Germination response of aged seeds of four pepper (Capsicum annum L.) genotypes to hydropriming.

Abstract

The possibility of hydropriming to bring about reasonable level of re-invigoration and enhancement in seed germination was investigated. Seeds of four pepper genotypes were harvested at 32, 36, 40, 44, 48 and 52 days after anthesis (DAA); the seeds were subjected to eight weeks of accelerated ageing in open plastic plates at 30 ºC and about 85% Relative Humidity inside an incubator. Hydropriming was done by soaking 250 seeds from each of the harvesting stages in 25 ml of distilled water for 12 and 24 hours. After hydropriming, seeds were dried back on paper for 24 hours at room temperature before they were tested for germination alongside the unprimed (control) seeds. Germination was tested by placing four replicates of 50 seeds each on distilled water-moistened filter paper in Petri dishes at 30 ºC for 16 days using the CRD method. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance using the Minitab version 7.0. Means were separated by DMRT. GP increased significantly from 2.17 at 32 DAA to 22.71 at 52 DAA. The values recorded in 52 (22.71%) and 48 (19.29%) DAAs were not significantly different from each other but both were significantly higher than those of the lower ages each of which was also significantly higher than the age below it. The highest Germination Percentage (GP) of 22.06 was recorded in seeds of genotype 4 (V4) which was significantly higher than those recorded in seeds of other genotypes each of which was also significantly greater than the one next to it as follows: 14.60. 7.67 and 5.58% for V2, V1 and V3 respectively. Though hydropiming of seeds brought about significant enhancement in germination compared to the unprimed seeds, the enhancement was marginal. It is therefore concluded that hydrpriming seeds of these genotypes that have already deteriorated is not necessary.