Treatment of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds with chitosan increases chitinase and glucanase activities and enhances emergence in a standard cold test

•Chitosan or hydropriming treatments enhanced speed of germination, increased seedling growth and emergence in cold test.•Treatment of seeds with chitosan increased the chitinase activity in seeds and seedlings.•All seed treatments with chitosan, acetic acid, Benomyl, or distilled water significantly increased glucanase activity.•Greater chitinase and glucanase activities in seeds and seedlings might protect seedlings from fungal diseases under cold and wet conditions.