Accelerated aging of pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) seeds

Abstract

This work aimed to study the protocol to evaluate the physiological potential of red pepper seed (Capsicum frutescens L.), including the evaluation of the efficiency of a salt saturated solution to control seed water absorption. Five pools of seeds were submitted to test germination, seedling emergence in green house, and accelerated aging (48, 72 or 96 hours at either 38 or 41ºC) treated and not treated with a solution saturated with NaCl. The accuracy of the accelerated aging test (with the salty solution), carried out within 72 hours at 38 and 41ºC, was shown satisfactory for the evaluation of the physiological potential of red pepper seeds. The use of NaCl saturated solution lessened the roughness of the test without reducing its efficiency.