EFFECT OF TRANSPLANTING AGE ON TUE GROWTH AND FRUIT VIEID OP TWO VARIETIES OF SWEET PEPPER (CPSICUM ANNUUM F.) IN ANVIGBA, KOGISTATE.

ABSTRACT Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important horticultural crop in Nigeria, yet yields remain sub-optimal due to poor agronomic practices, including inappropriate seedling transplanting age. This study evaluated the effect of transplanting age on the growth and yield of two sweet pepper varieties (Yolo Wonder and Let's Chinex)under the derived savannah ecology of Anyigba, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted in 2025 using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD)with four treatments replicated five times. Growth parameters (branch number,flowering), yield traits (fruit number, weight, length), and soil physicochemical properties were assessed.Results revealed that transplanting age and variety did not significantly influence overall growth, flowering, or yield. However, Yolo Wonder consistently produced a higher average number of fruits per plant and significantly longer fruits than Let's Chinex. Transplanting on June 23 also improved fruit length and branching, suggesting a varietal and timing interaction. The findings highlight that while general yield parameters may remain unaffected,cultivar choice (Yolo Wonder) and late-June transplanting enhance fruit quality and vegetative growth. It is recommended that farmers adopt Yolo Wonder variety and transplant seedlings around late June to optimize productivity in the derived savannah. Further multi-location trials are needed to validate these results across different agro-ecological zones.