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New research reveals why chili peppers are hot.

ABurningMouth

ABurningMouth

After reading these articles, I'm asking,"Should seeds be rinsed or soaked before planting?
Also it might explain why some types don't like the paper towel method of germination so much.
http://news.ufl.edu/2008/08/11/peppers-2/
The Article:
http://www.pnas.org/content/105/33/11808.full.pdf+html?sid=9ed02998-90a6-4834-b879-5f472a302f7d

Not really a new article, but interesting.
ABurningMouth said:
After reading these articles, I'm asking,"Should seeds be rinsed or soaked before planting?
Also it might explain why some types don't like the paper towel method of germination so much.
http://news.ufl.edu/2008/08/11/peppers-2/
The Article:
http://www.pnas.org/content/105/33/11808.full.pdf+html?sid=9ed02998-90a6-4834-b879-5f472a302f7d
Click to expand...

I meant that we should try not to rinse any of the god-given capsaicin off the seed if at all possible when planting. And are seed treatments really helpful?
 
Intersting article
I've never found a pepper seed that didn't like the paper towel method of germination and I don't see why this method wouldn't work for all varieties.
I've also seen tests done on forums where treating or soaking seeds did not appear to help germination in any way
 
Without reading the articles, I am at work and cant right now, I have always heard/read/whatever that they are hot because mammals digest the seeds. Birds on the other hand do not digest the seeds so they do not feel the heat and can eat them and when they drop they are still intact and can grow there.
 
Great article. I knew the heat of a pepper help prevent the wrong animal from eating it, but didn't know it was also a way to prevent fungus.
 
Brilliant pieces, thanks for sharing them. I've often wondered why a humid, highland chili like Naga should be so much hotter than a dry, lowland chili like Jalapeno - and now at last I know.
 
While all of the plants look identical, telling the difference between hot and non-hot chilies is not difficult, Levey said.

“Just pop one in your mouth,” he said. “You’ll find out pretty quick.”
Click to expand...

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POTAWIE said:
Intersting article
I've never found a pepper seed that didn't like the paper towel method of germination and I don't see why this method wouldn't work for all varieties.
I've also seen tests done on forums where treating or soaking seeds did not appear to help germination in any way
Click to expand...

I had problems with the Dutch-Hab (from Fatalli), and the lance peppers falling over dead after getting to an inch tall. They were germinated in a paper towel then put in my mostly sterile growing medium. Maybe I need to try again and provide warmer conditions for post-germ' growth.
I thought of you when I read the part about people living a large distance from the equator not liking hot stuff. I guess you are in the the minority there. ;)
Another reason I brought up this article was to introduce people to the large number of research reports out there about our hobby. I read a few the other night and was up way past my bedtime.
But then I'm easily fascinated by experiments and their results. :crazy:
 
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