Habanero chili fruit is shiny, orange, or red, about 5 cm long, and very pungent (200,000 to 300,000 Scoville heat units). It is popular in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, although it is increasing in demand in the U.S. There is reduced information on chili production under shade nets. The objective was to determine the effects of shade level and cultivar on the fruit yield of habanero chili. The study was conducted in Tifton, Georgia, under field conditions in two seasons. Habanero plants were grown using raised beds, black plastic film mulch, and drip irrigation, following the University of Georgia extension recommendations for bell peppers. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications and 10 treatments (5 shade levels x 2 cultivar combinations). Habanero chili ‘Kabal’ and ‘Kukulkan’ were grown at 0% (unshaded), 30%, 47%, 62%, and 80% shade levels. Marketable fruit number and yield decreased quadratically with shade level, although there were no statistical differences in marketable yield for plants in unshaded conditions and 30% and 47% shade levels. Mean marketable yields were 33.6 t/ha (unshaded) and 5.7 t/ha (80% shade level). Less than 2.5% of total fruit were affected by sunscald and blossom-end rot. Total and marketable fruit numbers and yields and individual fruit size were higher in ‘Kukulkan’ than in ‘Kabal.’ In conclusion, although shading increased fruit size, it did not improve marketable yield compared to unshaded conditions.
