Effect of potassium silicate and L-cysteine on yield, water use efficiency and fruit quality of Physalis (Physalis peruviana L.) under water deficit conditions

Nowadays, due to climate change and a decrease in rainfall, the production of agricultural products in many regions, especially arid and semi-arid regions, has faced problems. For this purpose, to study the effect of potassium silicate (Si) and L-cysteine (Cys) foliar spray on water use efficiency, fruit yield and quality of Physalis (Physalis peruviana L.) under water deficit conditions, a split-plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in the Research field of the University of Zanjan during ۲۰۲۲. Experimental treatments consisted of three different irrigation levels (۵۰, ۷۵ and ۱۰۰% ETc) as the main plot and a foliar spray of potassium silicate (۰, ۵۰۰, ۱۰۰۰ and ۱۵۰۰ mg L-۱) and L-cysteine amino (۰, ۲۰ and ۴۰ mg L-۱) as a subplot. The results showed that water deficit stress increased total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and protein contents, and decreased vitamin C content, fruit number and yield. Application of Si, especially at ۱۰۰۰ and ۱۵۰۰ mg l-۱ and Cys improved carotenoids, TSS, TA, vitamin C and fruit protein contents, and fruit yield under irrigation ۱۰۰ ETc% and water deficit stress conditions. The highest fruit yield was obtained with the application of ۲۰ and ۴۰ mg L-۱ Cys under irrigation of ۱۰۰ and ۷۵ ETc%. Also, the highest value of WUE was observed in plants treated with ۲۰ and ۴۰ mg L-۱ Cys under deficit irrigation of ۷۵ ETc% and ۱۰۰۰ mg L-۱ Si under deficit irrigation of ۵۰ ETc%, respectively. Therefore, the application of ۱۰۰۰ mg L-۱ of potassium silicate and ۴۰ mg L-۱ of cysteine is suggested to increase the quality and yield of the physalis under the irrigation ۱۰۰ Etc% and water deficit stress conditions.

Keywords:

Carotenoids , Fruit number , Total soluble solids , Vitamin C , تعداد میوه , کاروتنوئید , مواد جامد محلول , ویتامین ث