Prohexadione-Ca provokes positive changes in the growth and development of habanero pepper

Abstract: In recent years, the cultivated area of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) has grown in Mexico as a result of increasing the culinary diet among consumers and the knowledge on its high healthy components such as antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. The actual worldwide demand of this vegetable requires the application of new production systems in order to increase yield per hectare as well as to improve the fruit quality of this commodity. The use of growth retardants is an alternative for this challenge, therefore, the effect of prohexadione-Ca (P-Ca) was evaluated on the vegetative growth, gibberellins at the stem apex, yield and antioxidants content in ripen fruits of habanero pepper cv. Jaguar. The dosages of P-Ca were: 0,100, 175 and 250 mg L^-1 sprayed to seedlings at one (10 days after transplanting) or two (10 and 31 days after transplanting) occasions. Results showed that P-Ca temporally reduced growth in height and diameter of main stem. This effect was related with a reduction in the synthesis of gibberellins A1, A4 and A7 at the apex. The fruit number and yield per plant increased with one application of P-Ca (at 175 mg L^-1). The content of capsaicin and total carotenoids showed a remarkable increment in ripen fruits when plants have received one application of P-Ca at any concentration.