Effect of different seed priming methods for improving seed germination and seedling growth of some selected crops

Abstract

The deterioration of seed quality during prolonged storage, as well as issues such as uneven and poor germination, weak vigor, and inadequate seedling growth, are significant challenges in crop production. As a result, the development of new techniques such as seed priming is crucial in addressing these challenges. Seed priming involves regulating the hydration level of seeds to facilitate pre-germination metabolic processes while inhibiting radical emergence. Current study evaluated the effect of different organic and chemical priming methods on germination and seedling growth of some selected crops. Non-expired seeds of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Chilli (Capsicum annuum), Capsicum (Capsicum annuum), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and old/expired seeds of Maize (Zea mays), Luffa (Luffa acutangular) and Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) were evaluated separately. Moringa dry (MD) and fresh leaf extract (MF), coconut water (CW), cow urine (CU), rice-husk ash (RA), distilled-water (DW), sucrose solution (SS), eggshell and vinegar extract (EV) and KNO3 at different concentrations and soaking times were used as priming treatments. Non primed seeds were used as the control. Experimental design was Completely Randomized Design with three replicates (10 seeds each). Cluster analysis was done to categorize treatments based on the similarity of performances in mean germination time (day), time spread of germination (day), germination rate index (% day -1), seedling vigor index and average seedling dry weight (g) using SAS OnDemand for Academics. Significant difference between clusters were evaluated using One way Analysis of Variance under Generalized Linear Model. Treatments in the best performing cluster were ranked based on their germination performances. Accordingly, for: Chilli–MD @20%(w/v) for 12 hrs soaking time; Capsicum–CU @10%(v/v) for 12 hrs; Tomato–MD @10%(w/v) for 12 hrs; Maize–CU @5%(v/v) for 12 hrs; Okra–CW @50%(v/v) for 48 hrs were identified as the treatments with higher ranks. There was no significant difference between treated and non-treated seeds of Luffa and Cucumber (P>0.05). In conclusion, organic primers identified above such as cow urine, coconut water and moringa dry extract with specific concentrations and soaking times that showed higher ranks in germination performances can be successfully employed to enhance germination and seedling growth of all tested crops, except for Luffa and Cucumber. Priming of old/expired seeds of Maize with cow urine @5%(v/v) for 12 hrs and Okra with coconut water @50%(v/v) for 48 hrs can potentially enhance their germination ability.