GERMINATION OF PEPPER SEEDS SUBJECTED TO DORMANCY BREAKING IN HOT WATER

Cambuci pepper seeds may have dormancy caused by impermeable or inhibitors present in the seed coat. This study aimed to evaluate the percentage of germination of pepper variety Cambuci Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum. The work was conducted at the Laboratory of Seed Analysis in the Department of Crop Science in Agricultural Science Center, Federal University of Paraiba. The seeds from these peppers were subjected to break dormancy in hot water at 50, 60 and 70 degrees C for 10 minutes and then planted in plastic bags. 60 seeds were used per treatment with 12 replicates of 5 seeds. We evaluated the germination rate and speed of germination for the control and treatment of immersion in hot water at all temperatures. In witness there was a smaller number of seed dormancy compared with the treatments immersed in hot water, it has been just the opposite, ie two treatments immersed in hot water (50 and 60 degrees C) led to greater germination (ie smaller number of dormant seeds) compared to control.