Effect of culture medium pH and GA3 on germination and seedling growth of Capsicum frutescens

Abstract

Capsicum frutescens L. has a great relevance in terms of nutritional value and economic importance. It is cultivated worldwide. In vitro culture is one of the methods used to reproduce high-quality materials. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different pH levels of the Murashige and Skoog (MS) culture medium on the germination and growth of C. frutescens seedlings. Six accessions of C. frutescens (ECU-2259, ECU-12967A, ECU-12967B, ECU-2237, ECU-12974, and ECU-11994A) from National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP) Gene Bank were studied in a tri factorial experiment distributed on a completely random design was performed (genotypes * pH * GA3). The seeds were disinfected with 70% ethyl alcohol (30 seconds), 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) with two drops of Tween-20 for 15 minutes, and sterile distilled water, and then sown in test tubes containing MS medium with pH 3.5, 4, 5.8, 6.5, and 7.5, with and without GA3 (0.75 mg/L). Results showed that germination and seedling height are determined by the characteristics of each accession, with accessions ECU-12967A and 12967B having highest germination rate and speed germinations. Accession 12967A and 12967B were not affected by pH different pH levels. In conclusion, C. frutescens plant tolerance to different pH levels can help to reduce losses in vegetative growth and yield parameters during production.