How do cold temperatures affect pollination in peppers?
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Night temperatures are the most critical factor affecting fruit set in peppers. When temperatures are low for most pepper varieties – usually 12-15?C - the pollen can become abnormal or not viable. Good pollen can maintain its vigor for 8-10 days at 20-22?C. Most pepper varieties from Zeraim Gedera can tolerate lower night temperatures such as 8?C without the pollen being affected. Abnormal and non-viable pollen can result in the possibility of their being no seed inside the fruit – parthenocarpic fruit - or partial pollination with very few seeds. Only the lobes with seeds will swell and grow while those without or very few seeds will remain small and undeveloped. Moreover, low night temperatures can also affect flower bud development because the dividing buds are sensitive to low temperatures. This can result in an increase of locules, which will not be properly pollinated in cold conditions. The result of all this is usually flat, misshapen fruit even when there are no extra lobes. Both parthenocarpic and misshapen fruit should be removed from the plants as soon as possible as they are unmarketable. Their early removal gives the plant a chance to pollinate another flower higher up on the plant and thus increase the yield. |
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