Pengaruh Lama Perendaman Tiga Varietas Benih Cabai Rawit dengan Plant Growth Promoting Rhyzobacter Akar Bambu Terhadap Pertumbuhan Vegetatif Cabai Rawit (Capsicum Frutescens L.)

Abstract

Chili pepper is one of the important horticultural crops in Indonesia with promising market prospects. PGPR is an organic biological material capable of positively influencing plant growth and yield. This research aimed to identify the effect of soaking duration of three chili pepper seed varieties with bamboo root Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on the vegetative growth of chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.). The study was conducted in the screen house of the Faculty of Agriculture, University Sumatra Utara, at an altitude of ±32 meters above sea level, from September to November 2023. This study used a completely randomized factorial design with two factors and three replications. The first factor was three chili pepper varieties: Bara, Pelita, and Sonar. The second factor was soaking duration with four levels: no soaking, 20, 30, and 40 minutes of soaking. The results showed that the three varieties had differences in germination percentage, seedling height, and root volume. The Sonar variety had a higher germination percentage, plant length, and root volume compared to the other two varieties. PGPR soaking duration of 30 minutes increased the germination rate, seedling height, and stem diameter. The Sonar variety with 30 minutes of PGPR soaking duration at 4 and 5 weeks after planting was able to increase plant length.