Optimization of hydro and biopriming treatments for enhancing seed quality in lentil (Lens culinaris)

Sushmitha C H; Venkadasamy  Govindasamy; M B Arun Kumar; Muraleedhar S Aski; Sherry Rachel Jacob; Gyan Prakash Mishra; Ramvilas Pashwan; T  Kavya; Angoth  Gouthami; Kumar Kant Singh

doi:10.56093/ijas.v96i4.172612

Authors

Sushmitha C H ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
Venkadasamy Govindasamy ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
M B Arun Kumar ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
Muraleedhar S Aski ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
Sherry Rachel Jacob ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi 110 012, India
Gyan Prakash Mishra ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
Ramvilas Pashwan ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
T Kavya ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
Angoth Gouthami ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
Kumar Kant Singh ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v96i4.172612

Keywords:

Biopriming, Germination, Hydropriming, Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), Seed quality, Seedling vigour

Abstract

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) productivity in India is often constrained by poor and non-uniform seedling emergence. Seed priming techniques, specifically hydropriming and biopriming offer a potential solution due to their eco-friendly and cost-effective nature. The present study (2023–24) aimed to standardise hydropriming and biopriming protocols to improve seed quality and seedling vigour. Hydropriming was evaluated using two seed-to-water ratios (1:1 and 1:2, w/v) across six soaking durations (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24h), while biopriming was optimised using four bacterial inoculum concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, and 100%) for 4, 8, 12 and 16h. Seed quality parameters were assessed following standard germination test. Results indicated that hydropriming at 16h with a 1:2 ratio significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved germination (93.0%), shoot and root length (8.58 and 16.9 cm), seedling fresh and dry weight (1.32 and 0.128 g/10 seedlings) and vigour indices (SVI-I: 2373; SVI-II: 11.92). Similarly, biopriming at 1% inoculum for 12h recorded the highest performance, with germination (94.7%), shoot and root length (9.19 and 17.3 cm), fresh and dry weight (1.32 and 0.136 g/10 seedlings) and vigour indices (SVI-I: 2507; SVI-II: 12.90). This study demonstrates that hydropriming for 16h (1:2 ratio) and biopriming for 12h (1% inoculum) are optimal conditions for enhancing the physiological quality and initial seedling vigour of lentil under laboratory conditions, thereby providing a basis for future field validation.

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