CHANGES IN SEED QUALITY DURING SEED DEVELOPMENT IN TOMATO AND PEPPER

A series of seed quality tests were carried out on seed lots harvested serially during seed development in tomato and pepper. The main objective was to test the hypothesis that maximum seed quality coincides with maximum seed dry weight (physiological maturity). The results showed that, maximum seed quality occurred some days after physiological maturity. By no means, seeds were physiologically mature at that point. In contrary to suggestions of Harrington's hypothesis seed quality did not decline after attainment of maximal level. This can be attributed to the seed moisture content which remains very high even in late harvests in both species.