The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) is a native plant of tropical America, principally of Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. It is common to find episodes of water stress in cape gooseberry, since it is mainly grown under rain-fed conditions in Colombia. Kaolin particle film applications has been used to improve water use efficiency (WUE) under water stress conditions. Water use efficiency, anatomical and morphological leaves characteristics, and growth response of cape gooseberry plants to a particle film treatment under varying levels of water stress during sixteen weeks were evaluated. Cape gooseberry plants that received foliar applications of kaolin had the highest WUE and plant total dry weight. Kaolin applications also enhanced stomatal density. Leaf transpiration and leaf thickness were reduced by particle film treatments in well-irrigated and water-stressed cape gooseberry plants. In conclusion, kaolin sprays could be an useful tool to help cape gooseberry under limiting soil moisture conditions, since particle film treatments can improve WUE.