Germination in a venezuelan type of Capsicum chinense jacq.: influence of fruit ripening and seed extraction from the fruit

Abstract

A type of sweet pepper of the species Capsicum chinense defines the Venezuelan cuisine, but this has not been enough to perform detailed studies of production issues in this crop. To determine the influence of fruit ripening, and seed extraction from the fruit on seed germination of a Venezuelan type of Capsicum chinense, a factorial experiment with 10 replications was conducted. Influence of the six combinations between three fruit maturation levels (green fruits, early-ripe fruits, and totally-ripe fruits) and two seed extraction moments of seed from the fruits (at the same day of the harvest and seven days after the harvest) were evaluated on seed germination percentage and days number to germination. Each replication consisted of 100 seeds, and seed germination was recorded for ten days. Results displayed no interaction between fruit ripening and extraction of seed for both dependent variables, but significant differences (P<0,01) were recorded for germination percentage among fruit ripening levels (the same for totally yellow and fruits changing color, but higher than green fruits), and between separation moment of seed from the fruits (seven days after the harvest resulted in 80% more germination rate as compared to seed separated at the same day of the harvest). Significant differences (P<0,01) were recorded also for the number of days to germination: seeds extracted from earlyand totally-ripe fruits did not have significant differences (P>0,05) and germinated in 7,30 days in average, but they germinated faster (P<0,01) than seeds coming from green fruits which germinated in 8,40 days in average; seeds extracted from fruit 7 days after harvest germinated in 6,50 days in average, faster (P<0,01) than seeds extracted from the fruit the same day of harvest (8,75 days in average). Seeds of this type of sweet pepper germinate more abundantly and faster when they are separated from ripening fruits seven days after harvest.