 6 inch ruler in photo). Too long in 2005 but seems OK in 2006 perhaps due to cold weather.

Nice shape, size and good yields in 2005 but major skin problems plus low yield in 2006.

Below are individual pictures for the all six varieties.