Evaluation of Habanero Pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) Varieties under Shade House Conditions in Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

Habanero pepper (HP) is the main emblematic horticultural species of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and it is highly valuable for commercial purposes. Since the Yucatan Peninsula has been qualified by official instances with the Denomination of Origin, a very promising horizon is opened for new varieties to be demanded by the local and abroad commercial markets. Nowadays all varieties are being produced under open field conditions but its agronomic and qualified behaviour has never been evaluated under shade house production systems. Keeping in mind the foregoing, the Jaguar (Ja), Mayapan (Ma) and Calakmul (Ca) varieties were evaluated and compared with a control, the Rey Pakal (RP) hybrid during the Fall-Winter season. A 1200 m2 shade house was used, covered with a white mesh with a density of 52 × 25 threads/square inch. RP and Ma reached the highest height (68.29 and 63.14 cm) and stem diameter (4.48 and 4.46 cm), compared to the rest of the evaluated varieties (Ca and Ja). A greater precocity is projected in Ca and RP to set flower buds, flowers and fruits than in Ja and Ma. In general, flower buds setting was recorded between 23.4 and 25.6 days after transplanting (DAT), flowering was from 30.3 to 40.5 DAT and the fruit set from 42.2 to 45.3 DAT. The four genetic materials had a similar behavior in terms of phenology. RP (hybrid) and Ma (Variety) showed the higher yields.