Effect of seed priming treatments along with micropot techniques for quality seed production in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

To determine the effect of different seed priming treatments and micropot techniques in sunflower, field experiments were conducted at C-Block Farm (Incheck Farm), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal during the rabi seasons of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 in sunflower variety (WBSH-2021). The experiment used a split plot design with the micropot technique as the first component, seven priming treatments (Hydro priming, Solid matrix priming, Osmotic priming, Halo priming, Hormonal priming, Vermi priming, Bio priming) along with control as the second factor, and three replications. Seed priming was employed as a subplot treatment, while the micropot method was used as the main plot treatment. Days to 50% flowering, basal girth (cm), number of leaves plant -1 , plant height (cm), days to maturity, head diameter (cm), number of seeds head -1 , seed setting percent, seed length (mm), seed breadth (mm), 100 seed weight (g), hulling percent, seed yield plant -1 (g) were all measured according to standard procedure. Some seed quality parameters like germination percentage (%), seedling length (cm), seedling dry weight (mg seedling -1 ) and vigour index were studied to judge the seed quality parameters of harvested seeds. Considering various morphological characters, T 4 (Halo priming) followed by T 7 (Bio priming) was earliest to 50% flowering (63.8 and 64.0 days respectively). T 4 (Halo priming) recorded earliest days to maturity (119.2 days) and it was followed by T 8 (control) with 121.1 days. Maximum seed yield plant -1 (75.6 g) was noted in T 6 treatment followed by T 7 treatment (73.6 g) due to larger head, more number of seeds head -1 , maximum seed setting percentage, seed length, seed breadth and maximum 100 seed weight. Germination percentage was highest (88.79 %) in T 3 (Osmotic priming) due to better filling of seeds. Maximum seedling length (17.57 cm) and vigour index-I (1522.54) was recorded in T 6 (Vermi priming) treatment. The performance of crop for different morphological and yield contributing characters was better in micropot techniques than without micropot techniques. Therefore, vermi priming and bio priming along with micropot techniques are potentially able to promote rapid and uniform plant growth, thereby improving the yield and seed quality of sunflower.