Abstract:

【Objective】 The objective of this study is to bring forward a suitable water-saving efficient irrigation pattern for improving fruit quality based on the response of quality of greenhouse crops to water stress. 【Method】 An experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of yield, fruit quality and water use efficiency to different water stress treatments at seedling, flowering-fruit setting and fruit maturing stages of hot pepper (Capsicum annum L. cv. Lonjiao 1, a local hybrid variety) in greenhouse. 【Result】 The results showed that fruit maturing stage was the most sensitive stage to the yield thus severe water stress should not be applied at this stages. The soluble protein and dry mass of the fruit were not sensitive, but vitamin C, total soluble solid content and hardness of the fruit were sensitive to water stress at flowering-fruit setting and fruit maturing stages. The mathematical expression that better fits the relation between the yield, fruit quality and evapotranspiration is logarithm function. 【Conclusion】 It suggested that soil water content should be controlled between 45% and 60% of field water capacity (θf) in depth of 60 cm at flowering-fruit setting stage and 80% to 90% θf at seedling and fruit maturing stages is a suitable water-saving efficient irrigation pattern for improving fruit quality, which can improve fruit vitamin C, total soluble solid content and hardness with higher yield but less water.

Key words: hot pepper')">hot pepper, greenhouse, irrigation control, yield, fruit quality, water-fruit quality response