PJB-2018-840
Seed priming effects on germination metabolism, physio-chemistry and grain yield of late sown wheat crop
Summiya Faisal
Abstract
Wheat productivity is drastically affected by late sowing, as it faces high temperatures during grain filling which decreases the crop yield. In this experiment, several seed priming agents were used to improve performance of two wheat varieties under normal and late sowing regimes. Hydro-priming, osmopriming with 2% calcium chloride and hormonal priming with salicylic-acid (50 mg L-1) were used as seed priming treatments. All treatments resulted in better seedling establishment, physiological attributes, growth and yield as compared to control. Salicylic-acid proved superior in synchronized seedling stand establishment by reducing time required for 50% emergence and mean emergence under both sowings. Overall, growth (leaf area, productive tillers and plant height) and yielding traits (grain yield, 1000-grain weight, biological yield and harvesting indices) were improved in both varieties subjected to seed priming with salicylic-acid and CaCl2 under normal and late sowings. Salicylic-acid and CaCl2 priming showed highest proline, sugars, phenolics, chlorophyll and relative water contents in Sarsabz and Khirman, while hydro-priming gave maximum glycine-betaine and membrane thermo-stability as compared to control. Sarsabz showed more tolerance against high temperature than Khirman. Overall, seed priming improved high temperature tolerance under late sowing however; CaCl2 and salicylic-acid priming remained more effective in mitigate drastic effects of high temperature by maintaining better growth and yield as well as improved physiological attributes in both varieties. These growth enhancers might be used to get better productivity under adverse climatic conditions.
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