Fruit Yield of Tabasco Pepper Under Water Deficit with Magnetically Treated Water

Abstract

Magnetically treated water (MTW) has been used to promote biomass yield in different crops. Tabasco pepper is a high water-demanding crop often cultivated in areas with limited water supply. This study aims to evaluate the effect of MTW on the physiology and biomass yield of Tabasco pepper under water deficit. The experiment consisted of two groups of randomly distributed plants receiving normal water and MTW at two irrigation levels (100 % and 50 % of field capacity, FC) during the whole life cycle under mesh-house. Water was magnetically treated with a commercial irrigation device. Fruit biomass, photosynthesis, water potential, and leaf tissue status were measured. Fruit yield showed a non-significant increase in plants with MTW at both irrigation levels, although large- and medium-sized effects were detected regarding dry weight and fruits per plant (> 16 % increase). Concerning photosynthesis parameters, only quantum yield significantly increased, even though net assimilation and stomatal conductance exhibited a 17 % and 28 % increment, respectively. At 50 % FC, photosynthetic parameters and leaf water potential were severely impaired no matter the treatment used, but surprisingly, relative water content and electrolyte leakage in leaves were not significantly affected. Despite the minor physiological effects of MTW observed in this study, the size effect on fruit yield was noticeable at the end of the experiments. Hence, the application of MTW could help improve water use efficiency in Tabasco pepper in combination with reduced irrigation strategies.