Fruit maturity, storage and postharvest maturation treatments affect bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seed quality.
Sanchez, V. M.; Sundstrom, F. J.; McClure, G. N.; Lang, N. S.;
Scientia Horticulturae Year: 1993 Vol: 54 Issue: 3 Pages: 191-201 Ref: 15 ref.
1993
บทคัดย่อ
In experiments in 1987 and 1988, fruits of Capsicum cultivars Early Calwonder, Resistant Giant No. 4, VR2 and Yolo Wonder were harvested 30 (mature green), 40 (breaker), 50 (mature red) or 60 (over-mature red) days postanthesis (dpa) and seeds were extracted for dry storage or allowed to remain in fruits for postharvest maturation for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. In 1988, extracted seeds were also stored over water (100% RH) or saturated salt solutions which provided RH of 7, 51 or 97.5% to determine the influence of seed moisture content during seed storage. Seeds from red and over-mature red fruits generally had greater DW and higher germination percentages than seeds from less mature fruits. Seeds extracted from mature green fruits did not germinate regardless of storage time. Allowing seeds to mature for 14 days after harvest in green fruits significantly increased germination in all cultivars. Allowing seeds to mature in mature red fruits increased germination percentage compared with seeds stored dry or allowed to mature in mature green fruits. Storing seeds dry after extraction from red fruits had no significant effect on germination, indicating that seed afterripening did not occur. Storing seeds for 7 or 14 days at 7 or 51% RH significantly improved germination in Early Calwonder and Resistant Giant No. 4. Storing seeds of these 2 cultivars at high RH (97.5 or 100%) for 7-14 days was also beneficial but storage for longer periods reduced germination in all cultivars. Dry storage and postharvest maturation had little effect on seed DW. However, in an experiment in 1989, the starch concentration in seeds of Resistant Giant No. 4 increased from 10 to 80 mg glucose equivalents/100 g DW during postharvest maturation within mature red fruits. It is suggested that in situ priming may have occurred during postharvest maturation of mature green and mature red fruits. It is concluded that Capsicum seeds should be allowed to mature for a short period within red fruits following harvest to achieve maximum seed germination potential.