Leaf gas exchange and growth of Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum under conditions of flooding and water deficit

Growth and gas-exchange traits of Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum under flooding and water deficit (WD) stress were measured in a greenhouse experiment. Flooding was applied to a group of plants for 0 (control), 5, and 10 d, and WD to another set at 100 (control field capacity), 70, 50, and 25% of the water applied to control. Flooding negatively affected stomatal conductance, photosynthetic and transpiration rate from 20 d after transplanting (DAT), with a significant decrease in biomass at 120 DAT. WD at 70, 50, and 25% severely affected the plant aerial and root biomass and the gas-exchange traits from 80 DAT, inhibiting both flowering and fructification. This study showed the sensitivity of amashito chili plants to water stress which could have implications for the survival of local populations in natural conditions. Results should be considered for the development of small-scale cultivation.