The effect of seed hydropriming on germination and seedling growth of maize (Zea mays L.) in controlled condition

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of maize seed priming in germination and emergence stage in controlled condition, an experiment was conducted as factorial on the basis of completely randomized design with two maize hybrids (S.C.704 and Karaj 700) and six time of seeds dry back after 17 hours wetting (0,1.5,3,6,12 and 24 hours and control treatment (without priming)) with three replications. There were significant differences (Pandlt;%5) between two hybrids for most of the parameters, and germination and emergence of Karaj 700 was higher than S.C.704. Priming decreased mean germination time (MGT) of primed seeds to control and also mean germination rate (MGR) of seeds increased significantly. Seeds that 3 hours dried back had the highest MGR. Radicle and plumule length and radicle and plumule dry weight of primed seeds was higher than the control.Although priming had positive effects on characteristics such as decrease in MGT, increase in MGR, in length and dry weight of radicle and plumule, none of priming treatments had significant effects on grown plant characteristics in glasshouse.

Keywords


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