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Effects of Stage and Intensity of Fruit Pruning on Pepper: Effects of Stage and Intensity of Reproductive Organs Pruning on Yield and Quality of Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) Tekalign Tsegaw

The continuous growth of pepper plant in tropics increase the number of fruits per plant and this in turn increases the potential for competition between fruits with consequent reduction in fruit size. However, removing potential fruit will influence the sink in the sink: source interaction and the partitioning of assimilate. Furthermore, if pruning is not done at the appropriate level and time, fruit disorder, yield loss and inhibition of dry matter production may occur. Therefore, research activities are needed to establish the optimum level of pruning and stage of pruning to increase yield and quality of pepper.