Author(s):

Jagadish Hosamani, VK Pandita and BS Tomar

Abstract: Rapid and uniform seedling emergence is a pre-requisite to better stand establishment and subsequent plant growth and yield in vegetable crops. One of the major problems of okra growers is difficulty in obtaining proper seedling emergence under low temperature. Since environmental factors often cannot be controlled, modification of the seed by either biological, chemical, or physiological techniques should be evaluated to improve the vigour of the seedling and uniformity of stand. Solid matrix seed priming was performed by mixing seed with moist vermiculite for 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 and 48 h incubation at 20 and 25 °C. Based on seed germination, speed of germination and seedling vigour parameters, SMP for 24 h duration at 20 °C was optimum for improving seed quality in okra cv. Pusa A-4. Solid matrix priming followed by coating with Trichoderma viridae has improved laboratory germination by 8.3% over unprimed seeds. Coating seeds with bio-agents like Trichoderma viridae and T. harzianum after SMP significantly improved speed of germination and seedling vigour. Solid matrix priming followed by coating of Trichoderma viridae has improved field emergence of okra seeds by 33% over unprimed control. Field emergence index and 25 days old seedling growth and vigour was significantly higher in solid matrix primed seeds coated with bio-agents. The results indicated that solid matrix priming along with coating of bio-agents like Trichoderma viridae and T. harzianum improves field emergence and seedling growth in okra. Solid matrix priming can be effectively employed to prime large amount of okra seed at one time. It is also cost effective as the medium can be re-used many times.

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