Vol. 13, Issue 8 (2024)

Author(s):
Poornima Koradhanyamath, Basave Gowda, Shakuntala N.M., Doddagoudar S.R., Arunkumar Hosamani, Savitha A.S. and Satyanarayan Rao

Abstract:
The realization of sustainable agriculture requires continuous research which can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Seed priming alone or in combination with low dosage of fungicides and/or biocontrol agents has been used to improve the rate and uniformity of seed emergence and to overcome the diseases. In order to enhance early seedling vigour a laboratory experiment was conducted using different bioagents at Seed Unit, UAS, Raichur. This study was carried out to investigate the effects bioagents on germination percentage, seedling length, vigour, enzymatic activities and seed health of sorghum seedlings. The seeds were soaked in different bioagents for different duration hours. Blotter method was used to observe seed germination. The results showed that, with respect to priming duration, priming sorghum seeds with different bioagents for seed germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index-I, seedling vigour index-II, speed of germination, dehydrogenase activity, catalase activity, peroxidase activity and electrical conductivity was found to be non-significant. Among the interactions priming sorghum seeds with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens for 8 hrs had recorded significantly highest seed germination (98.0%), seedling length (34.7 cm), seedling dry weight (339.4), seedling vigour index-I (3401), seedling vigour index-II (33261), speed of germination (20.7), dehydrogenase activity (0.68), catalase activity (3.1), peroxidase activity (10.4) and lower electrical conductivity (0.29) as compared to all other treatments. Control had recorded significantly lowest seed germination (87.0%), seedling length (20.0 cm), seedling dry weight (336.3), seedling vigour index-I (1740), seedling vigour index-II (29258), speed of germination (18.5), dehydrogenase activity (0.47), catalase activity (0.1), peroxidase activity (2.2) and higher electrical conductivity (0.59) primed for 12 hrs. The study concluded that, use of bioagents can enhance early seedling growth and vigour.