IMPROVEMENT OF FRUIT COLOR QUALITY OF PAPRIKA COMBINED TREATMENTS OF TI(IV) AND HUMIC ACIDS

Capsicum annuum L. (cv Bunejo) plants were grown under glass and treat ed with different combinations of humic acids and Ti(IV) ascorbate app lied via soil drench of leaf spray. For each treatment, the colour lev el, yellow/red pigments ratio, lipoxygenase activity, ascorbic acid co ntent and fruit yield were determined. Greater yields, ascorbic acid c ontent and lipoxygenase activity were found in fruits of humic acid-tr eated plants, compared with the corresponding control plants, but ther e were no changes in colour or the red/yellow pigments ratio. With Ti treatment, all the measured parameters increased except lipoxygenase a ctivity which decreased dramatically. Apart from the increase in yield , the effects of combined treatments of Ti and humic acids did not res ult in any improvement of the effects of Ti alone.