EFFECT OF FRUIT AGE ON THE SEED QUALITY OF FOUR PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.) GENOTYPES IN MINNA, NIGER STATE-NIGERIA

Abstract

The appropriate fruit harvest stage for optimum seed quality in four pepper genotypes usually grown in Minna, Niger State was determined. Mass transplanting of pepper seedlings was carried out on beds at 50 and 75 cm intra and inter row spacings respectively. Flowers were date-tagged as they opened for about 40 days. Fruits of different ages (24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48 and 52 DAA) were harvested at once. Data were taken on fruit colour, seed dry matter, germination percentage (GP), germination rate index (GRI) and germination index (GI). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Minitab 17.0 version; means were separated using Tukey’s Honest Significant Different Test. Fruit colour remained green up till 28 DAA. At 32 DAA, red colouration became noticeable in a small proportion of the fruit. This continued gradually until fruits became completely red outside at 52 DAA. No significant differences were recorded among the dry matter of seeds of the four genotypes while its values increase significantly from 19.67% to 64.03% from 24 to 52 DAA respectively. Seeds of ‘Shombo’ genotypes (V4) is superior in both viability and longevity than all the ‘Tatashe’ genotypes (V 1, 2 and 3); genotype V2 of ‘Tatashe’ however maintain viability longer than V 1 and 3. GP increased significantly from 8.00% to 79.25% from seeds harvested at 28 to 52 DAA respectively prior to storage with slight increase to 81.50% at 52 DAA when seeds were 14 days in storage. The trends recorded in GRI and GI were similar to that of GP. The general decreases in the values of GP, GRI and GI when seeds were beyond 14 days in storage was an indication that deterioration has set in. It is concluded from this study that pepper seeds reached maximum quality at 52 DAA when fruits were completely red outside