Enhancing growth and yield parameters of Sinapis alba through optimized seed priming techniques

Abstract

Early seed germination significantly influences crop growth and production, prompting the exploration of seed priming as a pivotal technique. Despite the acknowledged importance of faster germination and emergence for successful seedling establishment, oilseed crops like Sinapis alba have received limited attention concerning seed priming methods, unlike cereal and grain crops. This study aimed to bridge this gap by subjecting S. alba seeds to six priming treatments: T1 = control, T2 = distilled water, T3 = NaCl (0.5%), T4 = KNO₃ (0.5%), T5 = CaCl₂ (0.5%), and T6 = Moringa leaf extract at a 1:30 ratio (30 times diluted), to assess their impact on various growth and yield parameters. The data analysis revealed significant effects of seed priming on various parameters, with exceptions in plant height unaffected by seed soaking. Seed priming notably enhanced germination percentage, germination rate index, and seedling vigor index, while reducing mean germination time to emergence significantly. Furthermore, primed seeds exhibited significant increases in seedling fresh and dry weights, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, root and shoot lengths, leaf area, chlorophyll content, early flowering, branch numbers, pod counts, and 1000-seed weight compared to non-primed seeds. The biological yield was relatively higher in treated seeds. Additionally, seed yield and oil content were found to be higher in primed seeds compared to the control. Among the treatments, KNO₃ along with Moringa, displayed the most desirable outcomes across overall seedling parameters, suggesting their recommendation for effective priming treatments to improve the growth and yield of S. alba.