The present research was carried out to evaluate response of paprika pepper (Capsicum annum L.) to nitrogen (N) fertilizer under field conditions. Nitrogen was supplied in four levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha⁻¹). Plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, fruit weight, yield, seed number, 1000 seed weight and vitamin C were assessed at immature and mature stages. The results showed that plant height, lateral stem length and leaf chlorophyll content were influenced by N fertilizer. Data indicated that fertilization with 50 g N ha⁻¹ resulted to the best yield and quality components at ripening stage. Although, there was no significant difference in vitamin C content among treated plants with different nitrogen levels at mature stage, but significant differences were shown between treated plants and control. Thus, these results showed that fertilization with 50 kg N ha⁻¹ had strong impact on vegetative and reproductive growth of paprika pepper under field conditions.

The present research was conducted to assess physiological responses of ‘Malas-e-Saveh’ (Malas) and ‘Shishe-Kab’ (Shishe) pomegranates to water of different salt content and electrical conductivity (1.05, 4.61, and 7.46 dS m⁻¹). Both cultivars showed a reduced trunk length due to salinity. Relative water content and stomatal conductivity of both cultivars were significantly reduced under salt stress, but ion leakage increased. In both cultivars, total chlorophyll (Chl) and carbohydrates decreased with rise in salinity, while proline accumulation increased. With salinity increment, the Chl fluorescence parameters (maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII and effective quantum yield of PSII) declined significantly in both cultivars, with higher reduction observed in Shishe. Generally, more Na⁺ accumulated in shoots and more Cl⁻ was observed in leaves. Cl⁻ accumulation increased by salinity in leaves of Malas, but it was reduced in Shishe. The K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in leaves decreased in both cultivars by salinity increment. Malas was less affected by osmotic effects of NaCl, but it accumulated more Cl⁻ in its leaves. Thus, Malas might be more affected by negative effects of salinity.

Fruits is a scientific journal for original articles and reviews on fruit crops in temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and tropical regions

The present research was carried out to investigate the effects of potassium nitrate on pomegranate fruit quality. Treatments were: 1) control, distilled water was used; 2) potassium nitrate 250 mg L-¹ plus Tween-20 and 3) potassium nitrate 500 mg L-¹ plus Tween-20. All treatments were sprayed on fruits with a diameter of 30 mm. Juice, peel, seed characters, and fruit quality components were evaluated when fruits were harvested. Results indicated that 250 mg L-¹ potassium treatment increased juice volume and weight compared with the control and the 500 mg L-¹ K treatments. As the potassium nitrate level increased, aril length and diameter decreased. Although there was not a significant difference among treatments on titrable acidity and pH contents of fruits, the highest total soluble solids and vitamin C were obtained in the 250 mg L-¹ potassium nitrate treatment when compared with the others. These findings show that applied potassium nitrate significantly influences fruit quality of pomegranate when fruit are in the beginning stages of growth and development.

Strawberry cultivar ‘Selva’ was grown in a hydroponic culture in a heated greenhouse to study the effects of supplementary potassium (K) added to nutrient solution and applied to the plants grown at high sodium chloride (35 mmol/L) concentration. Treatments were: (1) nutrient solution alone (N); (2) N + sodium chloride (NaCl) (35 mmol/L) (NS); (3) N + NaCl + potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄; 5 mmol/L) (NSK1); (4) N + NaCl + K₂SO₄ (10 mmol/L) (NSK2). Leaf area, biomass production, and gas exchange variables (Pn, E, gs, Ci) negatively affected by salinity. In addition, ionic concentrations (sodium, chlorine, and potassium) increased by salinity treatments. Supplementary potassium had positive effects to ameliorate the harmful effects of NaCl on leaf area. Shoot growing was decreased by potassium (K) application. Ionic concentrations of this cultivar show contradictory results. Although supplementary potassium increased K accumulation, but sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) concentrations of plant parts was increased. These results show that potassium can be applied for this cultivar in salinity conditions.

Fruits is a scientific journal for original articles and reviews on fruit crops in temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and tropical regions