Author(s):

Sachin CA Byatnalli, Mahalingappa M Dhanoji and MK Meena

Abstract: A field trial was carried out to know the effect of pre-sowing seed hardening on growth and yield of maize. Maize seeds were subjected to seed hardening with nutrients viz., CaCl₂ (2%) KH₂PO₄ (1.0%) KCl (2.0%) KNO₃ (1.0%) ZnSO₄ (0.5%) and with Plant growth regulators hardening viz _: Cycocel (1000 ppm) GA₃ (100 ppm) Ascorbic acid (20 ppm) PEG 6000 (10%) and hydro hardening and their effect was compared with non primed seeds as control. Among the treatments, significantly higher grain yield was recorded in seeds hardened with CaCl₂ @ 2.0 percent followed by ZnSO₄ 0.5 percent and cycocel 1000 ppm over control. The increase in grain yield may be attributed to improvement in the sink capacity and was evident from improved yield traits viz., cob length, cob diameter, 1000 seed weight seeds weight per plant which were largely influenced by source and was expressed interms of increased growth parameters viz., leaf area and dry matter production and its partition into reproductive parts. Interestingly more positive effect of Ca on plant growth and development was evident when supplied through hardening process. The positive improvement in yield and growth of the crop may be attributed to CaCl₂, where in, Ca in the form of calcium pectate, act as a cementing agent for adhering cell walls of plants and regulates new tissue formation viz; root tips, young leaves, and shoot tips avoids distorted growth from improper cell wall formation. Further, Calcium ion (Ca²⁺) second messenger regulates cell cycle and gene expression which is crucial for plant growth and development particularly so against stresses.

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