Effect of split-root-system water stress on physiological and morphological aspects of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Research has been carried out in southern Italy to study the split-root water stress effect on some physiological acid morphological parameters in pepper, plants were grown in pots and the root system was divided into two equal halves by a plastic wall. The following treatments were compared: 1) the entire rhizosphere (both halves) were well watered; 2) half a rhizosphere was well watered and the other half dried for 26 days after fruit-set, and then was re-watered and the former half dried; 3) half a rhizosphere was well watered and the other half dried after Fruit-set to the end of the vegetative cycle. The results showed that stomatal conductance, transpiration and assimilation rate decreased by reducing the watered soil volume. The reduction of stomatal conductance is likely to depend not only on the low water potential in the xylem but also on ABA and cytokinins produced by the stressed root system.