DATE OF TRANSPLANT, BORON, POTASSIUM AND PRUNING EFFECT ON THE HYDROPONIC Physalis peruviana L. FRUIT PRODUCTION IN GREENHOUSE

Abstract

Physalis peruviana L. is a native shrub to the Andes area, with commercial potential in Mexican markets. Its cultivation depends on the climate, its production system and the technology used to increase its productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of transplant date (TD), application of foliar boron (B) and potassium (K) in the nutrient solution, and pruning, during hydroponic fruits production in greenhouse. We carried out the study at the Colegio de Postgraduados, with plants of the “Colombia” variety. The experimental design consisted on divided plots: the large plot was the transplant date, June, July and August 2013; the small plot was the combination of B (0, 1, 3 mg L-1 ), K (3.5 and 7 meq L-1 ) and pruning (maintaining three stems and no pruning). The evaluated variables were fruits fresh weight with calyx (FWC) and without calyx (FWWC), fruit number (FN), fruit average weight (FAW) and number of cracked fruits (CF) during a two-month harvest period. The early transplants (June and July) with high B doses showed the highest fruit yield. However, during the late transplant (August) the plants without B foliar supply achieved the highest yield. B decreased the number of CF in early transplant. The supply of 7 meq L-1 of K reduced the number of FWC and FWWC in the first two dates, and 3.5 meq L-1 of K decreased the number of CF at the second date. Pruning did not change FAW, but reduced the yield on the second transplant date and decreased the number of CF by 50 %.