Response of piquillo peppers (Capsicum annuum l.) to the application of increasing doses of kinetin in Huaura, Peru

Luis-Olivas D.B.; Julca-Olivera T.; Mendoza-Nieto E.; Sánchez-Calle M.T.; Fardim-Christo B.; Contreras-Liza S.E. · Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems (2026) · DOI: 10.56369/tsaes.6614

Resumen

Background: The piquillo pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a vegetable with high economic and nutritional value whose productivity can be limited by soil and climate factors. Cytokinins have shown potential as growth regulators to optimize fruit yield and quality. Objective: To evaluate the effect of increasing doses of kinetin (0, 0.66, 0.88, 1.10 and 1.32 mg L⁻¹) on the yield and productive components of piquillo peppers under conditions in the Huaura Valley, Peru. Methodology: A completely randomized block design with four replicates was used. The variables evaluated were the number and weight of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, diameter, length, and total yield. Results: Doses of 1.10 and 1.32 mg L⁻¹ significantly increased (p < 0.05) the number of fruits, average weight, and yield, reaching up to 20.95 t ha⁻¹, exceeding the control by more than 42%. Kinetin also improved fruit diameter and length in the second harvest, demonstrating a positive overall effect on reproductive biomass and physical quality. Implications: These findings support the use of kinetin as a biotechnological strategy to optimize piquillo pepper production in coastal areas with limiting conditions. Conclusions: The application of kinetin at high doses (1.10 to 1.32 mg L⁻¹) is an effective strategy for increasing the productivity and quality of piquillo peppers, providing evidence for crop management in Huaura, Peru. Copyright © the authors. Work licensed under a CC-BY 4.0 License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional José Faustino Sánchez Carrión