Water supply is a primary contributor to the growth and phytonutrient composition in chili peppers. Several physiological stress factors can influence phytonutrients in chili peppers, resulting in their differential synthesis. Maintaining the right and exact amount of water through a drip system can promote an effective fruit set and crop quality. Four pepper cultivars (‘Hetényi Parázs’; HET, ‘Unikal’; UNIK, ‘Unijol’; UNIJ and ‘Habanero’; HAB) were investigated under different water supply treatments: RF or rain-fed, DI or deficit irrigation, and OWS or optimum water supply. The two-year experiment was carried out in May 2018 and 2019 under open field conditions. Physiological parameters (relative chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and canopy temperature) were measured during the growth stage and phytonutrients (vitamin C, capsaicinoids and carotenoids) analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at harvest in September. The study revealed that, due to higher precipitation and rainfall interruption, increased water supply affected physiological response and phytonutrients in the cultivars. HAB under OWS had a lower response during the growth period when compared to HET, UNIK, and UNIJ. As water supply increased, measured individual carotenoid concentration increased in some cultivars. On the other hand, as water supply decreased, vitamin C and capsaicinoids concentration increased. Even though cultivars responded to the water supply treatments differently, HET exhibited a more uniform and stable composition in all treatments.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can improve the growth, productivity and tolerance of plants under stress conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PGPRs on the physiological traits related to photosynthesis, canopy temperature (CT) and yield of tomato hybrids under water scarcity in open field conditions. Seedlings of H-1015 and UG 812J F1 tomato hybrids were treated by B1, B2, B3 bacteria strains before planting, then they were grown under regularly irrigated (RI=ET100%), deficit irrigated (DI=ET50%) and non-irrigated (I0) conditions in the field experiments. During flowering period, a higher chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), canopy temperature and lower chlorophyll content (SPAD) were measured for plants treated by B2 and B3 treatments than for untreated plants. From flowering to ripening of tomato fruit, PGPRs influenced negatively the Fv/Fm, positively the SPAD value and canopy temperature, which resulted in a 47.8 to 75.4% increase in the green healthy fruit yield compared to the control. Under severe dry, non-irrigated conditions, B3 treatment increased the green fruits yield by 28.9%, the Brix by 16% and the vitamin C content by 13.6% in comparison with the untreated plants. Under moderate water deficiency using deficit irrigation the plants treated by B3 produced the same marketable yield and 33% lower diseased yield than untreated plants and they produced 9.5% higher Brix and 12.7% higher vitamin C content.

This study was undertaken to identify the effect of net shading technology on the total capsaicinoids, vitamin C and relative chlorophyll content expressed as SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) values and total marketable fruit yield of ‘Star Flame’ chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) for two harvesting times cultivated under modified atmosphere. ‘Star Flame’ pepper was grown under three (3) different net shading colours (white, red and green). Samples without net shading were used as control. Samples were subjected to chromatographic analyses using HPLC for the determination of total capsaicinoids and vitamin C. Interaction in shading technology and harvest times (p=0.010) had significant effect on total capsaicinoids as a result of green and white shading technologies showing higher differences when compared to control samples. Vitamin C content was observed to have increased in white and red shadings (p=0.001) after the first harvest and gradually decreased after the second harvesting time (p=0.002). Relative leaf chlorophyll content was significantly higher in white shading in the first and second harvest. Samples used as control had significantly higher marketable values when compared to white and green shadings with red recording low marketability of ‘Star Flame’ chilli peppers.

The effect of irradiation on microbial load and shelf-life of anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) was assessed in this study. Irradiation doses used in the study were 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 kGy. The assessment was carried out at 3 weeks intervals for the period of 9 weeks. Samples were analyzed for microbial load (total viable count, total coliform count and Staphylococcus aureus). Smoked samples were more contaminated as compared to sun-dried samples from both locations. A dose dependent effect was observed in all the samples obtained from both Chorkor and Keta (p<0.05). Samples from Keta were less contaminated for both smoked and sundried samples as compared to the samples from Chorkor whether sun dried or smoked (p<0.05). At 2.5 kGy, microbial load levels (CFU/g) for total viable count, total coliform count and S. aureus were below the standard (CFU/g of microbial load) set by the Ghana Standards Authority for microbial load in fish. This dose is the most appropriate dose for the decontamination and shelf extension of anchovy from Ghana. Key words: Microbial load, processing methods, irradiation dose, shelf-life.