Effect of bio-priming and fungicides on wheat seed quality and health

Abstract

Wheat is a predominant cereal crop, which has come under biotic and abiotic stresses due to shift in climate regimes in last few years. It has lead to increased incidence of seed-borne diseases of minor importance like black point (Drechslera sorokiniana, Alternaria spp., Curvularia spp. etc.). The present studies were conducted at Seed Technology Centre of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to explore the benefit of bio-priming to reduce seed-borne inoculums load and to enhance seed quality. Hydro-priming alone and in combination with T. harzianum and captaf were at par and significantly better than control, for all the seed quality parameters i.e. percent seed germination (84.8, 84 and 83/76), percent emergence (76, 74, 74/64), speed of germination (23, 21.7, 22/11.75), vigour index I (2306.6, 2066.4, 2224.4/1755.6) and vigour index II (15.94, 15.71, 15.27/13.22). Seed priming with tilt significantly reduced the incidence of D. sorokiniana, Alternaria tenuis and Curvularia lunata by 96.9%, 96.6% and 97.9%, respectively over control. It was much better than captaf and T. harzianum bio-priming treatments where, the corresponding figures were 66.0% and 45.4; 74.0 and 57.4 and 55.9 and 42.0 percent, respectively. However, it failed to invigorate seed due to reduced germination of 72% and vigour index I and II of 1353.6 and 11.10, respectively. Therefore, tilt may be avoided for pre-sowing seed treatments as it suppressed the growth and inhibited the germination and related seed quality parameters. Further studies are needed to establish its use, may be in different formulation, as pre-storage seed treatment in case the seed is heavily infected with black point disease.