Influence of Germination Aids on Germination of Different Capsicum sp.

Aims: To provide data on the influence of common germination aids for additional pepper species than Capsicum annuum, additional species and wild types have been tested with priming media applicable to both hobby and commercial growers.

Place and Duration of Study: Germany, January to September 2017.

Methodology: 3x 50 seeds of four different Capsicum cultivars “CAP357” (C. pubescens L.), “Ancho Poblano” (C. annuum L.), “Ulupica from La Paz” (C. eximium Hunz.) and “Inca Surprise” (C. baccatum var. baccatum L.) were primed with either deionized water, 1%(w/v) KNO3, 1%(w/v) gibberellic acid or 1%(w/v) acetylsalicylic acid. 3x 50 untreated seeds of each cultivar were as control. The seeds were then put to germination on moistened filter paper, maintaining constant temperature (29 ± 1°C) and air-humidity (85 ± 5%). Seeds were evaluated daily regarding radicle formation for 30 days.

Results: Highest germination rate and germination speed were observed using gibberellic acid as priming agent with overall germination >90%, followed by potassium nitrate, which improves germination especially for seeds that take longer to germination. Acetylsalicylic acid caused germination rates and speed to decrease. Hydropriming with water showed no significant effect compared to unprimed seeds.

Conclusion: Priming with appropriate media can effectively speed up germination on varieties that take longer to germination such as wild types. On already fast germinating seeds the effect is smaller. However, a more uniform germination can be achieved.