Influence of Seed Priming on Phenophases, Morpho-physiological traits, Growth and Biophysical traits of Maize

Abstract

Objective of this investigation is to study the influence of seed priming treatments on phenophases, growth. morphophysiological and biophysical traits in maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment was carried out during kharif 2016 -17 at research farm JNKVV, Jabalpur (MP) which was laid out in a randomized block design replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of nine seed priming treatments in maize cv, African tall viz., water, ZnSO4 @ 0.5%, KNO3 @ 0.5% & KH2PO4 @ 0.5% for 6 and 12 hrs and control which were assessed for growth and biophysical traits. The seed priming treatments showed variable response for most of the traits. Water primed treatments indicated the highest values for phenophases, morphophysiological and biophysical traits ie., V8 (52 days), V9 (57.7 days), R5 (100.7 days), R6 (114 days), dry matter accumulation (0.92g at 20 DAS and 154.62g at 114 DAS), leaf area index(1.451), leaf area duration (34816 cm2.days), CGR (9.18g cm-2 day-1), RGR (0.052 g g-1 day-1,cholorophyll index (17.20),carboxylation efficiency (0.112 mmol m -2s-1(mmolm-1)-1), net photosynthesis (23.91 mmol m -2s-1)) and quantum efficiency (0.0193). ZnSO4 primed for 12 hrs had highest stomatal conductance (0.038) and transpiration rate (2.127). KH2PO4 primed for 12 hrs - mesophyll efficiency (4914.4)..