Paclobutrazol application in potted ornamental pepper

ABSTRACT Within the genetic variability of the Capsicum genus there are plants with ornamental potential, but awry height required by the market. Paclobutrazol (PBZ), gibberellin retardant and growth inhibitor, is normally used as alternative to reduce plant height. The objective was to evaluate the PBZ (0, 25, 50 and 75 mg L-1) effect on plant height of eight pepper genotypes. Seven accessions [BGH 1032, BGH 1039, BGH 7073 (C. annuum), BGH 4285, BGH 4199, BGH 4355 and BGH 6371 (C. chinense)] of the germplasm bank from Universidade Federal de Viçosa and one access [MG 302 (C. annuum)] from the germplasm bank of the Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais were evaluated. The PBZ application was ineffective in altering plant architecture of BGH 6371. PBZ at 25 mg L-1 resulted in plants with better ornamental characteristics of the accesses BGH 1032 and BGH 1039. Considering the cost-benefit, the indicated dose for BGH 4285, BGH 7073 and MG 302 access is 25 mg L-1 PBZ. The PBZ application in BGH 4199 and BGH 4355 accesses, despite reducing plant height, did not improve the ornamental characteristics, resulting in plants without canopy pattern.