Initial Growth and Stomatal Characteristics of <em>Capsicum </em>Accessions Under PEG-Induced Water Stress In Vitro

Water stress compromises morphological and physiological aspects of pepper plants (Capsicum spp.), affecting their development. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is widely used to simulate drought conditions in vitro, making it possible to assess crop tolerance to water restriction and assist in the selection of more resilient varieties. This study aimed to evaluate the germination, initial growth, and stomatal characteristics of ornamental pepper accessions subjected to different levels of water stress induced by PEG 6000. The study assessed seven pepper accessions and five concentrations of PEG 6000 (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%), using a completely randomized design with four replicates per treatment. No germination occurred at concentrations above 5%. Water stress induced by PEG significantly impacted germination, the percentage of shoot and root dry matter, and the width of the stomatal midpoint. The accessions CPCE 020, CPCE 018, and CPCE 011 showed more traits related to tolerance to water stress, highlighting their resilience to this type of stress.