Determination of the Viability Parameters in Pepper Seeds Separated by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Methodat Different Maturation Periods

Chlorophyll Fluorescence (CF) is based on the separation of mature and less mature seeds without any change in seed moisture and without water uptake any seeds. The principle of this method is the reflection of the red light (670 nm) which is given to the seeds on the basis of the rupture of the chlorophyll in the ripening phase of the seeds. In this study, it was aimed to determine the germination rate, protein amounts and presence of fungal agents of 8 year old seeds of ？arliston, 11B14, Ya？l？k and Kandil Dolma cultivars which were harvested in two different maturity periods and their maturation stages were identified as underripe, overripe by CF separation technique. The most normal germination rate (30%) in control group of first harvest was determined in Ya？l？k, however, the viability rate was decreased depending on storageperiod. While no significant viability was found in the groups with high chlorophyll rate by CF separation, Ya？l？k again partly germinated (39%) in the group with low chlorophyll rate. However, in seed groups of 4th harvest Kandil Dolma and Ya？l？k had the highest normal germination performance (88-89%) in control groups. Higher viability rate was determined in the groups with high chlorophyll rate through CF separation compared to 1st harvest seeds and the outstanding species was Kandil Dolma seeds with 63%. Because maturity was higher in the group with lower chlorophyll rate, the viability was generally determined between 62-95%. In protein analyse, higher values were obtained in 4th harvest seeds with lower chlorophyll rates in ？arliston and Ya？l？k compared to the others. The determined fungal agents were Cladosporium spp., Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium spp. No fungal agents were identified in the groups determined high and low chlorophyll values through CF separation in 4th harvest seeds in all cultivars