Introduction

Highly valued as vegetable and spice, capsicums, peppers and chillies are becoming increasingly important hydroponic crops in terms of production and consumption. Crops can be produced year-round, with the benefits of faster, cleaner production and a premium quality end-product. At the same time, new coloured varieties rich in Vitamin A and C have energised the market, at a premium price. This comprehensive book is designed to provide essential information of a practical and scientific nature for existing and intending capsicum growers. The text explores everything from the background and characteristics of the capsicum species, to the details of growing systems, mineral nutrition, the capsicum greenhouse, pests and diseases, physiological disorders, and postharvest and marketing. This book is illustrated throughout with many coloured pictures and line-drawings.

Contents

	Background and History of the Capsicum Species
	Introduction
	History of the Capsicum
	World Production
	Economic and Other Uses of Capsicum

Chapter 2

	The Capsicum Plant
	Introduction
	Cultivars
	Characteristics of Good Cultivars
	Pungency of Heat
	Flavour
	Colour
	Biology of the Capsicum Plant
	Plant Characteristics
	Flowering and Pollination
	Fruit Growth and Maturation

Chapter 3

	Propagation
	Seed Propagation of Sweet Bell Peppers
	Seed Raising and Propagation Media
	Rockwool
	Compressed peat blocks/pellets
	Composted bark
	Coir
	Perlite
	Vermiculite
	Pumice
	Sand
	Pepper Seed Germination
	Seedling Growth
	The Physiology of the Germination Process
	Seed Sowing - Water, Oxygen and Temperature
	Seedling Nutrition
	Disease Control during Germination and Seedling Development
	Damping-off Diseases
	Treatment for Seedling Damping-off Diseases

Chapter 4

	Crop Establishment and Training
	Planting Out
	Crop Spacing
	Training the Plants
	Bell Pepper - Plant Growth and Physiology
	Vegetative growth
	Flowering
	Pollination
	Pollination by Bumble Bees
	Fruit set, Crop Loading and Fruit Growth
	Harvesting
	Yields and Production Cycle
	Environmental Conditions for Good Growth
	Light Levels
	Temperature
	Greenhouse Shading for Temperature Control
	Humidity
	Carbon Dioxide Enrichment

Chapter 5

	Hydroponic Growing Systems
	Media-based Systems
	Nutrient Management in Media System
	Rockwool-based Systems
	NFT-based Systems
	Deep Flow Technique
	Engineering Considerations for Solution Culture

Chapter 6

	Mineral Nutrition
	Water
	Nutrient Recommendations - Mineral Elements Required
	Nitrogen
	Potassium
	Phosphorus
	Magnesium
	Calcium
	Trace Elements
	Iron
	Manganese
	Zinc
	Boron
	Copper
	Silica
	Nutrient Ratios
	Seedlings
	Early Growth
	Fruiting and vegetative growth
	Seasonal adjustments
	Crop Adjustments
	Nutrient Conductivity Effects

Chapter 7

	The Capsicum Greenhouse
	Greenhouse Structure and Environmental Control
	Height
	Ventilation
	Width
	Heating
	Light transmission

Chapter 8

	Pests and Diseases
	Pests
	Whitefly
	Aphids
	Thrips
	Mites
	Caperpillars
	Fungus Diseases 92 Botrytis
	Phytophthora blight
	Sclerotinia
	Anthracnose
	Alternaria
	Fusarium and Verticillium Wilts
	Bacterial Diseases
	Leaf Spot
	Soft Rot
	Virus Diseases
	Tobacco Mosaic (TMV)
	Tomato Spotted Wilt
	Cucumber (Pepper) Mosaic (CMV)

Chapter 9

	Physiological Disorders
	Flower Bud Abscission
	Fruit Cracking
	Sunscald
	Misshapen Fruit
	Colour Disorders
	Blossom-end Rot

Chapter 10

	Postharvest and Marketing
	Quality Standards
	Storage
	Chilling Injury
	Ethylene and Fruit Respiration
	Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Storage
	Plastic Wraps - Modified Atmosphere Storage
	Post Harvest Pathogens