Effect of pre-sowing invigoration seed treatments on germination behaviour and seedling vigour in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seeds.

The experiment was conducted in Post Graduate Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (U.P.), in order to standardize the suitable method of priming for Wheat seeds (var. DBW-17). Four methods of priming viz., T1-Unprimed (Control), T2 and T8 Hydro-priming with Distilled water, T3 and T9 Osmo-priming with PEG 20%, T4 and T8 Halo-priming with NaCl 1%, T5 and T11 Halo-priming with CaCl2 1%, T6 and T12 Organic priming with Tulsi leaf extract 5% and T7 and T13 Organic priming with Neem leaf extract 5% hydration for 8 and 12 hours respectively. It was found that among all the priming showed significance difference with the control and the highest germination percentage (%), germination index, energy of emergence, seedling length (cm), seedling fresh weight (mg), seedling dry weight (mg) and vigour indices were observed in CaCl2 priming for 12 hours. This study also showed that Seed priming with CaCl2 were found to increase the seedling characters. The seeds treated with CaCl2 (1%) hydration 12 hours followed by CaCl2 (1%) hydration 8 hours and PEG (20%) hydration 8 hours recorded numerically higher values but for energy of emergence and for germination index second best was Neem leaf extract 5% hydration 12 hrs and for dry and fresh weight PEG (20%) hydration 8 hours was higher value compared to control. The study helps to improve the seedling character, growth of seeds with the help of seed priming treatments which are cost effective, economic, non-toxic and eco-friendly sources.