Priming of Bell Pepper Seeds Using a Biostimulant Evaluated by an Automated System of Seedling Image Analysis.

Rapid seedling emergence and uniform stand establishment  in the field are essential to successful commercial vegetable production. Seed priming is an alternative to achieve this objective. This study was performed to compare the efficiency of Stimulate^® priming to hydropriming in bell pepper seeds as evaluated by SVIS^® analysis and recommended vigor tests. Two cultivars each represented respectively by three and four seed lots were used. Seeds were initially evaluated for germination and vigor (germination first count, electrical conductivity and saturated salt accelerated aging – SSAA). Treatments consisted of controlled seed hydration with a solution content Stimulate^® or water only for 24 hours at 25 ºC, followed by seed drying back to the initial water content, at 32 ºC and 30% relative humidity. Seed physiological potential was determined by vigor index, uniformity of seedling development and seedling lenght using SVIS software on 6-day old seedlings. Hydroprimed and Stimulate^® primed seeds performed better than control. Stimulate^® is advantageous with respect to seedling growth after priming although no differences were detected among seed lots for both cultivars.