Respiratory Activity as a Fast Method for Vigor Differentiation of Habanero Pepper Seeds

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and rapidity of the Pettenkofer and Titulation methods in the determination of respiratory activity and its relation with the vigor of habanero pepper seeds. For this, six lots of habanero pepper seeds were evaluated for respiratory activity, through Pettenkofer and Titulation physicochemical methods, and for physiological quality via tests of germination, first germination count, germination speed index, emergence, initial stand, emergence speed index and electrical conductivity. Biochemical analyzes were also carried out using the electrophoresis of the esterase (EC 3.1.1.1.) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2.), and the quantification of the endo-β-mannanase enzyme (EC 3.2.1.78). The tests of physiological quality and the respiratory activity of the seeds allowed the classification of the habanero pepper seed lots at different vigor levels. There was a correlation between the respiratory activity with the tests used to evaluate the physiological quality of the seeds and with the endo-β-mannanase enzyme. It is concluded that the Pettenkofer and Titulation methods are promising for the evaluation of the deterioration level and the discrimination of lots of habanero pepper seeds with different vigor levels.