Cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) is a horticultural crop that has good economic potential. The increasing demand and high prices attract farmers to develop cayenne pepper cultivation. Cayenne pepper is suitable for cultivation in tropical areas such as Indonesia. The distribution of cayenne pepper production areas covers both lowlands and highlands and is relatively resistant to disease attacks.
       
South Kalimantan is an area dominated by lowlands, one of which is Hiyung Village in Tapin Regency. Hiyung Village has a geographical identity for the development of local cayenne pepper which is known as the Hiyung cultivar (cv.) cayenne pepper. Based on research that has been conducted on the level of spiciness of the Hiyung cultivar cayenne pepper, it is quite high, ranging from capsaicin 645.63 - 699.87 ppm (Pramudyani et al., 2019), even reaching 802.95 ppm (Widiyastuti, 2015).
       
According to the BPS - Central Bureau of Statistics (2021), cayenne pepper production in South Kalimantan Province has decreased compared to 2020. In 2020, cayenne pepper production reached 15,616 tons, while in 2021 it was only 11,757.7 tons. There are many factors in cayenne pepper productivity, one of which is the use of low-quality seeds. Hiyung cayenne pepper cultivation has not used certified seeds. Low-quality seeds will provide less than optimal crop yields due to reduced growth potential in line with low vigor and viability (Marliah et al., 2010). Therefore, an attempt is needed to improve seed quality, especially in terms of viability and vigor.
       
High-quality seeds have a germination rate of more than 90% and can maintain their growth into vigorous plants. According to the Directorate of Horticultural Seeds (2016), high quality hybrid cayenne pepper seeds have a maximum growth rate and a germination rate of at least 80%. The germination rate for the cayenne pepper of Hiyung variety has not been widely studied.
       
Seed germination can be increased by providing plant growth regulators (PGRs), which are naturally obtained from plant extracts that specifically contain these compounds. One of the plants that can be extracted as PGRs is water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) which is a local resource spread across the swampy lands of South Kalimantan and is often considered an invasive weed that causes various problems. However, water hyacinth can be utilized in agriculture, including as a natural PGRs.
       
According to Musbakri (1999), water hyacinth root extract contains 0.18% gibberellin hormone. Water hyacinth exhibits phytohormone-mediated plant growth regulation (Gupta and Yadav, 2020; Ali et al., 2019; Asrijal et al., 2022). Wahdah et al., (2020), stated that priming water hyacinth root extract with a concentration of 7.5% is most efficient for seed germination power, seed germination potential and seed growth simultaneity. The application of water hyacinth-derived phytohormones exhibits pronounced effects on seed dormancy breakage, germination kinetics and seedling growth parameters (Gul et al., 2017). Water hyacinth root extract containing the hormone gibberellin is thought to increase seed viability and vigor during the initiation of the seed germination process (Wahdah et al., 2021).
       
Consideration of the potential of water hyacinth as a natural PGRs is expected to increase the germination ability of cayenne pepper seeds compared to without PGRs. In addition, there have not been many studies conducted on Hiyung cayenne pepper, especially in terms of seed technology, so it is necessary to conduct research about the effect of water hyacinth root extract on increasing seed viability.

This research was conducted in February-October 2023 at the Integrated Laboratory of the Department of Agroeco-technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Banjarbaru. The materials used in this study were Hiyung cayenne pepper seeds, water hyacinth roots, distilled water, methanol, opaque paper, filter paper, label paper, transparent plastic, water, rubber bands and aluminum foil. The tools used in this research are camera, germinator, oven, rotary evaporator, blender, plastic cup, measuring cup, beaker glass, glass bottle, funnel, pipette, tweezers, stirring rod, hand sprayer and ruler.
       
The experiment was designed a non-factorial completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 4 replications, so that there were 24 experimental units. The concentration of water hyacinth root extract were P0 (0%), P1 (5%), P2 (10%), P3 (15%), P4 (20%), P5 (25%).
       
Hiyung cayenne pepper seeds were obtained from local farmers in Hiyung Village. The cayenne pepper seeds were soaked in water for 15 minutes to determine which seeds would be tested for germination. The drowned seeds were selected, while the floating seeds were discarded.
       
Water hyacinth root exploration was conducted in Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan. The water hyacinth was cleaned with running water and then dried in an oven at 60^oC for 3 days (Ummah and Rahayu, 2019). The purpose of drying is to avoid dissolving the water content of the roots during the extraction process to maximize the extract. The dried water hyacinth roots were ground using a blender. The water hyacinth root powder weighed as much as 250 grams and dissolved in 750 ml of methanol and stirred until homogeneous. Furthermore, the solution was precipitated for 24 hours and filtered using filter paper to separate the liquid part from the dregs. The extract was then concentrated using a rotary evaporator to obtain a 100% concentration of water hyacinth root extract. The water hyacinth root extract was then diluted according to the desired concentration.
       
The cayenne pepper seeds were soaked for 9 hours in a glass containing water hyacinth root extract with concentrations of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% (Wahdah et al., 2020). The seeds were drained and sown using the between paper test method, each germination test unit consisted of 25 seeds placed in a zigzag manner on a moistened opaque paper substrate and spread on plastic. Then the seeds were covered with another opaque paper then rolled from left to right, after which they were tied with rubber bands and labeled according to the treatment. All germination test units were arranged in a germinator and the substrate was continuously moistened for two weeks by spraying water using a hand sprayer.
       
Observations were made every day on the growth speed index (GSI) of cayenne pepper seeds. Germination percentage (GP) was calculated on the 7^th and 14^th days on normal seedlings. Radicle length and plumule length of normal seedlings were measured on the 14^th days after planting.
       
The data obtained were tested for homogeneity using the Bartlett test. Homogeneous data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance. Differences between treatments were determined using the duncan multiple range test (DMRT) at a test level of 5%.

The results of the analysis of variance showed that the treatment of water hyacinth root extract concentration had a significant effect on all variables of Hiyung cayenne pepper seeds test. The seed germination variables are presented in Fig 1 and Fig 2.




 
Germination percentage (GP) and growth speed index (GSI)
 
Based on Fig 1, the concentrations of water hyacinth root extract 0%, 5% and 10% showed germination percentage (GP) and growth speed index (GSI) that were not significantly different. However, nominally, water hyacinth root extract at 10% concentration has the highest GP. Meanwhile, the highest GSI was found in water hyacinth root extract at a concentration of 5%.
       
Water hyacinth root extract at 10% concentration increased germination by 7% over the control. Increasing the concentration of water hyacinth root extract at 15%-25% resulted in lower germination. However, the highest germination rate only reached 45%, so it still did not meet the requirements of quality seeds, which have a germination percentage of ≥80% (International Seed Testing Association, 2006).
       
Low germination is due to seed deterioration, one of the triggers is seed storage past the shelf life. At the time of the research, Hiyung cayenne pepper seeds had been stored for 8 months. Seed deterioration can be indicated biochemically and physiologically. Biochemical indications of seed deterioration are characterized by a decrease in enzyme activity and seed food reserves. Physiological indications of seed deterioration include a decrease in germination (Khan et al., 2017; Ebone et al., 2019).
       
In addition to the expiration of the storage period, seed deterioration can also be caused by seeds stored in conditions with high water content. According to Chala and Bekana (2017), high moisture seeds, when soaked, experience uncontrolled water uptake, disrupting cell membranes and hindering metabolic activity, ultimately reducing germination rate and uniformity.
       
Soaking seeds with water hyacinth root extract at a concentration of 5% was able to increase GSI by about 5% higher than the control. This case occurs because water hyacinth root extract contains gibberellin hormone that can accelerate germination. Gibberellin plays a crucial role in breaking seed dormancy, facilitating germination. Exogenously applied gibberellin alters internal gibberellin levels, triggering germination processes (Vishal and Kumar, 2018; Asra, 2014; Huang et al., 2018).
       
This is in line with the research that the provision of growth regulators gibberellin and auxin can increase the speed of seed growth and germination (Asra, 2014; Rashid, 2010; Deninta, et al., 2017; Adnan et al., 2017). Gibberellin-induced seed priming enhances seedling vigor through accelerated hydration and nutrient absorption. (Zanamwe et al., 2024; Krismiratsih et al., 2024; Pan et al., 2017). This causes the seeds to germinate faster, the increase in GSI will be balanced with the increase in seed growth potential. Hydration during imbibition initiates enzymatic hydrolysis of stored reserves, providing energy for cell cycle progression and seedling establishment. Hydrolysis of seed storage compounds yields metabolic substrates, driving germination and respiratory activity (Prabhandaru and Saputro, 2017; Ali and Elozeiri, 2017; El-Maarouf-Bouteau, 2022; Malarkodi et al., 2022).
 
Radicle and plumula length
 
The longest radicle length was found in water hyacinth root extract at 10% concentration, significantly different from all treatments. The longest length was found in water hyacinth root extract at a concentration of 5%, but not significantly different from the control (Fig 2).
       
The increase in radicle length in water hyacinth root extract at a concentration of 10% reached 34.25% compared to the control. Water hyacinth-derived gibberellins enhance root system architecture by increasing fine root surface area (El-Sabagh  et al., 2022; Arisandi et al., 2020; Ullah et al., 2018; Roy et al., 2024).
       
Gibberellins contained in water hyacinth root extract have functions in plant cell multiplication, cell enlargement and stimulation of stem growth (Ummah and Rahayu, 2019; Wong et al., 2020). Exogenous hormone application enhances seed germination kinetics, manifested as radicle protrusion (Sopiana et al., 2018; Rifna et al., 2019; Pangestuti et al., 2021; Elhindi et al., 2016).
       
In general, a decrease in germination performance occurred with the application of water hyacinth root extract above 10% concentration. Water hyacinth root extract at concentrations of 20% and 25% showed the lowest germination performance compared to other concentrations.
       
If the amount of gibberellin given is too small, it has no effect on the seeds because of the alleged dominance of endogenous gibberellins. While gibberellin with too high concentration will have a degrading effect or even be toxic to the seeds (Gundala et al., 2018).

The application of water hyacinth root extract with concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% in soaking hiyung cayenne pepper seeds has a significant effect in increasing the uniformity of growth and has a significant effect on germination, seed growth speed, radicle length and plumula length. Water hyacinth root extract at a concentration of 5% (P1) is most effective for increasing the viability of hiyung cayenne pepper seeds, especially in the benchmarks of growth speed and plumula length. Improving seed quality can be done by giving water hyacinth root extract as a natural growth regulator with a recommended concentration of 5% which is significantly able to provide an increase in seed growth speed and plumula length.

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.