Aqueous extract of coconut shell biochar as a pre-germination treatment increases seed germination and early seedling growth in chiltepín pepper (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum)

Mari C. LÓPEZ-PÉREZ; Antonio JUÁREZ-MALDONADO; Adalberto BENAVIDES-MENDOZA; Susana GONZÁLEZ-MORALES; Fabián PÉREZ-LABRADA

doi:10.15835/nbha51113097

Authors

Mari C. LÓPEZ-PÉREZ Universidad Estatal de Sonora, Unidad Académica Navojoa, 810 Manlio Fabio Beltrones Blvd., Navojoa 85875, Sonora (MX) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7694-5102
Antonio JUÁREZ-MALDONADO Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Departamento de Botánica, 1923 Antonio Narro Street, Saltillo 25315, Coahuila (MX) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3061-2297
Adalberto BENAVIDES-MENDOZA Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Departamento de Horticultura, 1923 Antonio Narro Street, Saltillo 25315, Coahuila (MX) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2729-4315
Susana GONZÁLEZ-MORALES CONACyT-Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Departamento de Horticultura, 1923 Antonio Narro Street, Saltillo 25315, Coahuila (MX) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5734-6086
Fabián PÉREZ-LABRADA Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Departamento de Botánica, 1923 Antonio Narro Street, Saltillo 25315, Coahuila (MX) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3540-303X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha51113097

Keywords:

capsaicinoids, dormancy, germinability, vigor index

Abstract

Since the fruit of the Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum (Dunal) Heiser and Pickergil (chiltepín pepper) has a low germination rate, we sought to determine whether using an aqueous biochar extract could improve this. Germination tests were performed out in Petri dishes, using wild chiltepín pepper seeds collected in Sonora, México, which were exposed for 24 h to aqueous extracts of coconut shell biochar (CSBA) at different doses (0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00%, w/v) and a control comprising deionized water. In addition to quantifying the germination rate, we determined the physical quality, viability, imbibition, electrical conductivity, seed pH, and capsaicin content. The fast green test showed an ideal physical quality (p = 0.5475), an imbibition rate > 65% (p > 0.05), and high viability 98.4% (p > 0.05). The wild chiltepín pepper seeds exposed to the CSBA0.05 and CSBA0.25 treatments increased the percentage germination rate (p < 0.001) to 80.9% and 71.7%, respectively. A higher percentage of normal seedlings resulted from CSBA0.05, CSBA0.10 and CSBA1.00 (p < 0.01), and a greater shoot length was obtained with CSBA0.05 (p < 0.01). The exposure of wild chiltepín seeds to aqueous CSBA for 24 h at low doses (CSBA0.05 and CSBA0.25) increase the germination rate, while CSBA0.05 could enhance early seedling growth.

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