Stomatal Distribution in Vegetative Growth of Peranggi Chili (Capsicum annuum L. var Chinensis) grown in Different Growing Media

Peranggi chili (Capsicum annum L. var chinensis) is a local plant of West Kalimantan. Vegetative growth and changes in the number of stomata and stomatal distribution are not yet known in different growing media. The purpose of this study was to determine the vegetative growth of peranggi chili and changes in stomatal distribution due to differences in growing media as an intensification effort. The research was conducted with experimental design of Randomized Completely Block Design with 3 blocks. Treatments ware 4 different growing media, namely P1: alluvial soil: sand: cow manure compost (1:1:1); P2: alluvial soil: sand: cow manure compost: perlite (1:1:1:0.25); P3: alluvial soil: sand: cow manure compost: burnt husk (1:1:1:0.5); P4: alluvial soil: sand: compost: burnt husk (1:1:1:0.5). Data on vegetative growth variables measured were dry weight of roots, stems and leaves, number and area of leaves, root length, stem height, number of stomata and stomatal distribution calculated at 40, 50, 60, and 70 DAT. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. All plant variables were not affected by differences in the composition of growing media, as well as the average number of stomata and stomatal distribution up to 60 DAT. However, P3 treatment, which was the addition of burnt husk to a mixture of alluvial soil: sand: cow manure compost, increased all growth variables at 60 DAT compared to other treatments, although not statistically significant. The increased due to P3 treatment increased all variables at 70 DAT significantly. The number of stomata and stomatal distribution was highest on day 40 DAT and decreased due to more mature leaf growth at 50 DAT. However, the average number of stomata and stomatal distribution were not affected by different growing media during the first 70 days periode.