Abstract

GARCIA-TIERRABLANCA, Esmeralda A. et al. Assessment of emasculation techniques and maturation of fruit for seed production of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.spe11, pp.2129-2137. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v0i11.782.

The aim of this study was to compare two techniques of emasculation for obtaining hybrid seed of pepper. We used two kinds of peppers: Euforia and Invicto and two genotypes of pepper Bell: Canon and Dársena. For the chemical emasculation ethanol solutions were used. With 47.5% ethanol (v/v) for 10 s in genotypes of pepper, damaged in intermediate grade 80% of the flowers; immersion for 30 s damaged 60% of the flowers. Treatment at 45 s inflicted severe damage to 100% of the flowers. Immersion in 50% ethanol (v/v) for 5 to 10 s damaged less than 60% of the flowers "Euforia" and "Invicto". The damage in the bud of Bell pepper genotypes with 50% ethanol (v/v) for 5 s was 52% and the fruits produced 235 seeds. With a 10 s immersion, 68% of the flowers showed no damage and produced 304 seeds per fruit. The manual emasculation produced fruits with 170 seeds. Seed extraction was performed at different times of fruit harvest: postfertilization 30, 45 and 60 days. Manual emasculation was more efficient for viable seeds. Red maturation stage was to ensure the best quality and seed yield.

Keywords : chemical emasculation; flowering; fruit set; hybrid.