IMPROVING NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF HOT PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) PLANT VIA FOLIAR APPLICATION WITH ARGININE OR TRYPTOPHAN OR GLUTATHIONE

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out in the newly reclaimed sandy soil at Nubaria region, Egypt, during two successive seasons (2007 and 2008) to study the effect of foliar application with (50 or 100 mg/l) arginine, tryptophan or glutathione on hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Albasso) growth parameters; yield; endogenous growth regulators ( IAA, GA3, ABA) as well as nutritive components in the yielded fruits such as ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, tannins, phenolic compounds, carbohydrate content, protein content and amino acids composition. Application of the previously mentioned substances resulted in significant increases in plant growth parameters and yield concomitantly with an increase in the level of IAA, GA3 and decrease in ABA content as well as increase in all nutritive value parameters as ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, tannins, phenolic compounds, carbohydrate content, protein content and amino acids composition. Generally, promoting effect of glutathione and arginine treatments especially at 100mg/l were more pronounced than tryptophan treatments.