Flooding effect to Capsicum frutescens L. in wilting and death perspectives

Flooding has been reported to cause various responses in plants ranging from wilting to death. However, there is a lack of information about wilting and dying occurrence in C. frutescens L. This study aimed to identify the influence of flooding on wilting and death in C. frutescens L. and to know the correlation between both parameters after flooding stress. Three varieties of C. frutescens L. (Cakra Hijau, Mhanu XR, and Sret) were used in this study. Plants were grown in a greenhouse and treated with periodic flooding treatments (controls, periodic 0, 1 and 2). Wilting was scored visually by a scale of 0-5 where 0 for no wilting, and 5 for plants that died. Death occurrence was observed by counting the number of the dead plant until harvest period. Mann-Whitney analysis showed a significant difference (p<0,05) in wilting response, but in death, occurrence parameter showed no significant difference. Based on Spearman's correlation analysis, a positive correlation between wilting and death occurrence was evidenced. It was concluded that flooding caused wilting and had the potential to cause death in C. frutescens L. Thus, good breeding strategies and agricultural management are needed in the C. frutescens L. farm to face flooding.