Influence of location on quality parameters of pepper seeds

Abstract

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) as a commercial species is cultivated worldwide. The quality of the seed, including seed health, is an important prerequisite for obtaining a healthy and highquality crop and ensuring high fruit yields. Seed testing of two pepper genotypes from two locations (Kula and Smederevska Palanka) was performed using standard methods for assessing seed quality and health, based on germination parameters, moisture and seed health for the seed produced in the season 2022. Germination energy was 75% and 85% for Strizanka and Zupska Rana, in Smederevska Palanka, respectively, while in Kula, germination energy was statistically significantly lower and ranged from 65% in Strizanka to 55% in Zupska Rana (p0.05) in Smederevska Palanka. The moisture content was 12.5% and 9.5% for Strizanka and Zupska Rana in Kula, respectively. Seed health was tested on the basis of the presence of phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. The percentage of infection with Alternaria spp. was 1% for both Župska Rana and Strižanka in Smederevska Palanka (p>0.05), while in Kula amounted to 5% and 3%, respectively (p<0.05) and they were statistically significant (p<0.05). The infection with Fusarium spp. was 5.4% for Zupska Rana and 2.6% for Strižanka in Kula. The obtained data on seed quality parameters indicate a statistically significant difference between Smederevska Palanka and Kula. Future research will be related to soil analysis and total yield per plot at the locations of Smederevska Palanka and Kula.

Keywords

• energy
• germination
• seed health
• moisture
• locality