Ten sweet pepper lines were screened for phosphorus efficiency. An experiment was carried out in the greenhouse in pots filled with 5 dm³ of clayey latosol soil samples. The treatments followed a randomized complete block design, in a factorial layout (10 x 5 x 4), comprising ten lines, five doses of P (0; 250; 500; 750 and 1,000 mg of P/kg of soil) and four replications. Results showed genetic variability among lines for P-efficiency, characterized mainly by rooting efficiency, P-uptake and P-use efficiency. Low differences in the P- translocation efficiency were observed. Higher rooting efficiency was not translated into higher acquisition of P from the soil, which suggests that P-absorption was influenced by morphologic and physiologic characteristics of the root system. The L10 line showed high P-efficiency uptake and utilization, followed by the L8 line. The L1, L2 and L6 lines, were the least efficient in the P-utilization. The other lines showed variable performance in P-efficiency, according to the index used. The large variability observed might be explored in genetic improvement programs aiming to increase the nutritional efficiency for P.
Capsicum annuum; fosfate; rooting; uptake; translocation; utilization
