Optimizing growth and yield of Cape gooseberry by application of vermicompost under different plant densities

In order to investigate the effect of planting density (50, 75 and 100 cm inter-row distance) and vermicompost (0, 5, 10 and 15 t.ha-1) on growth, qualitative and quantitative criteria of gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L., Solanaceae), an experiment was conducted as factorial based on complete randomized block design with three replications in University of Tehran, in 2013. Criteria such as leaf area, collar diameter, number of lateral branches per plant, plant height, fruit number and weight per plant, weight and diameter per fruit, calyx weight, total fruit yield, fruit marketable percentage, total marketable yield, plant dry weight and quality criteria such as pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C, antioxidant activity and fruit color indices were evaluated. Results showed that treatments significantly affected most measured growth and yield criteria in which application of 15 t.ha-1 vermicompost increased them compared to control (non-vermicompost application) in which fruit weight per plant, total fruit yield and marketable percentage were increased 37.31, 37.82 and 11.52 percent, respectively. Also, inter-row distance of 100 cm performed better for plant growth and yield criteria. Interaction effect of 100 cm planting density and 15 t.ha-1 vermicompost caused the highest number of fruit per plant and marketable yield. The highest amount of TA and antioxidant activity obtained by application of 15 and 10 t.ha-1 vermicompost, respectively and vitamin C, TA and TSS were increased in planting distance of 50, 75 and 75 cm inter-row distance, respectively.