Seed quality enhancement through biopriming in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris. L)

An experiment on seed quality enhancement of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) var. S 9 (local) was conducted at the department of seed science and technology, OUAT, Bhubaneswar during 2013-14 by use of three biocontrol agents viz. Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescence. Seeds were bi-oprimed with the biocontrol agents at 40, 50 and 60 % concentration for 4,8,12 and 16 hours of soaking. Seeds were also hydro primed for 4,8,12 and 16 hours. Unprimed dry seed resulted in germination (69 %), shoot length (27.5 cm), root length (14 cm), seedling dry weight (1.71g), SVI-I (2859.2), SVI-II (118.0) and speed of germination (5.8) while hydro primed seeds resulted in germination (72%), shoot length (31.9 cm), root length (15 cm), seedling dry weight (1.80 g), SVI-1 (3375.9) SVI-II (129.8) and speed of germination (6.7). Trichoderma harzianum at 40% con-centration and for 4 hours of soaking resulted enhancement of above quality parameter like 13.0 % in germination, 21.1 % in shoot length, 20.7 % in root length, 31.6 % in seedling dry weight, 36 % in seedling vigour index-I, 48.1 % in seedling vigour index-II and 58.6 % in speed of germination over unprimed seeds. Bio priming with P. fluorescence ( at 40% concentration and for 4 hour) closely followed and at par with best treatment with 11.6 %, 18.2 %, 16.4 %, 30.4 %, 30.7 % and 56.9 % enhancement of above mentioned quality parameters, respectively