Influence of shading on growth, physiological responses and yield of field-grown Habanero chili (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

Importance of the work: Research on habanero (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) chili production and physiology remain limited, despite their economic and culinary relevance. Objectives: To assess the effects of shade levels on the plant growth, fruit yield, and chemical composition of habanero. Materials and Methods: A two-season field experiment was conducted using five shade levels [0% (unshaded), 30%, 47%, 63%, 80%] and two cultivars (‘Kukulkan’ and ‘Kabal’). The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with 4 replications and 10 treatments, comprising 5 shade levels and 2 cultivars. Response variables were environmental factors, plant height and stem diameter, leaf pigment content, fruit yield, postharvest water loss and fruit soluble solids, total phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and capsaicin concentration. Results:…