Impact of Elevated Temperature and CO2 on Growth and Fruit Quality of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

This study was conducted to determine the impact of elevated temperature and CO2 concentration based on climate change scenario on growth and fruit quality of pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Muhanjilju) with SPAR (Soil Plant Atmosphere Research) chamber. The intraday temperatures of climate normal years fixed by 20.8℃ during the growing season (May 1∼October 30) of climatic normal years (1971∼2000) in Andong region. There were treated with 4 groups such like a control group (ambient temperature and 400ppm CO2), an elevated CO2 group (ambient temperature and 800ppm CO2), an elevated temperature group (ambient temperature+6℃ and 400ppm CO2) and an elevated temperature/CO2 group (ambient temperature+6℃ and 800ppm CO2). Compared with the control, plant height, branch number and leaf number increased under the elevated temperature and elevated temperature/CO2 group. However, leaf area and chlorophyll content showed a tendency of decreasing in the elevated temperature group and elevated temperature/CO2 group. The number of flower and bud were decreased in the elevated temperature and elevated temperature/CO2 group (mean temperature at 26.8℃) during the growth period. The total number and the weight of fruits were decreased in the elevated temperature group and elevated temperature/CO2 group more than the control group. While the weight, length and diameter of fruit decreased more than those of control as the temperature and CO2 concentration increased gradually. This result suggests that the fruit yield could be decreased under the elevated temperature/CO2 (6℃ higher than atmospheric temperature/2-fold higher than atmospheric CO2 concentration), whereas the percentage of ripen fruits after 100 days of planting was increased, and showed earlier harvest time than the control.