Effect of priming regimes on seed germination of field crops

Germination, early emergence and stand establishment of crops are major yield determining factors in semi-arid and arid rainfed areas. Farmers in marginal and low input areas tend to have poor germination due to poor and shallow soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of priming regimes on seed germination of field crops. A study was conducted at Lupane State University, Biotechnology Laboratory in 2019. Treatments included seed priming techniques, namely hydropriming, halopriming (2% NaCl solution) osmopriming (10% PEG 6000), and solid matrix priming (18% volume/weight sand); and timing at 6, 12, 24 hours for maize and 2, 4, 6 hours for cowpea, sorghum and millet. Solid matrix priming, followed by hydropriming significantly (P<0.05) improved germination parameters (germination percentage, daily germination, peak value and germination speed) of all crops. Halopriming and osmopriming were similar in their ineffectiveness, and resulted in the least germination parameter values. Six hour solid matrix priming in 18% v/w sand was the most effective method among most crops; suggesting that solid matrix priming is an effective and possibly low cost technology, with potential to improve germination of field crops.La germination, l\u2019\ue9mergence pr\ue9coce et l\u2019\ue9tablissement des peuplements sont des facteurs d\ue9terminants du rendement dans les zones pluviales semi-arides et arides. Les agriculteurs des zones marginales et \ue0 faible apport ont tendance \ue0 avoir une mauvaise germination en raison de sols pauvres et peu profonds. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer l\u2019effet des r\ue9gimes d\u2019amor\ue7age sur la germination des semences des cultures de champs. Une \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 faite \ue0 Lupane State University, laboratoire de biotechnologie en 2019. Les traitements comprenaient des techniques d\u2019amor\ue7age des semences, \ue0 savoir l\u2019hydroprimage, l\u2019halopriming (solution \ue0 2% de NaCl), l\u2019osmopriming (10% PEG 6000) et l\u2019amor\ue7age \ue0 matrice solide (18% volume / poids de sable) ; et chronom\ue9trage \ue0 6, 12, 24 heures pour le ma\uefs et 2, 4, 6 heures pour le ni\ue9b\ue9, le sorgho et le mil. L\u2019amor\ue7age de la matrice solide, suivi de l\u2019hydropriming, a significativement am\ue9lior\ue9 (P <0,05) les param\ue8tres de germination (pourcentage de germination, germination quotidienne, valeur maximale et vitesse de germination) de toutes les cultures. L\u2019halopriming et l\u2019osmopriming \ue9taient similaires dans leur inefficacit\ue9 et ont donn\ue9 les valeurs de param\ue8tres de germination les moins \ue9lev\ue9es. L\u2019amor\ue7age de la matrice solide sur six heures dans du sable \ue0 18% v / w \ue9tait la m\ue9thode la plus efficace parmi la plupart des cultures; sugg\ue9rant que l\u2019amor\ue7age \ue0 matrice solide est une technologie efficace et peut-\ueatre \ue0 faible co\ufbt, avec un potentiel pour am\ue9liorer la germination des cultures de champs