Effects of Seed Hydro-Priming Duration on Seedling Emergence and Growth of African Bird's Eye Pepper (Capsicum Frutescens L.)

Abstract

African Bird's eye pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) growers have a problem with establishment, due to poor seed germination and low seedling emergence. These are related to seed dormancy. This study was conducted to determine the effect of different hydro-priming duration on the seedling emergence and growth parameters of African Bird's eye pepper. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments (0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 hours priming duration) and four replicates. Data collected were Germination percentage (GP), Germination rate (GR), Mean germination time (MGT), Seedling emergence percentage (SEP), Seedling emergence rate (SER), Mean emergence time (MET), Seedling vigour index (SVI), seedling height, leaf number, leaf area, stem girth, root length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight and root dry weight. The best GP (100%), GR (33.33), MGT (3.00), SEP (100%), SER (22.22), MET (4.50) and SVI (8.02) were obtained from seeds hydro-primed for 12 hours. Similarly, Seeds primed for 12 hours produced taller seedlings (3.52 cm), with broader leaves (5.09 cm²), larger stem girth (4.68 mm), longer root (3.67 cm), heavier fresh and dry shoot weights (0.155 and 0.036 g respectively) as well as heavier fresh and dry root weights (0.140 and 0.036 g respectively). It can be concluded that the optimum duration for hydro-priming African Bird's eye pepper seeds for improved germination and seedling growth is 12 hours.