S15 - Session P2 - Yield and quality performance of some sweet pepper varieties under the influence of organic cultivation

Authors: Creola Brezeanu *, Petre M. Brezeanu, Silvica Ambăruș, Andreea Antal-Tremurici, Alexandru Bute, Tina Oana Cristea, C. Benchea

The work is part of a complex investigation related not only to peppers yield performance in organic system, but also with quality and consumer acceptability, Romanian market being somehow governed by the preference of red fruits, especially on agri food chain, by processors. The research started from the premise that organic production involves the achievement of adequate nutritional and culinary quality of pepper fruits. To investigate innovative production, research was carried out to assess the effects of organic cultivation practices on yield and quality of ten pepper cultivars. The influence of specific practices as fertilization, pest and pathogen management in accordance with organic legislation was assessed on several fruit quality traits, like total soluble solids, Vitamin C, color (carotene, lycopene, xanthophyll and chlorophyll content), dry matter, pH and titratable acidity, all responsible for taste, nutritional quality, consumers preference. Considering the increasing consumer demand for healthy produces and the current policies targeted to environmentally sustainable crop systems, the organic cultivation represents a coherent alternative to conventional farming practices which is based on chemical inputs. In summary, among the chemical compounds present in organic sweet pepper, the amount of β-carotene and lycopene appears as a parameter to improve the value of sweet pepper production. Competitive yields were accomplished by all investigated resources.From the analysis of variance relevant to plant growth, yield, and yield quality significant effects of cultivar and farming system (comparing to conventional) on yield parameters and indices as pigments, total soluble solids, Vitamin C, were recorded.