Disinfection of Pepper chat fruit viroid in Pepper Seeds

Abstract

Pepper chat fruit viroid (PCFVd) can cause disease in pepper. This disease can be transmitted via seeds and mechanical means. The global pepper seed trade is an important channel for PCFVd dissemination from country to country. The effectiveness of seed disinfection methods for PCFVd ranging from chemical to physical ones was evaluated. The methods using sodium hypochlorite 3%, sodium bicarbonate 10%, hydrochloric acid 0.5 N, trisodium phosphate 10%, hot water and dry heat treatment in combinations at different temperatures and time periods were tested in pepper seed varieties P-74 and P-TV infected with PCFVd 100%. After treatment, the infection rate was inspected by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique on the whole seeds, seed coats and seedlings and the germination rates were determined. The results showed that soaking pepper seeds in 50°C hot water for 25 min followed by 72°C dry heat for 24 hours was the best treatment regime. It could get rid of 100% PCFVd while the germination rates remained at 96-99%. This result can be used as a recommendation for seed disinfection for PCFVd.