We investigated the effects of N nutrition on growth and carbohydrate partitioning of pepper ( Capsicum annuum L., cv. Maor) seedlings in the greenhouse and on their subsequent recovery and development after transplanting. Seedlings received 0, 30, 100, or 200 mg N/liter for 14 days, after which they were transplanted and received 100 mg N/liter. Nitrogen levels below 100 mg·liter −1 inhibited shoot growth and leaf chlorophyll content; both were severely inhibited in the absence of supplemental N. Root growth had a negative relation with N supply; an enhanced root: shoot ratio was observed under low-N regimes. On a unit-leaf-area basis, CO 2 fixation was not affected when N was present; however, it was greatly inhibited in the absence of N. Changes in the leaf starch and soluble sugar concentrations occurred as a function of N supply and leaf age. In the roots, low N led to lower sucrose and higher levels of hexose and starch. More sucrose was transported and accumulated into leaf veins of low-N tissue. Exogenously supplied 14 C-labeled sucrose was rapidly converted into starch in the low-N tissue. Seedlings that received 100 mg N/liter had the highest post-transplant growth rate and flowered earlier. Carbohydrate status of young pepper seedlings influenced their post-transplant recovery. Optimal N supply is essential for full recovery and development of transplants.
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Aloni et al. (1991) studied this question.