Effect of the Ergostim and Amino Acids on some Chemical Properties and Yield of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under Protected Cultivation

To investigate the impact of spraying with Ergostim and amino acids on certain chemical traits and yield of Capsicum annuum under protected cultivation and the cultivation of the hybrid cultivar Barbarian, an experiment was conducted in one of the unheated greenhouses at the research station of the College of Agriculture and Marshes / University of Thi Qar, Al-Mustafawiya in the academic year 2021–2022. (1, 2, and 3) ml L-1 and three concentrations of amino acids (0, 2, and 4) ml L-1 by using complete randomized block design with three replicates. The averages of the coefficients of erogostim were compared according to the Least Significant Differences (LSD) test at the probability level of 0.05. The results of the study showed that Spraying the nutrient solution ergostim at a concentration of (3 ml L-1), had a significant effect by increasing the number of flowers, the percentage of fruit set, the average yield of one plant, vitamin C and the cayenne substance Capsaicin where rates were recorded (517.5 flowers plant -1, 98.93%, 4395 gm plant-1, 105.91 mg 100 gm-1, and 2.80 mg kg-1), respectively. As for the amino acids, the concentration (4 ml liter-1) achieved the highest levels, reaching (411.5 flower plant-1, 94.40%, 4089 gm plant-1, 103.60 mg 100 gm-1 and 2.73 mg kg-1) respectively.


Introduction
Chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the fruiting vegetable plants belonging to the Solanaceae family, which contains more than 30 species, including five species (C.annuum L., C.chinence jaca, C.frutescens L, and C.baccatum).L. and C.pubescens L.), which are grown in conditions with moderate temperatures from 25 to 30 C. Central and South America are considered the original habitat for it [1], and its cultivation is spread in many countries, but India and Thailand Pakistan is one of the most productive countries, and cayenne pepper seeds were found in the caves of ancient Mexico [2].The fruits of pepper are described as having nutritional value because they contain various mineral elements and salts such as calcium, potassium, and iron, as well as many nutritional compounds such as proteins, vitamins A and B, and ascorbic acid, in addition to the compound Capsaicin, which is an alkali extract that has therapeutic uses such as preventing cancer, treating rheumatism, reducing blood 1259 (2023) 012049 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1259/1/012049 2 cholesterol and relieving pain by affecting the neurotransmitter that transmits pain signals to the brain, The production of this compound is affected by multiple factors, including environmental conditions and genetic makeup [3].Ergostim is considered one of the vital stimulants, as it contains in a formula N-acetil-tiazolidin-4carboxlic acid (AATC) and (4-tiazolidin carboxlic acid (TCA), which are molecules of proline and cysteine, which are molecules directly involved in the cell division and limiting Stress, and this acid enters the cell wall, and once it is inside the cell, it turns into theoproline, which provides proline molecules inside the cell, and thus this amino acid works inside the cell and performs its multiple roles in it.This acid also provides cysteine molecules, which is an amino acid that is involved in a large number of metabolic processes of the plant, providing it with protection against environmental stresses and improving cell division in the plant [4].Amino acids are considered the main initiators in the biological construction of proteins [5], which are necessary to stimulate the growth and construction of cells.There are many hypotheses that explain the role of amino acids in plant growth.The evidence presented thus far suggested the existence of multiple other mechanisms, beginning with amino acids, through which plants can construct indole acetic acid (IAA).Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are organic compounds with a side chain and the elements nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen [6].Amino acids are important components of antioxidant systems in plants [7], indicated that the addition of amino acids to tomato plants led to an increase in the number of fruit set, number of flowers and plant productivity [8].Explained in their study on tomato plants under protected conditions that adding arginine to a spray at a concentration of (150 mg L -1 ) had a significant effect by increasing the percentage of nodes at a rate of (73.54%) and the number of fruits at rates (58.38 and 53.46%).Respectively, the early plant yield was (11.21%) and the total yield was (13.12%), compared to the control treatment.[9], mentioned that spraying the shoots of sweet pepper plants with amino acid concentrations (0, 400 and 800) mg.L -1 had a significant effect at the concentration (800 mg.L -1 ) on the yield of one plant at a rate of (2.11 kg).And the percentage of total soluble solids at a rate of (9.29%), while the concentration of vitamin C increased significantly at the two concentrations (400 and 800) mg L -1 at a rate of (44.49 and 49.47) mg L -1 , respectively, and a significant effect on the number of fruits at a rate of ( 19.49 fruits of plant -1 ) compared to the control treatment with an average of (13.64 fruits of plant -1 ) [10], noted that foliar fertilization with amino acids at a concentration of (100 and 200) ppm significantly increased the content of vitamin C and capsaicin in the fruits of two sweet pepper cultivars [11], reported that spraying two types of pepper plants (sweet and cayenne) with the amino acid phenylanine at a concentration of (200 mg L -1 ) had a significant effect on increasing the content of cayenne pepper fruits of the capsaicin compound amounting to (76.3 μg ml -1 ) compared to the control treatment that The lowest rate was recorded (29.2 micrograms ml -1 ) [12].Ergostim is considered one of the vital stimulants, as it contains in a formula N-acetil-tiazolidin-4carboxlic acid (AATC) and (4-tiazolidin carboxlic acid (TCA), which are molecules of proline and cysteine, which are molecules directly involved in cell division and limiting Stress, and this acid enters the cell wall, and once it is inside the cell, it turns into theoproline, which provides proline molecules inside the cell, and thus this amino acid works inside the cell and performs its multiple roles in it.This acid also provides cysteine molecules, which is an amino acid that is involved in a large number of metabolic processes of the plant, providing it with protection against environmental stresses and improving cell division in the plant [4].

Materials and Methods
The study was conducted in Thi-Qar Governorate-Nasiriyah City-Al-Mustafawiya region, during the agricultural season 2020/2021 in one of the unheated plastic houses belonging to the fields of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering-College of Agriculture and Marshes / University of Thi-Qar in sandy mixed soil to study the effect of the ergostim and amino acids on some chemical properties and yield of hot pepper traits.The physical and chemical plant of hot pepper.The experiment included two factors:  Treatment with Concentration (ml L -1 ). Treatment with Concentration(3ml L -1 ).

The Second Factor: Amino Acids in Concentrations
 Control treatment (spraying with distilled water only). Treatment with Concentration (2 ml L -1 ). Treatment with Concentration (4 ml L -1 ).Each concentration was prepared separately and drops of the dispersant material (Tween20) were added to it to reduce the surface tension.After shaking, stirring and homogenizing well, the plant was sprayed until completely wet and in the early morning using a 16-liter sprinkler.The process of analyzing the soil of the plastic house and the water used for irrigation was carried out before planting, and the results of the analysis were according to what is mentioned in Tables (1 and 2).
Table 1.Some chemical and physical properties of the soil of the plastic house.

Percentage of Fruit Set (%)
Six randomly selected plants were used to determine this trait using the following equation: Percentage of fruit set %=(The number of knotty fruits )/(The total number of flowers)×100

Average Yield Per Plant (gm plant -1 )
This trait was calculated by dividing the yield of the total number of shoots for each experimental unit by the number of plants of the experimental unit.

Percentage of Vitamin C Content of Fruits (mg 100g -1 fresh weight)
Vitamin C was determined by direct leaching method according to [13].

The Caustic Substance (Capsaicin) in the Fruits (mg -1 )
Capsaicin was determined by spectrophotometer for the resulting blue solution according to the method prepared by [14].

Number of Flowers (flower plant -1 )
According to Table (3), the concentration of Ergostim has a significant effect on increasing the number of flowers in the plant, with the concentration treatment (3 ml L -1 ) recording the highest rate of (517.5 plant flowers -1 ) and the concentration treatment (2 ml L -1 ) not significantly differing from it, as it gave an average of (495.0 plant flowers -1 ) and the control treatment recording the lowest rate of (287.5 plant flowers -1 ).(195.6 plant flowers -1 ).From the same table, it is noted the significant effect of amino acids in increasing the number of flowers in the plant, as the treatment with a concentration of (4 ml L -1 ) achieved the highest rate of (411.5 flower plant -1 ), followed by the treatment whose concentration was (2 ml L -1 ), which did not differ.With it in significant terms compared with the control treatment, which gave the lowest rate of (299.4 flower plant -1 ).The study found that the interaction treatment (Ergostim at a concentration of (3 ml L -1 ) and amino acids at a concentration of (4 ml L -1 ) resulted in the highest rate of flower production (574.0 flower plant -1 ) compared to the control treatment (Ergostim concentration of (0 ml L -1 ) and amino acids concentration of (0 ml L -1 ), which produced the fewest flowers (236.0 flower plant -1 ).(99.4 flower plant -1 ).

Percentage of Fruit Set (%)
Table 4 shows that the percentage of fruit set significantly increased with increasing Ergostim concentration following spraying, with the highest rate being recorded in the 3 ml L -1 concentration treatment (98.39%) compared to the 0% rate in the control treatment (also recorded in Table 4).Rates as low as (73.83%) were seen..749As for spraying the concentrations of amino acids, it led to a significant increase in the percentage of fruit setting with an increase in its concentration, and the concentration treatment (4 ml L -1 ) achieved the highest rate of (94.40%) compared to the control treatment, which recorded the lowest rate of (82.14%).The results showed in the table above that the interaction coefficients between the factors of the study, some of which were significant in increasing the percentage of fruit set, as the interaction treatment between (Ergostim at a concentration of (3 ml L -1 ) and amino acids at a concentration of (4 ml L -1 ) achieved the highest rate.(99.96%) and compared with the control treatment, which recorded the lowest rate (42.33%).

Average Yield Per Plant (gm plant -1 )
Table (5) shows that as Ergostim concentration was increased during spraying, plant yields also increased.The highest yield per plant was recorded in the 2 ml L -1 treatment, while the lowest yield per plant was recorded in the control treatment.(2383 g plant -1 ).
Table 5.Effect of Ergostim and amino acids on average yield per plant of hot pepper plant (gm plant -1 ).

Concentration ergostim (ml.L -1 )
Concentration amino acid (ml.L - As for the effect of spraying amino acids, it was significant in increasing the yield of one plant, and the concentration treatment (2 ml L -1 ) achieved the highest rate of (4486 gm plant -1 ), which did not differ significantly with the concentration treatment (4 ml L -1 ), which recorded the average It reached (4089 gm plant -1 ), and compared with the control treatment, which recorded the lowest rate (3209 gm plant -1 ).
As for the effect of the interaction coefficients between the study factors, some of them had a significant effect on increasing the yield of one plant.Compared to the control treatment, which recorded the lowest rate (1357 gm plant -1 ).

Vitamin C (mg/ 100gm) in the Fruits
A comparison of the concentration treatment (3 ml L -1 ) with the control treatment (which recorded the lowest rate) in Table (6) demonstrates that spraying Ergostim concentrations on the leaves has a significant effect by increasing the levels of vitamin (C) in the fruits with an increase in Ergostim concentrations.(79.55 mg 100 gm -1 ).
Table 6.Effect of Ergostim and amino acids in Vitamin C on the fruits of the chili plant (100gm -1 ). ) achieved the highest rate (103.60 mg 100 gm -1 ) compared to the control treatment, which recorded the lowest rate It reached (84.64 mg100 gm -1 ).While some of the interaction treatments between the two study factors had a significant effect by increasing the rates of vitamin (C) concentration in the fruits, as the interaction treatment (Ergostim with a concentration of (3 ml L -1 ) and amino acids with a concentration of (4 ml L -1 ) achieved the highest rate of ( 117.93 mg 100 gm -1 ) compared to the control treatment, which recorded the lowest rate (75.53 mg 100 gm -1 ).

Capsaicin (mg kg -1 ) in Fruits
The results of table (7) showed that there was a significant effect of spraying the concentrations of Ergostim by increasing the concentration of cayenne substance (Capsaicin) in the fruits with the increase in the concentrations of Ergostim, as the concentration treatment (3 ml L -1 ) achieved the highest rate of (2.80 mg kg -1 ), compared to With the control treatment, which recorded the lowest rate (1.87 mg kg -1 ).Table 7.Effect of Ergostim and amino acids on the concentration of the cayenne substance Capsaicin in the fruits of the hot pepper plant (mg kg -1 ).Interference = 0.095 The treatments of amino acid concentrations had a significant effect on increasing the rates of concentrations of cayenne substance in the fruits with the increase of its concentration.mg kg -1 ).While it significantly affected some of the interaction coefficients between the two study factors by increasing the concentration of (corrosive substance), as the interaction treatment between (Ergostim at a concentration of (3 ml L -1 ) and amino acids at a concentration of (4 ml L -1 ) achieved the highest rate of (3.05 mg kg -1 ).Compared with the control treatment, which recorded the lowest rate (1.50 mg kg -1 ).The organic nutrient solution Ergostim contains in its composition the two amino acids, proline and cysteine, which clearly contribute to increasing the process of cell division, causing a positive effect in encouraging the plant to give a greater number of flowers, as the sufficiently available and balanced nutrition for the plant is one of the things affecting the vegetative and flowering growth Especially at the beginning of the life of the plant, leading to the formation of excellent vegetative growth and thus an increase in the number of flowers, and that the increase in the number of flowers is associated with an increase in vegetative growth.In tables (3, 4 and 5) [15].The results showed that spraying the leaves of the hot pepper plant with concentrations of amino acids caused a significant increase in each of (the number of flowers, the percentage of fruit set, and the average yield of one plant), and that the increase in flowering characteristics is attributed to the role of amino acids in the balanced and continuous supply of nutrients.And the effect of this on increasing the characteristics of vegetative growth, and thus increasing the number of flowers, in addition to its role in improving the balance of nutrients, as it helped stimulate flowering, regulate the rate of flowering, and regulate the transfer of dissolved minerals and mineral elements and their accumulation in flowers [16].The results agreed with what was found by [9,17], or perhaps the reason for the positive effect of amino acids is due to their role in building nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, and proteins necessary for the formation of enzymes.Important for vital activities and increasing cell division, and this led to the transformation of vegetative buds into flower buds, and thus an increase in the number of flowers in the plant.Carbohydrates, and this encourages the growth of flowers and the improvement of the nodes due to the appropriate environmental conditions that help transfer processed materials from the leaves to the fruits, thus increasing the number and weight of the fruits, and this is reflected positively in increasing the yield of the plant and increasing productivity per unit area, as the amino acids have a role in stimulating growth, productivity and quality of crops and processes Physiological, reduce the negative effects of salts, increase the readiness of nutrients, including NPK, and improve the kinetic properties of water into plant cells [18,19], these results agree with what was obtained [20].As for the increase in the fruit content of vitamin C as a result of the significant effect of the organic nutritional solution Ergostim and amino acids, the reason may be attributed to its role in increasing the fruit content of carbohydrates, which are converted into vitamin C [17,21], and the results showed in ( Table 7) A significant increase in the concentration of the cayenne substance Capsaicin by the effect of the organic nutrient solution Ergostim and amino acids, and the reason for this may be attributed to its role in providing the plant with the nitrogen element that is included in the construction of the amino acid Phenylalanine, which is the basic building block in the manufacture of the compound Capsaicin [22,23], and then an increase in its content in the fruits, which is due to the intensity of the pungency in the fruits of hot pepper.

Conclusion
Spraying Ergostim concentrations on the leaves increased vitamin (C) levels in the fruits, with the concentration treatment (3 ml L -1 ) having the highest rate of (105.91 mg 100 gm -1 ) compared to the control treatment, which had the lowest rate.(79.55 mg 100 gm -1 ).

Table 2 .
Chemical and physical analysis of irrigation water in the greenhouse.Six plants were taken from each experimental unit, and the number of flowers was counted, starting from the formation of the first flower, by marking the open flowers until the end of the harvest season.

Table 3 .
Effect of Ergostim and amino acids on the number of flowers of the hot pepper plant (flower plant -1 ).

Table 4 .
Effect of and amino acids on the percentage (%) of fruit set of the hot pepper plant.
It is clear from the same table that the concentrations of amino acids were significantly affected by increasing the rates of vitamin (C) concentrations in the fruits, and the concentration treatment (4 ml L - 1