PEPPER SEED LONGEVITY FOLLOWING PRODUCTION UNDER HIGH AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE

Seeds of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars E-84066 and Yolo Wonder were produced over three seasons between 1988 and 1990 and stor ed at ambient (25+/-3 degrees C) and low (5 degrees C) temperature. Du ring 42 months of storage, seeds of E-84066 deteriorated more rapidly than those of Yolo Wonder, especially at 25 degrees C. However, the ra te of deterioration varied between seasons. When storage time was exte nded to 56 months (E-84066) and 68 months (Yolo Wonder) seeds of both cultivars stored at 25 degrees C showed reduced germination under labo ratory conditions, whereas those stored at 5 degrees C still germinate d to over 80%. It is concluded that deterioration of pepper sleds duri ng prolonged storage differs between cultivars and is influenced by st orage temperature and cultivation conditions (i.e. year of cultivation ). When seeds that had been stored for 56 months (E-84066) and 68 mont hs (Yolo Wonder) were sown in peat compost, the total emergence, with the exception of Yolo Wonder stored at 5 degrees C, was very low (2-7% for E-84066 and 17.5% for Yolo Wonder stored at 25 degrees C). Emerge nce in these cases was greatly increased by osmoconditioning the seed prior to sowing, but the effectiveness of this treatment depended on t he viability of the seeds as indicated in the tetrazolium test.