ChileanJAR

At the La Platina Exp. Sta. (INlA, Santiago), sweet pepper seeds (Capsicum annuum L.) cv California Wonder 300, were conditioned osmotically. A magnesium sulphate solution, with a potential of -14 bars and at 25ºC temperature was used, soaking the seeds for 9 days. Treated seeds were dried and sown in field nurseries, under a polythene film, which was set up since the first seedling begun to emerge. Seeds of the same origen, but without any treatment, were used as control. Seventy one days after seeding, plants were ready for transplant parameters on emergence and growth and plant quality (height, number of true leaves, percentage of plants fit for transplant) were recorded. Results showed significant effects on the initial speed and rate of emergence, and on the quality of plants for transplant, as well as on yield, which was 1.3 times the control.