Inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis in ornamental peppers

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis affects the morphophysiological traits of potted ornamental Capsicum baccatum and Capsicum annuum growing under shade house conditions. Plants maintained in 2.7 L pots were arranged in a completely randomized design in a 2x4 factorial consisting of two pepper cultivars Chapéu-de-frade (C. baccatum) and Vulcão (C. annuum) and four paclobutrazol (PBZ) concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 75 mg L-1) with four replicates. At 30, 45, and 60 days after treatment, the plants were analyzed, and data were submitted to the analysis of general and regression variance. Gibberellin biosynthesis inhibition affected the morphophysiological and biochemical evaluations. For most evaluated traits, no interaction between factors was observed, suggesting that both pepper cultivars had a similar response to the growth regulator. PBZ-induced inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis improved plant water status, which enhanced the vigor of potted pepper plants. The dramatic reduction of upper leaves promoted by plant growth regulators compared to basal ones negatively impacted the visual ornamental aspect of Chapéu-de-frade peppers.