Molecular Plant Breeding 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 294-302 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 297 4.2 Timing and frequency of fertilization and its impact on pungency expression The timing and frequency of fertilization are also very important. A study found that low-concentration amino acid fertilizer could promote capsaicin synthesis during the critical period of fruit growth by furrow application 6 weeks after transplanting (Bakpa et al., 2021). This suggests that for the organic cultivation of Hangjiao peppers, it is best to apply fertilizers in stages rather than all at once, as this makes it easier for the pungent substances to accumulate. 4.3 Environmental modifiers: soil type, moisture, and temperature under organic systems In organic farming, soil type, moisture and temperature also affect capsaicin. They indirectly affect the pungency by altering the availability of nutrients and the types of microorganisms. Adding organic fertilizer and straw can increase the diversity of soil microorganisms, improve soil functions, and thereby enhance the stress resistance and quality of Hangjiao pepper (Gao et al., 2020). Under the action of organic fertilizer, capsaicin is more likely to accumulate stably when the soil maintains a neutral pH, moderate salinity and high organic matter (Xu et al., 2024). In addition, appropriate soil moisture and temperature can help with nutrient absorption and also make the enzymes related to capsaicin synthesis more active, thereby enhancing the pungency. 5 Effects of Fertilization Regimes on Disease Resistance 5.1 Role of nutrient balance in strengthening plant immune responses The balance of nutrients is very important for plant immunity. Research has found that the appropriate use of amino acid water-soluble fertilizer can make the leaves of Hangjiao pepper greener, the root system more active and the protein content higher. These changes can enhance the basic immunity of plants and also improve their ability to cope with environmental stress (Bakpa et al., 2021). However, if too much nitrogen fertilizer is used, it may increase the number of plants with weak disease resistance in the field, thereby raising the risk of disease occurrence. This also indicates the importance of scientific fertilization and nutrient balance (Liu et al., 2017). 5.2 Impact on resistance to common pathogens in Hangjiao pepper Combining organic fertilizer with straw can effectively reduce soil-borne diseases. For example, when chicken manure is mixed with corn stalks, it can not only increase the yield of Hangjiao pepper, but also improve the microbial community structure in the soil, making it more capable of resisting diseases such as anthracnose and bacterial wilt (Gao et al., 2020). This can alleviate the disease pressure caused by continuous cropping and make the Hangjiao peppers grow healthier. 5.3 Interaction of organic soil amendments with beneficial microbes for disease suppression Organic fertilizers and bio-organic fertilizers can also promote the reproduction of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. These microorganisms can compete with pathogenic bacteria, inhibit each other, and induce plants to develop resistance, thereby reducing diseases (Gao et al., 2020). The disease-preventing strains in bio-organic fertilizers (such as Bacillus subtilis) can also cooperate with the beneficial bacteria in the soil to form a "microbial alliance", making Hangjiao pepper more resistant to diseases (Tao et al., 2020). 6 Integrated Analysis of Yield, Pungency, and Resistance 6.1 Trade-offs and synergies between high pungency and strong disease resistance The pungency of chili peppers is mainly determined by the capsaicin content. Fertilization management can affect the pungency and disease resistance. Sometimes the two can restrict each other, or they may increase simultaneously. Studies have shown that appropriately reducing chemical fertilizers, or using organic fertilizers in combination with chemical fertilizers, can ensure yield while increasing capsaicin content and improving taste (Stan et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2022). Organic fertilizer combined with bio-fertilizer (such as mycorrhizal fungi and root-promoting bacteria) can not only increase yield and spiciness, but also improve the soil microbial environment, making plants more disease-resistant and stress-tolerant (Gao et al., 2020; Sini et al., 2024). Chicken manure combined with corn stalks can increase the diversity of soil microorganisms, reduce soil-borne diseases, and achieve a win-win situation of yield and disease resistance.
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