Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Analysis of Effect of Compound Salt Stress on Seed Germination and Salt Tolerance Analysis of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
Published on: November 30, 2022
Night temperature and source-sink effects on overall growth, cell number and cell size in bell pepper ovaries
Rebecca L Darnell1, Nicacio Cruz-Huerta, Jeffrey G Williamson
1Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. rld@ufl.edu
Background And Aims:
Ovary swelling, and resultant fruit malformation, in bell pepper flowers is favoured by low night temperature or a high source-sink ratio. However, the interaction between night temperature and source-sink ratio on ovary swelling and the contribution of cell size and cell number to ovary swelling are unknown. The present research examined the interactive effects of night temperature and source-sink ratio on ovary size, cell number and cell size at anthesis in bell pepper flowers.
Methods:
Bell pepper plants were grown in growth chambers at night temperatures of either 20 °C (HNT) or 12 °C (LNT). Within each temperature treatment, plants bore either 0 (non-fruiting) or two developing fruits per plant. Ovary fresh weight, cell size and cell number were measured.
Key Results:
Ovary fresh weights in non-fruiting plants grown at LNT were the largest, while fresh weights were smallest in plants grown at HNT with fruits. In general, mesocarp cell size in ovaries was largest in non-fruiting plants grown at either LNT or HNT and smallest in fruiting plants at HNT. Mesocarp cell number was greater in non-fruiting plants under LNT than in the rest of the night temperature/fruiting treatments. These responses were more marked in ovaries sampled after 18 d of treatment compared with those sampled after 40 d of treatment.
Conclusions:
Ovary fresh weight of flowers at anthesis increased 65 % in non-fruiting plants grown under LNT compared with fruiting plants grown under HNT. This increase was due primarily to increases in mesocarp cell number and size. These results indicate that the combined effects of LNT and high source-sink ratio on ovary swelling are additive. Furthermore, the combined effects of LNT and low source-sink ratio or HNT and high source-sink ratio can partially overcome the detrimental effects of LNT and high source-sink ratio.
Related Concept Videos
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature
Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation
Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses

