Effects of aqueous extracts of three selected mosses on the germination of seeds of three species of <i>Capsicum</i> (L.) JACQ.

This study examined how aqueous extracts from Archidium ohioense, Hyophila involuta and Pelekium gratum influenced the seed germination of Capsicum chinense, Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens. This was with a view to determining the suitability and effectiveness of the aqueous extracts in stimulating seed germination. The Capsicum seedlings were raised in Petri-dishes layered with Whatman No. 1 filter paper dampened with 5.0 ml of the respective moss extract, which was prepared by soaking 250 g of each of the moss species separately in 2.0 litres of distilled water for 72 hours. The Petri-dishes for the control were dampened with 5.0 ml distilled water. All the prepared Petri-dishes were incubated at ambient temperature in the laboratory for fourteen (14) days. The effects of the extracts were observed and recorded noting the germination percentage, plumule length and radical length. Data generated were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to identify significant differences (P < 0.05) among the treatments. Mean comparisons were performed using Least Significant Difference (LSD) Test. The findings revealed that the aqueous extracts from the selected moss species had a beneficial impact on the seed germination of the three species of Capsicum. Aqueous extract of H. involuta had the most stimulatory effect on all the three species of Capsicum, followed by A. ohioense, P. gratum and the control respectively. The highest germination percentage (76%) and plumule length (25.56 mm) were recorded in C. frutescens while the highest radical length (30.48 mm) was recorded in C. chinense. There was a significant difference in the results obtained for percentage germination, radical length and plumule length (P < 0.05) compared to that of the control. It was concluded that the three tested moss aqueous extracts stimulated the seed germination of the three Capsicum species and can be considered suitable for promoting seed germination in cultivating Capsicum.