BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF THE HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION IN PEPPERS (CAPSICUM ANNUUM, L.)

Studies on pollination and fertilisation for the production of hybrid seeds have been carried out on a large number of pepper cultivars under normal production conditions during June to August in Bulgaria.
The time taken for germination of the pollen and penetration into the embryo sac was observed and both were achieved more quickly at higher temperatures and RH. Methods of testing pollen viability were examined.

The influence of storage of pollen on viability was determined.

Pollen viability and stigma receptivity was found to be affected by the stage of development of the flowers of both pollen and maternal parents.

Pollination with large quantities of pollen from many plants was preferable to the use of pollen from a single plant.

Differences in seed quality were observed depending on the direction of reciprocal crosses.

Hybrid seeds germinated better than the parental ones and had greater longevity in storage and mostly had greater 1 000-seed weight and embryo size.
Heterosis was also exhibited in size of shoots, roots and root systems of resultant plants.

Symposium on Seed Problems in Horticulture

D. Popova, L. Mihailov

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1978.83.11