The influence of seed priming using different priming agents on seed vigour of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) cv. ‘Hot Queen’ was examined. The seeds were surface sterilized by dipping in sodium hypochlorite (5%) solution for five minutes and dried on filter paper. These sterilized seeds were primed in distilled water (dH2O), NaCl (1%), salicylic acid (SA, 50 ppm), acetyl salicylic acid (ASA, 50 ppm), ascorbic acid (AsA, 50 ppm), PEG-8000 (PEG, -1,25 MPa) and KNO3 (3%) in darkness for 48 hours. All priming treatments significantly improved final germination percentage (FGP) of pepper seeds over the control. Seeds primed in KNO3, AsA, SA and ASA showed maximum value of FGP i.e. 100% in each. KNO3 primed seeds outperformed all other priming agents in terms of decreased time taken to 50% germination, increased root and shoot length and seedling fresh weight (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Effect of priming on fresh weight of pepper seedlings. Priming agents: distilled water (dH2O), NaCl (1%), salicylic acid (SA, 50 ppm), acetyl salicylic acid (ASA, 50 ppm), ascorbic acid (AsA, 50 ppm), PEG-8000 (PEG, -1,25 MPa) and KNO3 (3%).
