EFFICIENCY OF USING GARLIC AND MORINGA EXTRACTS AS A PRIMING FOR IMPROVING GERMINATION TRAITS AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF MAIZE (Zea mays, L.)

Document Type : Original research

10.12816/ejpb.2023.302767

Abstract

One of the best strategies to enhance seed germination is treating seed before planting with some plant extracts. Germination and seedling growth of maize seed treated with Garlic (GE) or Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (MLE) were investigated as a priming at Seed Technology Res. Dept., ARC, Egypt. Aqueous extracts of Garlic and Moringa oleifera were used to prime seed of maize (Zea mays, L.) by soaking for 20 hours with different concentrations (0.25, 0.50 and 1.0g/mm) comparing with hydro-priming (soaking in water) and control (no-soaking) each with four replications. This experiment evaluated the best concentration to enhance the germination and seedling of maize hybrid SC-168 by using GE and MLE extracts. Seed germination (%),Germination rate, (GR, day), germination speed index (SGI), mean germination rate (MGR, day), germination vigor index (GVI), seedling shoot length (cm), seedling root length (cm), seedling length (cm), seedling fresh weight (g), seedling dry weight, (g), seedling vigor 1 (SV1), seedling vigor 2 (SV2) and seedling water content (WC%) as affected by plant extracts-priming treatments were studied. Results showed that germination characters improved with Moringa oleifera leaves extract (MLE) followed by garlic extracts (GE) under laboratory conditions. The concentrations 0.25 and 0.50 g/mm MLE gave higher values for germination percentage and germination rate, while 0.5 and 1.0 g/mm GE gave the higher values for speed germination rate. It also significantly increased in all seedling traits by using plant extracts; GE was superior to MLE as compared with hydro-priming and control.   During seedling growth under field conditions, the primed seeds by plant extracts significantly increased in all traits as field emergence leaves traits, seedling vigor II. This suggests that soaking in Garlic extract as priming at 1.0 g then 0.5 g/mm concentrate and Moringa oleifera leaves extract at 0.25g/mm under 20 hour soaking were suitable treatments that can improve seed germination and seedling growth in the maize single cross hybrid 168.

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