Adaptation of Hybrid Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Cultivars to Organic Farming for Yield Improvement

Background: Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an economically significant crop in both local and international markets. However, low productivity remains a major constraint in organic farming, limiting both sustainability and output. One of the most promising strategies to address this issue is the adoption of hybrid cultivars, which are known for their superior agronomic traits, such as higher yield and enhanced fruit quality. There is a research gap in the comparative performance assessment of hybrid and open-pollinated bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars under organic farming conditions, which is essential for evaluating the suitability of hybrids in organic systems. Methods: This study was conducted to evaluate the agronomic performance of hybrid and standard open-pollinated bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars under organic farming conditions. The cultivars were grown in accordance with organic production standards, without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Agronomic data were collected throughout the growing season and statistical analyses were performed to determine productivity differences and cultivar responses to organic growing conditions. Result: The results revealed that hybrid cultivars outperformed open-pollinated cultivars in terms of yield and fruit quality traits. The hybrid cultivar ‘Tesla’ recorded the highest yield per plant, while ‘Aktör’ exhibited the greatest average fruit weight, fruit length and fruit width. Although open-pollinated cultivars performed reasonably well under organic conditions, the hybrids demonstrated their capacity to overcome productivity limitations inherent in organic farming systems.