VARIATION AMONG POPULATIONS AND EFFECT OF GIBBERELIC ACID IN THE GERMINATION OF WILD PEPPER (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum) SEEDS FROM NORTWESTERN MEXICO
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Keywords
Wild Capsicum annuum, germination percentage, gibberellic acid, variation between populations, seed weight - germination capacity relationship.
Abstract
Objective: Investigate effects of different giberellic acid (GA) concentracions on germination of wild Capscium annuum seeds and its variation among five populations collected in northwestern Mexico.
Design/methodology/aproach: Ripe wild chili peppers were collected from five sites in states Sonora and Sinaloa in northwestern Mexico. After collection, seeds were soaked in concentrations of 0, 125, 250 and 500 ppm (parts per million) giberellic acid concentrations (GA). The treated seeds were sown in 60-well seedling trays using peat moss as a substrate.
Results: Application of GA increased significantly germination in all populations studied.
Limitations on study/implications: It is a wild species threatened by human activities such as land use change, and its low germination is a limitation for its production and conservation.
Finding/conclusions: Application of GA significantly increased germination in all studied populations, with 500 and 250 ppm of GA being the most effective in promoting germination. Populations showed high variation in germination across all treatments. Seed weight varied among populations and was positively correlated with germination percentages in the four GA treatments, indicating that heavier seeds germinated at higher percentages than lighter seeds.