Desempenho agronômico de linhagens de pimenta em cultivo protegido (Capsicum chinense)

Abstract

The Capsicum genus holds significant socioeconomic importance and global genetic diversity, with the species C. chinense standing out in Brazil due to its fruit variability. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance in greenhouse cultivation and fruit morphological characteristics of six C. chinense strains, and two commercial materials ('Biquinho' and the hybrid 'Maria Bonita'). The experiment was conducted in a protected environment under fertigation management in coconut fiber substrate. The F6 2019-6 genotype stood out with the highest productivity, 17,23 t ha⁻¹. This genotype's productive superiority is positively correlated with a greater pulp thickness, an attribute that confers greater fruit mass and increased post-harvest lifetime. This strain exhibited superior productive performance compared to the 'Maria Bonita' hybrid. In terms of market suitability, the F6 2033-5 genotype showed the largest fruit diameter, making it the most suitable for the fresh market, while the F6 2026-1, with more elongated fruits. The results obtained confirm the success of the breeding program in generating lines with high-performance attributes, providing subsidies for the selection and potential release of new cultivars.