The objective of this study was to assess the incidence of fungi and asepsis interference in sweet pepper seeds submitted to incubation for the accelerated aging test (traditional with salt solution). Samples from five different batches of Magali R cultivar sweet pepper were used, submitted or not to asepsis with 1% NaOCl for three minutes, incubated or not to 41ºC for 72 hours in saturated NaCl solution or water. The assessment was performed by means of germination and health tests (freezing filter paper). The percentage of Aspergillus spp., Rhizopus sp. and Cladosporium sp. fungi, after incubation for the traditional aging test, was higher than the assessment made before the incubation, that did not occur when salt solution was used. The asepsis, when accomplished before the seed incubation, was efficient in minimizing the incidence of Aspergillus spp. The utilization of NaCl solution in substitution to water in the accelerated aging test inhibited the growth of Aspergillus spp., Rhizopus sp. and Cladosporium sp.
Capsicum annuum; vigor; health
