Effects of Different Pre-sowing Seed Priming Agents on Chickpea Vigor and Germination

Abstract

The effect of organic priming on the germination behavior and vigor of chickpeas, Cicer arielinum (L.), was examined in an experiment conducted during the Zaid season of 2023 at the Post Graduate Laboratory, Seed Science and Technology, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Naini Agricultural Institute, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Ten genotypes and three treatments-T0 (Control), Hormonal priming T1-Salicylic Acid [SA (200pm)], Osmo priming T2-(Mannitol 5%), and Botanical priming T3-Aloe vera leaf extract (5%), respectively-were used to complete the statistical analysis used in the design. The seeds were steeped for 24 hours at 25°C in diluted water that was used to make all of the priming media. Significant variations in treatments were also noted. T3 Aloe vera exhibited the highest germination rate (81%) and the longest root length in control (T0), shoot length (T3), seedling length (T3), and seedling vigour index (T3). T2 Mannitol had the highest seedling weight in both fresh and dry conditions, followed by T2 Mannitol, which displayed the highest germination rate (80%), root length, shoot length with salicylic acid, and seedling length (T2) in mannitol.