Integrated Seed Priming with Growth Promoting Substances Enhances Germination and Seedling Vigour of Spring Maize at Low Temperature

Poor germination due to low temperature at early stages badly affects the performance of spring maize. The present study was conducted to look into the effect of seed priming with moringa leaf extract (MLE, 3%), sorghum water extract (SWE, 10 mL L-1), ascorbic acid (ASA, 50 mg L-1), salicylic acid (SA, 50 mg L-1) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 2 mu M) alone or in combinations on germination and emergence of hybrid maize at 12 degrees C and 25 degrees C. Untreated seeds were used as control. At optimum temperature, most of growth promoting substances significantly improved germination attributes while at low temperature, higher final germination percentage (FGP), germination index (GI) and reduced time to 50% germination (T-50), mean germination time (MGT) were attributed to SWE+ASA, MLE+H2O2, ASA+H2O2, MLE+SWE+H2O2, MLE+SA+H2O2, ASA+SA+H2O2, MLE+SWE+ASA+H2O2 and SWE+ASA+SA+H2O2 priming treatments as compare to control and hydropriming. Higher shoot length, root length and seedling dry weights were also linked with these treatments at both the temperatures. However, in net house study, better emergence attributes and improved seedling performance was observed in seeds treated with MLE+H2O2 followed by SWE+ASA, SWE+ASA+SA+H2O2 and ASA+SA+H2O2 as compared to other priming treatments. Improved performance of maize seedlings was due to high alpha-amylase activity and sugar contents. Results revealed that these seed priming combinations were very effective in improving seed germination under cool conditions, while field appraisal of these combinations is imperative. (C) 2013 Friends Science Publishers