Physiological characters of four lowland chilli varieties (Capsicum annum L.) with root cutting

Abstract

Abstract The root system plays some vital roles in overall plant development, promoting plant anchorage, absorption of nutrients and water, and hormone production. Cutting is an attempt to root regeneration and enhance the plant's metabolism capability, including canopies and roots for high yielding. Non-hybrid chilli can be used as a model plant because Indonesia's chilli yield has not been maximal yet. This research was aimed to determine the physiological characters of four lowland chilli varieties with root cutting. This study was designed using a randomized, complete block design (RCBD) with two factors: root cutting and varieties. The root cutting factor consisted of 4 levels: root cutting in seeding, root cutting in ridging, root cutting in seedling and ridging, and non-cutting. The varieties factor consisted of 4 levels, namely Lembang, Kencana, Tanjung, dan Ungu. The results showed that root cutting in ridging for Kencana, Lembang, and Ungu increased stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, CO2 intercellular, chlorophyll accumulation, photosynthesis rate, and improved fruit yield per plant. However, Tanjung did not respond to root cutting treatment because it did not improve plant physiology characters and fruit yield than non-cutting treatment. It is concluded that root cutting in ridging can be improved plant physiology, which contributes to increasing yield on Kencana, Lembang, and Ungu.