Agricultural Research & Education Center
kA\ IFAS, University of Florida
5007-60th Street East
Bradenton, FL 34203
Bradenton AREC Research Report BRA1984-2 January 1984
BELL PEPPER VARIETY TRIAL, SPRING 1983
T. K. Howe and W. E. Waters
A replicated fresh market sweet bell pepper variety trial was conducted at
the Agricultural Research and Education Center in Bradenton, Florida to
evaluate the yield and quality of various commercial cultivars during the
spring of 1983.
Materials and Methods
Field preparation, in January of 1982, consisted of the addition of dolomite
at one ton/A and 600 lb/A superphosphate (0-20-0) containing 80 lbs/ton
micronutrients as 503 oxide. The land (Eau Gallie fine sand) was utilized
in row crop production of sweet corn in the spring of 1982 and laid fallow
in the fall of 1982. Six wks. prior to planting, 7 -beds were formed between irri-
gation furrows on 4.5 ft. centers and treated with DowfumeO IIC-33 at 3.6 lb/100
linear feet. Full bed surface dressing included 18-0-25 (1 lb./100 lin. ft.),
NitroformW (38-0-0 at 1 lb./100 lin. ft.) and superphosphate (0-20-0 at 8.1
lb./100 lin. ft.) containing 503 oxide micronutrients. A single band of
18-0-25 was applied down the center of the bed at the rate of 24.3 lb./100
lin. ft. Beds were covered with black plastic mulch.
Seed of 14 cultivars (Table 1) were sown on December 2, 1982 in wooden flats
containing SAF-T-BLASTO (Mineral Aggregates, Inc.), a processed product
of spent coal. Seedlings were transplanted eighteen days later into TODD
Planter flats (1" x I1i" cells) containing a peat, sand, vermiculite, perlite
mix (2.5:1.5:1.5:0.5) amended with superphosphate (2.3 oz.), dolomite (15.0 oz.),
Micro Max (2.3 oz.), hydrated lime (1.5 oz.) and high calcium lime (15.0 oz.)
all per 0.1 cu. yd. of media. Transplants were set in the field on February 17,
1983. Two resets were necessary with the final reset occurring eleven days
after initial transplanting.
Plants were set in two rows per bed with 12-inch spacing between plants and
rows. Three replicates of forty plants per plot were arranged in a randomized
complete block design. Standard pesticides were applied for insect and disease
control.
Fruits were hand harvested four times (May 9, 18, 25 and June 6, 1983). Fruits
were graded as marketable or cull, then weighed and counted for both categories.
Defects and fruit characteristics were evaluated during grading. Total yield,
plant yield, average marketable fruit weight, percent culls and number of fruit
per carton were calculated.
Temperature and rainfall data for the season appear in Table 7.
Biological Scientist III and Center Director, respectively.
The authors wish to acknowledge the efforts of C. O. Cook in trial management
and manuscript preparation.
Results and Discussion
Results are in Tables 1-5. Data for the entire spring 1983 season are in
Table 1. Individual harvest data for harvests 1-4 are in Tables 2-5, respectively.
Cumulative data indicate that 'Better Belle' was the top yielding entry in terms
of number of cartons/1000 ft and the highest number of fruit per plant (Table 1).
There was not a significant difference in marketable yield among 'Better Belle,'
'Big Bertha,' 'Lady Bell,' 'Crispy,' and 'Pro Bell.' Individual fruit weight for
the season was greatest for 'Jupiter,' 'Bell Tower,' and 'Big Bertha' (5.5, 5.4,
and 5.3 oz., respectively) and were significantly different from the 11 remaining
entries. Percent culls ranged from 7.1 to 16.8 percent among the entries with
broad statistical overlaps. Number of fruit per carton ranged from 72.7 to 94.3
for 'Jupiter' and 'Ma Belle' respectively. 'Ma Belle' had significantly more
fruit per carton than any other entries.
Earliness data appears in Table 2. 'Big Bertha' and 'Lady Bell' had signifi-
cantly greater yields at the first harvest than e hit other cultivars. Greatest
fruit weights were produced by 'Jupiter,' 'Big Bertha,' 'Bell Tower,' and 'Big
Belle' (6.6, 6.3, 5.9, and 5.9 oz., respectively). 'Big Bertha' produced 26.9%
cull fruit, significantly higher than all but two other cultivars.
Peak production for the season occurred at the second harvest (Table 3). As
for the initial harvest, 'Big Bertha' and 'Lady Bell' produced the highest yields,
which were significantly greater than six other cultivars. The production of
culls increased at this harvest for most cultivars. Per plant fruit production
also increased from the first harvest.
By the third harvest (Table 4), 'Crispy' and 'Better Belle' were ranked as
the-top yielding cultivars, but were only statistically different from one other
entry. So at third harvest, yield performance was essentially the same for the
cultivars tested. Fruit size continued to decline from the first harvest as
reflected in fruit weight and number of fruit per carton.
At the last harvest (Table 5), 'Better Belle' and 'Crispy' were again the
top two cultivars in yield; however, this was only significantly different from
three other entries. Fruit size was lowest at this harvest and cull production
was the greatest, but this final harvest did exceed yields of the first harvest
due to greater per plant fruit production.
Descriptions of the cultivars appear in Table 6.
Table 1. Yield and quality of pepper entries for entire season (harvest dates: May 9, 18, 25 and June 6, 1983).
Marketable yield
Seed
Entry source
(# cartons/1000
linear ft of bed)
# ( cartons/A)
Plant
production
(# mkt fruit/plant)
Avg. marketable
fruit weight
(oz)
Better Belle
Big Bertha
Lady Bell
Crispy
Pro Bell
Bell Boy
Hybelle
Jupiter
Bell Tower
Early Calwondei
Big Belle
Ma Belle
Keystone Resis-
tant Giant
Resistant Flor-
ida Giant
Ball
Ball
Harris
Burpee
Twilley
Peto
Harris
Northrup King
S & G
Asgrow
Ferry Morse
Peto
Peto
Ferry Morse
243.5
234.4
218.6
211.4
209.5
198.3
197.5
195.2
180.9
175.0
165.7
157.4
ay
ab
a-c
a-d
a-d
b-e
b-e
b-e
c-f
c-f
d-f
ef
139.4 f
139.0 f
2357.1 a
2269.0 ab
2116.0 a-c
2046.4 a-d
2028.0 a-d
1919.5 b-e
1911.8 b-e
1889.5 b-e
1751.1 c-f
1694.0 c-f
1604.0 d-f
1523.6 ef
1349.4 f
1345.5 f
z25 pounds of fruit per carton.
Acre = 9680 linear feet of bed.
YMean separation by Duncan's multiple range test (5%).
CrlI
No. fruit
n tr ^arv-rnf
10.2
8.6
8.8
9.4
8.7
8.2
8.6
7.1
6.8
7.4
6.7
7.4
a
a-c
a-c
ab
a-c
b-d
a-c
c- e
de
c-e
de
c-e
4.8
5.4
4.9
4.5
4.8
4.8
4.6
5.5
5.3
4.7
5.0
4.2
b-d
a
bc
ef
b-d
b-d
de
a
a
b-e
b
f
9.3
16.8
9.2
7.1
J.9
10.0
10.5
13.9
12.7
15.9
14.2
13.6
bc
a
bc
c
c
a-c
a-c
a-c
a-c
ab
a-c
a-c
83.2
73.7
80.9
89.3
83.0
82.7
87.5
72.7
75.2
84.6
80.9
94.3
5.7 e
6.0 e /
4.9 bc
4.6 c-e
15.3 ab
15.3 ab
81.2 d
86.9 bc
(# aronIA
Table 2. Yield and quality of pepper entries for first harvest (May 9, 1983).
Marketable yields Plant Avg. marketable
(# cartons/1000 production fruit weight Culls No. fruit
Entry linear ft of bed) (# cartons/A) (# mkt fruit/plant) (oz) (%) per carton
Big Bertha 48.8 ay 472.4 a 1.5 a-c 6.3 ab 26.9 a 63.3 e
Lady Bell 47.3 a 457.9 a 1.7 a 5.6 cd 3.2 b 71.8 b-d
Better Belle 44.1 ab 426.9 ab 1.7 ab 5.3 c-e 6.5 b 76.2 a-c
Jupiter 41.6 ab 402.7 ab 1.3 a-c 6.6 a 3.2 b 60.9 e
Bell Tower 40.2 ab 389.1 ab 1.4 a-c 5.9 bc 4.0 b 68.4 c-e
Pro Bell 36.8 a-c 356.2 a-c 1.3 a-c 5.6 cd 5.8 b 72.1 b-d
Big Belle 31.2 b-d 302.0 b-d 1.0 b-e 5.9 bc 5.2 b 67.4 de
Bell Bov 30.7 b-d 297.2 b-d 1.2 a-e 5.3 c-e 6.0 b 75.2 b-d
Ma Belle 29.0 b-e 280.7 b-e 1.1 a-e 5.1 de 10.2 ab 78.3 ab
Hvbelle 28.4 b-e 274.9 b-e 1.2 a-d 4.8 e 3-2 b 83.7 a
Crispy 28.0 b-e 271.0 b-e 1.1 a-e 5.1 de 1.6 b 78.9 ab
Early Calwonder 23.7 c-e 229.4 c-e 0.9 c-e 5.4 c-e 5.3 b 74.0 b-d
Resistant Florida Giant. 15.5 de 150.0 de 0.6 d-e 5.4 c-e 0.0 b 74.7 b-d
Keystone Resistant Giant 14.1 e 136.5 e. 0.5 e 5.3 c-e 11.8 ab 75.0 a-d
", -
z25 pounds-of fruit per carton. Acre = 9680 linear feet-of bed.
YMean separation by Duncan's multiple range test (5%).
*. I-
Table 3. Yield and quality of pepper entries for second harvest (May 18, 1983).
Marketable vieldz Plant Avg. marketable
(# cartons/1000 production fruit weight Culls No. fruit
Entry linear ft of bed) (# cartons/A) (# mkt fruit/plant) (oz) (%) per carton
Big Bertha 81.8 aY 791.8 a 2.8 ab 5.8 ab 10.8 a-e 68.8 c-e
Lady Bell 80.8 a 782.1 a 3.1 a 5.1 cd 7.2 b-e 78.0 ab
Pro Bell 75.7 ab 732.8 ab 3.0 ab 5.0 cd 3.4 e 79.7 ab
Hybelle 73.6 ab 712.4 ab 3.0 ab 5.0 cd 8.7 a-e 80.8 ab
Better Belle 72.1 ab 697.9 ab 2.9 ab 5.0 cd 6.8 c-e 79.8 ab
Jupiter 69.3 a-c 670.8 a-c 2.3 a-d 6.0 a 15.8 ab 66.4 de
Bell Boy 61.7 a-d 597.3 a-d 2.4 a-c 5.2 cd 5.5 c-e 77.8 ab
Crispy 56.6 b-e 547.9 b-e 2.2 b-d 5.1 cd 4.0 de 78.4 ab
Big Belle 49.8 c-e 482.1 c-e 1.9 c-e 5.4 b-d 13.3 a-c 74.7 b-d
Early Calwonder 46.3 de 448.2 de 1.8 c-e 5.2 cd 15.8 ab 77.1 a-c
Bell Tower 46.1 de 446.2 de 1.5 de 6.2 a 10.9 a-e 65.3 e
Mr. Belle 43.3 de 419.1 de 1.8 c-e 4.7 d 16.4 a 85.1 a
Keystone Resistant Giant 35.7 e 345.6 e 1.3 e 5.4 be 12.6 a-d 73.9 b-d
Resistant Florida Giant 34.8 e 336.9 e 1.3 e 5.4 bc 11.1 a-e 74.5 b-d
z25 pounds of fruit per carton. Acre = 9680 linear feet of bed.
YMean separation by Duncan's multiple range test (5%).
Table 4. Yield and quality of pepper entries for third harvest (May 25, 1983).
Marketable yields Plant Avg. marketable
(# cartons/1000 production fruit weight Culls No. fruit
Entry linear ft of bed) (# cartons/A) (# mkt fruit/plant) (oz) (%) per carton
Crispy 68.6 ay 664.0 a 3.1 a 4.4 c 6.6 c 91.9 b
Better Belle 65.7 a 636.0 a 2.8 ab 4.7 a-c 8.0 bc 85.3 b-d
Pro Bell 62.7 ab 606.9 ab 2.7 ab 4.7 a-c 7.4 bc 85.6 b-d
Early Calwonder 61.0 ab 590.5 ab 2.7 ab 4.5 bc 13.3 a-c 88.7 bc
Bell Boy 59.9 ab 579.8 ab 2.5 ab 4.9 ab 10.8 a-c 82.7 cd
Big Bertha 54.0 ab 522.7 ab 2.2 ab 5.0 a 12.5 a-c 79.7 cd
Lady Bell 53.8 ab 520.8 ab 2.3 ab 4.8 a-c 7.9 bc 84.2 b-d
Jupiter 52.2 ab 505.3 ab 2.2 ab 4.8 a-c 17.2 a 83.1 b-d
Hybelle 52.2 ab 505.3 ab 2.4 ab 4.3 c 9.9 a-c 9:.i b
Keystone Resistant Giant 51,8 ab 501.4 ab 2.2 ab 4.8 a-c 11.9 a-c 84.0 b-d
Resistant Florida Giant 48.6 ab 470,4 ab 2.1 ab 4.6 a-c 9.0 bc 87.0 b-d
Bell Tower 46.6 ab 451.1 ab 1,8 b 5.1 a 14.5 ab 79.2 d
Big Belle 42.2 ab 408.5 ab 1.8 b / 4.6 a-c 13.1 a-c 86.6 b-d
Ma Belle 34.6 b 334.9 b 1.9 b 3.7 d 11.8 a-c 107.1 a
z25 pounds of fruit per carton. Acre = 9680 linear feet of bed.
YMean separation by Duncan's multiple range test (5%),
Table 5. Yield and quality of pepper entries for fourth harvest (June 6, 1983).
Marketable yields Plant Avg. marketable
(# cartons/1000 production fruit weight Culls No. fruit
Entry linear ft of bed) (# cartons/A) (# mkt fruit/plant) (oz) (%) per carton
Better Belle 61,6 ay 596.3 a 2.8 a 4.5 b-e 16.1 bc 89.5 c-f
Crisvp 52.0 ab 503.4 ab 2.5 ab &.1 ef 11.5 c 97.3 a-c
Ma Belle 50.5 a-c 488.8 a-c 2.6 ab 3.9 f 14.9 bc 102.6 a
Big Bertha 49.8 a-c 482.1 a-c 2.1 a-c 4,7 a-c 11.2 c 85.7 ef
Bell Tower 47.9 a-d 463.7 a-d 2.0 bc 4.7 ab 17.8 a-c 85.1 ef
Bell Boy 46.1 b-e 446.2 b-e 2.2 a-c 4.3 d-f 17.2 a-c 93.8 cd
Early Cal-onder 44.0 b-e 425.9 b-e 2.0 bc 4.3 c-e 24.4 ab 92.9 c-e
Hybelle 43.3 b-e 419.1 b-e 2.1 bc 4.2 ef 18.3 a-c 94.8 b-d
Big Belle 42.5 b-e 411.4 b-e 2.0 bid 4.3 c-e 20.0 a-c 92.2 c-e
Resistant Florida Giant 40.1 b-e 388.2 b-e 2.0 bc 3.9 f 28.0 a 102.0 ab
Keystone Resistant Giant 37.8 b-e 365.9 b-e 1.6 cd 4.6 a-d 29.8 a-c 87.1 d-f
Lady Bell 36.7 c-e 355.3 c-e 1.7 cd 4.2 ef 19.3 a-c 94.8 b-d
Pro Bell 34.4 de 333.0 de 1.7 ed 4.1 ef 18.8 a-c 97.1 a-c
Jupiter 32.0 e 309.8 e 1.3 d 4.8 a 17.6 a-c 83.1 f
25 pounds of fruit per carton. Acre = 9680 linear feet of bed.
'Mean separation by Duncan's multiple range test (5%).
Table 6. Descriptive notes on pepper entries.
Bell Boy hybrid; 3 lobed; sun scald after first harvest
Bell Tower hybrid; 3 lobed; large; sun scald after second harvest
Better Belle hybrid; 2-3 lobed; sun scald after second harvest
Big Belle hybrid, 3 lobed; large
Big Bertha hybrid; 3 lobed; very large, elongate; flat, sun scald after second
harvest
Crispy hybrid; 3 lobed
Early Calwonder open pollinated; 3-4 lobed
Hybelle hybrid; 3 lobed
Jupiter open pollinated; 3 lobed; large fruit
Keystone Resistant Giant open pollinated; 3-4 lobed
Lady Bell hybrid; 3 lobed, sun scald after first harvest
Na Belle hybrid; 3 lobed; sun scald after second harvest
Pro Bell hybrid; 3 lobed; sun scald after second harvest
Resistant Florida Giant open pollinated; 3 lobed; culls misshapen; pointed
blossom ends
Table 7. Mean temperatures and total
for spring 1983.
rainfall at AREC-Bradenton
Maximum Minimum
daily daily
temperature temperature Rainfall
Month (F) (OF) (inches)
February (17th-28th) 72.6 52.1 3.74
March 72.8 52.8 8.63
April 81.0 57.4 2.42
May 87.0 63.3 1.17
June (1-6th) 90.0 67.0 0.32
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