Seed quality has been an important factor in achieving high germination and uniform growth rates in agricultural crops. Meanwhile, pepper plants are moderately sensitive to salt stress at electrical conductivity (EC) in the nutrient solution in the range of 1.2–3.0 dS m−1. We are unaware of any studies regarding the effects of mother plant saline stress on the agronomical quality of pepper seeds. We assessed the effects of three levels of electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution used for mother plant fertigation (2.2, 3.5, and 4.5 dS m−1) on the agronomical quality of pepper seeds (Capsicum annuum L. var. California Wonder). We have analyzed the following seed quality traits: (1) size and weight of seeds and number of seeds per fruit, (2) seed germination and vigor, and (3) chemical composition and histological features of mature seeds. The electrical conductivity treatment of 3.5 dS m−1 caused a statistically significant reduction in the seed size and vigor, as well as partial histological damage to seed endosperm. Moreover, the electrical conductivity treatment of 4.5 dS m−1 caused further reduction in the seed agronomical quality and generalized histological damage to seed endosperm. The electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution used for the fertigation of mother pepper plants should be below 3.5 dS m−1. Future studies should be performed to better gauge the effect of nutrient solutions with electrical conductivity in the range of 2.2–3.5 dS m−1 on the seed quality traits.

中文翻译：

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母株盐分胁迫对辣椒种子农艺品质的影响

种子质量一直是农作物实现高发芽率和均匀生长率的重要因素。同时，在营养液中的电导率 (EC) 范围为 1.2-3.0 dS m-1 时，辣椒植物对盐胁迫具有中等敏感性。我们不知道有任何关于母株盐分胁迫对辣椒种子农艺品质影响的研究。我们评估了用于母株施肥的营养液的三个电导率水平（2.2、3.5 和 4.5 dS m-1）对辣椒种子（Capsicum annuum L. var. California Wonder）农艺品质的影响。我们分析了以下种子质量性状：（1）种子的大小和重量以及每个果实的种子数，（2）种子发芽和活力，以及（3）成熟种子的化学成分和组织学特征。3.5 dS m-1 的电导率处理导致种子大小和活力的统计学显着降低，以及对种子胚乳的部分组织学损伤。此外，4.5 dS m-1 的电导率处理导致种子农艺质量进一步降低，并对种子胚乳造成广泛的组织学损伤。用于辣椒母株施肥的营养液的电导率应低于 3.5 dS m-1。应该进行未来的研究，以更好地衡量电导率在 2.2-3.5 dS m-1 范围内的营养液对种子质量性状的影响。4.5 dS m-1 的电导率处理导致种子农艺质量的进一步降低和种子胚乳的广泛组织学损伤。用于辣椒母株施肥的营养液的电导率应低于 3.5 dS m-1。应该进行未来的研究，以更好地衡量电导率在 2.2-3.5 dS m-1 范围内的营养液对种子质量性状的影响。4.5 dS m-1 的电导率处理导致种子农艺质量的进一步降低和种子胚乳的广泛组织学损伤。用于辣椒母株施肥的营养液的电导率应低于 3.5 dS m-1。应该进行未来的研究，以更好地衡量电导率在 2.2-3.5 dS m-1 范围内的营养液对种子质量性状的影响。