The wild piquin chilli pepper ( Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum) is a species of great importance in the North-East of Mexico; however, its productions are not constant. In order to generate knowledge, it is important to carry out research on seedlings nutrition and assess the response of wild piquin chilli pepper with the addition of different systems and doses of fertilization in its productive performance. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of different kinds of fertilizer on seedling production of wild piquin chilli pepper under greenhouse conditions. The treatments that were used are: control, organic fertilizer applied as foliar, mycorrhiza ( Glomus intrarodices), Osmacote Plus ® (15N-9P-12K) and the combination mycorrhizae and organic fertilizer. The variables considered in this study were: the seedlings height, foliage color, total leaf number, stem diameter and radical density. These variables were recorded every 15 days after its transplant, using 30 days old seedlings. Statistical analysis of data collected was made with the statistical package STATISTICA STATSOFT ®. An analysis of variance and mean of the minimum difference (LSD) with a value of p = 0.05. Results for effects of different types of fertilizers tested were as follows: the best type was the organic fertilizer, followed by the Osmacote Plus, preceded by the application of mycorrhiza, after the control and with the lower results the combination of mycorrhiza and organic fertilizer.
The wild piquin chilli pepper was unknown in Europe until the XVI century, it was introduced in Spain by Colombus on his trip back in 1493. The crop extended from the Mediterranean region to England in 1548 and to Central Europe near the XVI century. The Portuguese transplant reported Capsicum from Brazil to India before 1885; the crop was reported in China by ends of 1700 [
Mexico is the main center of distribution of Capsicum annum and Guatemala as a secondary center; the Amazon for C. chinense and C. frutescens are widely distributed from Mexico crossing Central America and in all regions of the Caribbean. C. chinense is the most common cultivated species in South America. All species exist in their own wild form, except for C. pubescens, which is only known under farming. In the United States C. annuum is the most cultivated species. Only the Tabasco and the green leaf Tabasco, both C. fructescens, are developed in limited extensions in Louisiana, and are used to make Tabasco sauce of mature red fruit, and the vinegar sauce of immature yellow-greenish chopped in vinegar. C. pendulum is the third developed species in a very limited extension in California [
The species Capsicum annuum L. is one of the most diverse in forms and sizes, according to Sahagun [
Yet in the case of Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum, which is located in the northeast region of the country, there are variations that are not very notorious or hard to distinguish at a regional level, as it has great resemblance. Respectively, Medina [
The genus Capsicum has been widely studied, particularly in taxonomy, origin evolution and domestication process, yet there is still a lack of important aspects to solve since all the studies have been limited to the cultivated species and their nearest relatives [
This species is of great relevance for the habitants where it is distributed, as it provides food and extra income, but productions are not constant due to various factors, among them precipitations. In a study made by Medina [
Wild piquin chilli pepper is a species that is found in the thornscrubs in Northeastern Mexico, and it is widely used by the habitants in the rural zones. Its characteristic scent and flavor make it unique and different from other varieties of chilli that can be found in other regions of the country [
The objective of the present research was to determine the effects of three organic fertilizers with potential use in the nursery, their effects on seedling growth and production under nursery conditions.
The study was made during December 2015 through February 2016 in the greenhouse and forestry nursery of the Faculty of Forestry Sciences of the UANL. Five fertilization treatments were tested in seedlings grown at the nursery and transplant used after 30 days in plastic trays with 38 cavities, with a volume of 200 cm3 per cavity. For each treatment 4 repetitions of 10 seedlings each were used [
T1 = Control.
T2 = Organic fertilizer (Vermi-compost) foliar applied.
T3 = Mycorrhizae (Glomus intraradicens) applied to the substrate.
T4 = Mineral fertilizer Osmacote Plus® (15-9-12) of slow release.
T5 = Combination of the treatments Mycorrhizae + Organic fertilizer.
The preparation and application of the organic fertilizer (vermicompost) was made in a liter of water to which 200 milliliters of vermicompost were added (20% of concentration), agitated to be spilled later in an atomizer. The appliance of this fertilizer was foliar every 15 days during 3 months.
For the application of the mycorrhizae 7.6 liters of substrate (peat moss + perlite) were added to each forest tray and a dose of 2.43 grams of mycorrhizae per liter of pre-moistened substrate was applied.
For the application of mineral fertilizer Osmocote Plus® 8.6 grams of Osmocote were applied for each liter of pre-moistened substrate, so that each tray (7.6 liters) needed a total of 65.36 grams of fertilizer.
The studied variables were:
・ Height of the seedlings;
・ Coloration of foliage;
・ Number of total leaves;
・ Diameter of the stem;
・ Radical density.
These variables were registered every 15 days after their transplant, using 30 days old seedlings. The statistical analysis from the data gathered was made with the statistic package STATISTICA, STATSOFT®. Variance analysis and least significant difference mean comparison test were made with a significance level of p = 0.05.
In
Results showed that treatment 2 (organic fertilizer) in most of the time, starting from the second week, was superior to the other treatments. A similar situation occurred to [
The final seedlings’ height after 3 months of measurements was indeed strongly influenced by the tested fertilization systems, being best to apply organic fertilizer in foliar (23 centimeters of height). It is worth mentioning that a negative impact was seen in this variable in the treatment that consisted of the combination of mycorrhizae + organic fertilizer―this can be seen in
In regard to the variance analysis made to test the different treatments of fertilization, these showed significant differences: height (p = 0.0000), seedlings diameter (p = 0.000117), radical density (p = 0.000061) and seedlings coloring (p = 0.0000).
The steam diameter of seedlings was seen affected positive and negatively by the fertilization systems tested, resulting the organic fertilizer (vermicompost) being the best one applied foliar, the control showing a minor diameter, as it can be analyzed in
The radical density variable of the chilli seedlings was higher with the application of the organic fertilizer in foliar. Chaimsohn [
The study output results indicate that, referring to the color of the seedlings variable, the fertilization treatments with which the seedlings achieved the maximum level (5) were the organic fertilizer (vermitcompost), and Osmocote Plus®, this can be seen in
The present investigation found out that the organic fertilizer and the mineral fertilizer (Osmocote Plus®) displayed outgoing results in behalf the quality of the seedlings; (height of the seedlings by 3 months of being transplant used in the containers), steam diameter, radical density and foliage coloration. Being these results a very valuable information to the producers of wild piquin chilli pepper given by the difference of costs of the fertilizers. Conversely, regarding the use and efficiency of the mineral fertilizer, Ramirez [
mentions that mycorrhizae (Glomus intraradicens) altogether with the application of an inorganic foliar fertilizer (triple 20-20-20) was superior in the seedlings that just had the mycorrhizae fungus inoculated, and in this investigation the combination of the foliar organic fertilizer and the mycorrhizae to the roots did not have good results. In all likelihood, this investigation should have tested an inorganic fertilizer with the organic one as well.
As it is mentioned by Aviles [
Comparatively in the present study a concentration of 20% of the organic fertilizer was used in order to obtain the best results in growth and seedlings diameter of wild piquin chilli pepper.
The best fertilizer, in the first three months of seedlings development, regarding the tested variables (i.e. seedlings height, stem diameter, radical density, and foliage color) was the organic fertilizer (vermicompost) applied as foliar, followed by the mineral fertilizer Osmocote Plus®, preceded by the mycorrhizae application, followed by the control, and with the lowest results displayed, the combination of the mycorrhizae and organic fertilizer.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Villalón-Mendoza, H., Malacara-Ramírez, R.I., Garza-Ocañas, F., Garza-López, E., Olivo, A.M., Avalos, J.G.M. and Ramírez-Meráz, M. (2022) Testing Organic Fertilizers to Improve Seedlings Quality of Wild “Piquin” Chilli Pepper (Cap- sicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum) from Northeastern Mexico. Open Access Library Journal, 9: e8565. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1108565