Wheat seedlings as affected by Mg(NO3)2 and ZnSO4 priming treatments

Seed is the most crucial and prime input in agriculture, and the seed must be of high quality. Seed priming is one of the reliable and cost-effective strategies to enhance seed germination and seedling establishment in crops. This study was conducted to determine the effects of seed priming with Mg(NO3)2 (S1) and ZnSO4 (S2) in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties (HUW-468 and HUW-510) on germination and seedling growth. Varied levels of Mg(NO3)2 and ZnSO4 from C0 to C11 were used for the present study and number of seed germinated, seedling establishment and biochemical parameters were recorded. From the study of germination %, mean germination time (MGT), mean germination rate (MGR), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), germination rate index (GRI) (% / day), germination index (GI), seedling vigor (SV), shoot, root and seedling length, α-amylase activity, soluble and insoluble sugar content and protein content, it was revealed that 7.5 mM of Mg(NO3)2 and 0.05 mM of ZnSO4 were the best treatments in improving seedling establishment, performance and biochemical status of wheat seed. Further, this analysis also reveals a strong correlation between the seedling establishment and the activity of -amylase and protein content.