Variation in fruit quality in HTSP-5 green bell pepper grown under different photo-selective nets

Green sweet pepper is rich in antioxidants, phenolic compounds and mineral elements. Levels of bioactive compounds in green peppers can be influenced by growing conditions. In the present study, the responses of fruit quality parameters, including ascorbic acid content, in green pepper cultivar HTSP-5 were evaluated under photo-selective nets (yellow, red, and pearl with 40% shading) and a commercially used black net (control) with 25% shading. Significant differences in climatic parameters (PAR, temperature and RH) were obtained between photoselective nets and the commercial black net. Pepper plants grown under pearl nets had higher fruit mass and firmness at harvest than the black net. Soluble solids concentration was lowest in fruits produced under the black nets. The colour values L*, chroma*, a*, h degrees of fruits produced under the black nets indicated that the fruits were slightly more mature (lighter green) than fruits produced under the pearl nets (darker green).