Osmopriming and Hormonal Priming Combined Improve Germination and Seedling Growth of Rice Var. FARO44

Abstract

Osmopriming and hormonal priming have been practiced by farmers to stimulate fast germination and
seedling growth of various crop species. In this study, laboratory experiments were carried out to
examine the effect of combined osmopriming with potassium nitrate and hormonal priming with
salicylic acid to promote germination and seedling growth of FARO44 rice. In the laboratory, FARO44
rice seeds soaked in 5 % KNO3+200 mM SA and 2.5% KNO3+350 mM SA were germinated in
specimen bottles for two weeks. Each treatment was replicated five times. The results revealed that
combined osmopriming and hormonal priming with 5% KNO3+200 mM SA and 2.5% KNO3+350 mM
SA had significantly improved germination index and decreased mean germination time of FARO44
rice compared to control. However, germination percentage had not been improved substantially
compared to control. However, there were no marked differences in GI and MGT between 5%
KNO3+200 mM SA and 2.5% KNO3+350 mM SA osmoprimed and hormonal primed rice. Moreover,
the results indicated that combined osmo-hormonal priming with 5% KNO3+200 mM SA and 2.5%
KNO3+350 mM SA had increased seedling growth, seedling vigour and biomass of FARO44 rice
seedlings. However, length of plumule of FARO44 rice seedlings was not affected by these processes
compared to control.