Influence of Priming on Seed Quality and Seed Health in Sorghum

Aims: To achieve sustainable agriculture, it is essential to conduct ongoing research aimed at reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers. This study investigates the effectiveness of seed priming, either alone or in combination with low doses of fungicides and/or biocontrol agents, to enhance seed quality and to reduce seed infection by improving the rate and uniformity of seed emergence and overcoming diseases. Study Design: Completely randomized design. Place and Duration of Study: Seed Unit, UAS, Raichur, from March 2022 to September 2022. Methodology: Sorghum seeds were surface sterilized with sodium hypochlorite (1 %) for five minutes and then washed thrice with sterile water. Later the seeds were primed with Trichoderma hamatum, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Paenibacillus polymyxa, Carboxin 37.5 % + thiram 37.5 % (vitavax power), Trichoderma harzianum, Azospirillium and control with the seed to solution ratio of 1:5 for eight hours and then the primed seeds were dried back to original moisture content (24 hrs.) and then used to assess the seed quality parameters. Results: Seed priming with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens resulted in statistically significant improvements in seed germination (95.0%), shoot length (16.9 cm), root length (16.6 cm), seedling length (33.5 cm), speed of germination (20.1), seedling dry weight (339.3 mg), seedling vigour index-I (3183), seedling vigour index-II (32234), lower electrical conductivity (0.35 dS/m) and reduced seed infection (0.6%). In contrast, the control group exhibited significantly lower seed germination (83.0%), shoot length (12.6 cm), root length (11.1 cm), seedling length (23.7 cm), speed of germination (15.2), seedling dry weight (333.2 mg), seedling vigour index-I (1967), seedling vigour index-II (27656), higher electrical conductivity (0.65 dS/m) and increased seed infection (6.8%). Conclusion: Sorghum seeds primed with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens increases the seed quality parameters and reduces seed infection, supporting its use as an effective strategy for enhancing seed performance and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.