Effect of Seed Priming on the Growth Trend and Grain Yeild of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cv. Abidar under Rainfed Conditions

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Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 2006- 2007 cropping season to evaluate the effect of seed priming on growth trend and grain yield of barley cv. Abidar using randomized complete block design with three replications at Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (DARI), Maragheh, Iran. Treatments included: hydropriming, osmopriming (in %10PEG-6000 and 5 mM CaCl2), nutrient priming (in 10 mM Zn, 50 mM P, 100 mM P, 10 mM Zn + 50 mM P, 10 mMZn + 100mM P) and control (without priming). Superior treatments were selected from primary laboratory test which was conducted with 21 treatments in a completely randomized design with four replications. These treatments were superior in regard to %viable seeds, percentage and rate of germination, electrical conductivity, root, shoot and seedling dry weight. Results of field experiment showed that seed priming improved growth indices such as dry matter accumulation (DMA), crop growth rate (CGR) and relative growth rate (RGR). The highest grain yield (2072.3 kg/ha) belonged to hydropriming. Nevertheless, seed priming improved grain yield of barley cv. Abidar by about 32% as compared to control. The benificary effect of seed priming on growth and grain yield of barley cv. Abidar were attributed to rapid seedling emergence and establishment, and consequently the optimum use of light, soil moisture and nutrients by the plants developed from the primed seeds.

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Seed and Plant Production Journal
Volume 27, Issue 1
August 2011
Pages 111-129

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