ROLE OF PROLINE ACCUMULATION ON FRUIT QUALITY OF PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) GROWN WITH A K-RICH COMPOST UNDER DROUGHT CONDITIONS

ABRILE MARIANA GUADALUPE; MA CARMEN ANTOLÍN ; FIASCONARO, MARÍA LAURA.; MARTÍN, CARLOS ALBERTO.; LOVATO, MARÍA; GERVASIO SUSANA

Córdoba

Congreso; XXXII Reunión Argentina de Fisiología Vegetal (RAFV) y XVI Congreso Latinoamericano de Fisiología Vegetal; 2018

Sociedad Argentina de Fisiologia Vegetal

Water availability is the most critical factor to grown and development of plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of soil amendment of a K-rich carrot compost on pepper physiology and fruit quality under drought. Furthermore, an attempted to determinethe influence of these combined factors on yield and quality pepper fruits. Carrot compost (ZC) was obtained by composting from carrot wastes and not presented phytotoxic substances that prevented germination and grown of pepper seedlings. When the vegetative stage corresponding to start of flowering was reached, half of the plants were subjected to drought conditions (moderate water stress). Results showed that the concentration of minerals, free proline, total phenols and main carotenoids in pepper fruits were significantly modifiedby water level and/or substrate type. Under drought,ZC35 (35% of ZC) treatment increased concentrationsof minerals (mainly K) and phenols but decreased bcarotene and lycopene levels. Moreover, significant relationships between K content, phenolic compoundsand free proline were highlighted. Overall, data suggest that the use of a K-rich carrot compost for growing pepper under drought could selectively modify plant metabolic activities that are involved in the accumulation of carotenoids and phenolic compounds and thus, infruit quality.