The effect of concentration and duration of seed priming with zinc on germination and seedling growth of maize

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Field and Horticultural Crops Science Research Department, Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Sanandaj, Iran.

10.22126/cbb.2026.13448.1129

Abstract

Introduction: Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the vital cereal in the world, providing essential calories, minerals and vitamins to millions. Despite significant investments in developing high-yielding varieties and hybrids, maize yields remain suboptimal because of various production constraints. One of the problems of producing cereals, such as corn hybrid, is unequal and poor germination and seedling establishment. Seed priming is an effective method for improving seed germination and seedling growth in crops and corns, being considered straightforward, cost-effective, and efficient. But the disappearance of positive priming effects and decrease of seed longevity during storage may limit its application. The present experiment was conducted with the aim of nutrient seed priming and priming duration on the germination and growth parameters of corn as supplementary nutrition methods.
Materials and methods: The current experiment was carried out through laboratory and glasshouse conditions during 2022 at PARS Agro Industry CO, Ardabil, Iran. The experiment was carried as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Five concentrations of Zn; 0 (control), 50, 80, 100 and 150 mM and three priming durations; 8 h, 12 h and 24 h were used for the laboratory experiment whilst the 150 mM concentration and 8 h duration were excluded in the glasshouse experiment.
Results: Analysis of variance of laboratory data showed that germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), germination index (GI), vigor index (VI) and seedling dry weight (DW) were significantly affected by Zn priming. Seed priming duration and Zn × priming duration interaction was also significant on all traits. The highest germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), germination index (GI), vigor index (VI) and seedling dry weight (DW) were obtained from 100 mM Zn and 24 h duration-priming seeds, which were significantly higher than control. The results of the glasshouse experiment showed that seed priming had significant (P < 0.01) effects on plant fresh weight (PFW), plant dry weight (PDW), plant diameter (PD), plant height (PH), chlorophyll content index (CCI) and root length (RL). Seed priming duration had significant (P < 0.01) effects on plant dry weight and plant diameter. These parameters were improved by priming at 100 mM of the Zn for longer (24 h) time.
Conclusion: This suggests that with optimum Zn concentration level and appropriate priming duration can improve germination and seedling growth and hence maximization of the growth parameters. The result should be extended to a wider range of corn varieties under suitable management of Zn fertilizer and priming duration.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Cereal Biotechnology and Biochemistry
Volume 4, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
September 2025
Pages 398-417

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