Analysis of the production of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) in the greenhouse with different irrigation levels during the harvest cycle

Abstract

The demand for exotic fruits has been increasing due to their excellent nutritional properties. One of these is the Cape gooseberry, which has high contents of vitamins A, B, and C, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, and phosphorous, ideal for strengthening the immune system. Cape gooseberry fruits tend to crack and, therefore, they must have an adequate supply of water. However, the effect of water supply on their production in greenhouse conditions during the harvest periods is not well known. Given the importance of irrigation management to produce Cape gooseberries, we used four irrigation levels in a completely randomized design (0.7, 0.9, 1.1, or 1.3 of the evaporation of a class A tank) with nine repetitions representing 36 experimental units. Plants were grown in 20 L pots using blonde peat as a substrate. The irrigation level of 1.3 generated the highest number of fruits and the highest production per plant as from the third biweekly harvest. The production decreased when the plants were subjected to water stress (water levels of 0.7 and 0.9) under the high temperatures of protected cultivation. In the last harvests, small fruits were the most abundant. The calyx/fruit ratio increased as the harvest cycles progressed. Regardless of the irrigation level, the larger the fruit, the greater the incidence of its cracking.