Influence of Maturity Stages and Post-Harvest Ripening on Seed Quality in Chilli Genotypes

The present study was conducted at Department of Seed Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bangalore during 2011-12 to reveal the influence of maturity stages and post-harvest ripening on seed quality among ten (Bhut jolokia, Merkera local, Sweet baccatum, Gandhari, Biligiri local, Majjige menasu, Chinense habanero, Hot cherry, Cherry pepper and Shivani) chilli genotypes belonging to Capsicum chinense, C. frutescence and C. annuum. The results revealed that among maturity stages, fruits harvested at red ripe stage and subjected for 20 days post-harvest ripening (M₄) has recorded higher seed quality parameters viz., 1000 seed dry weight (6.95 g), seed germination (66.0 %), seedling length (9.9 cm), seedling dry weight (1.50 mg), seedling vigour index-I (748), total dehydrogenase activity (1.314), α-amylase activity (34.9 μg maltose ml^-1min^-1) and field emergence (56.0 %). Also minimum electrical conductivity (1.743 dSm^-1) and moisture content of fresh seed (10.93 %) was noticed.