Bentley

Pepper

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Lambourgini'

Summary: The plants of 'Bentley' are medium to tall with medium to long stems whereas those of 'Lambourgini' are tall to very tall with long to very long stems. The primary side shoots of 'Bentley' have medium to long internodes whereas those of 'Lambourgini' have long to very long internodes. The leaf blade of 'Bentley' is longer and narrower than that of 'Lambourgini'. 'Bentley' sets fruit closer to the head of the plant whereas 'Lambourgini' sets fruit lower down on the plant.

Description:

SEEDLING: no anthocyanin colouration of hypocotyl

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium to tall
STEM: medium to long, no shortened internode on upper part, medium to long internodes on primary side shoots
NODE: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, weak hairiness

LEAF: dark to very dark green on upper side, lanceolate and ovate shape, weak undulation of margin, weak blistering, moderately concave in cross-section, weak glossiness on upper side

FLOWER: early flowering, drooping peduncle, no anthocyanin colouration of anther

FRUIT (BEFORE FIRST COLOUR CHANGE): medium to dark green, no anthocyanin colouration
FRUIT (AFTER FIRST COLOUR CHANGE): matures early, drooping attitude, small to medium length/diameter ratio, square in longitudinal section, circular in cross-section, weak sinuation of pericarp at basal part of pericarp, weak sinuation of pericarp excluding basal part, smooth or very slightly wrinkled surface texture, light to medium yellow, medium glossiness, shallow stalk cavity, moderately depressed apex, shallow interloculary grooves, equally three and four locules, medium thickness of flesh, medium thickness of stalk, non-enveloping calyx, no capsaicin in placenta

DISEASE REACTIONS: resistant to Tobamovirus-pathotypes 0, 1-2 and 1-2-3, susceptible to Potato Virus Y-pathotype 0

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Bentley' originated from a controlled cross conducted between two unnamed proprietary seedlings, the female parent 'OP1489' and the male parent 'OP1745', at Enza Zaden Seed Operations B.V. in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands in August 2007. The resulting seeds were germinated and evaluated for performance. 'Healey' was selected from this seedling population in 2008. The selection criteria and objectives of the breeding program were to develop new sweet pepper varieties that produce large, colourful and disease-resistant fruit.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Bentley' was conducted in a commercial production greenhouse at Diciocco Farms in Leamington, Ontario. Using a nutrient film technique system, plants were transplanted onto rock wool substrate in January 2015. As the plants developed, they were pruned to 2 producing stems, each tied to a string. A minimum of 30 plants of each variety were grown in two adjacent 8 metre rows, with 0.75 metre spacing between rows and 0.3 metres between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from 20 plants of each variety on April 23, 2015. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'Bentley' with reference variety 'Lambourgini'

Plant height (cm)

Leaf length, including petiole (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

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Pepper: 'Bentley' (left) with reference variety 'Lambourgini' (right)

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Pepper: 'Bentley' (left) with reference variety 'Lambourgini' (right)