Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
Revathy V, Manonmani V, Sundareswaran S, Malarkodi K and V Babu Rajendra Prasad

Abstract:
Maize is one of the most important crops being cultivated as a cereal grain in India. High temperature stress affects the growth and development of crops by a series of morphological, physiological and biochemical changes. Seed priming with phytohormones helps in protecting the plants from terminal heat stress. The present study was conducted to evaluate the influence of seed priming with various phytohormones viz., salicylic acid, brassinolides and sodium nitro-prusside on performance of seed quality parameters such as speed of germination, germination (%), and root and shoot length, dry matter production and vigour index. These studies were carried out in the maize seeds COH (M) 8 for identifying the suitable phytohormones and for optimizing the concentration to improve the germination and vigour of maize seeds. Seed priming treatments were carried out in various concentrations viz., salicylic acid 50, 75 and 100 ppm, brassinolides 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 ppm, sodium nitroprusside 50 and 75 and 100 µM for the soaking duration of 9 hrs along with hydropriming and control. The concentrations were standardized and seedlings were tested under different temperature regimes at 40 and 42 ℃ in plant growth chamber with 65% relative humidity and ambient temperature (25 ℃) with 95% relative humidity. The results of the study revealed that the seeds treated with sodium nitroprusside 50 µM performed well by recording highest germination and vigour under both ambient temperature (25 ℃) and at 40 and 42 ℃ in the plant growth chamber when compared to control, hydropriming and the other treatments.