Abstract:
The objective of this study
was to assess the comparative efficiency of
different priming techniques on germination
and early seedling growth of maize
cultivars. Laboratory experiments were
conducted to examine the efficacy of
different seed invigoration treatments on
seed germination and vigor traits of three
maize hybrids, Pioneer 3025, Pioneer 70
and Baber at Agronomy research laboratory,
University of Agriculture, Peshawar,
Pakistan. The experiment was laid in
completely randomized design (CRD) and
was replicated thrice. The treatments
included control treatment (T1)
unsoaked/dry seed, (T2) hydropriming with
distilled water for 24 hrs, (T3) halo priming
treatments with NaCl (3% solution) for 24
hrs, (T4) osmopriming with PEG-6000 for
24 hrs and (T5), hormonal priming with GA3
for 24 hrs. The results showed that seed
invigoration treatment with gibberellic acid
(GA3) PEG-6000 and hydropriming with
distilled water for 24 hrs gave higher
germination, decreased days to 50%
germination, increased shoot length, root
length, seedling fresh and dry weight, as
compared to halo priming with NaCl and
control treatment. It is concluded that seed
invigoration with GA3, osmopriming with
PEG-6000 and hydropriming with distilled
water for 24 hrs serve as an appropriate
treatment for accelerating the emergence
and growth parameters of maize hybrid.
Pioneer 3025 showed its superiority over
other cultivars in all the studied parameters.
