Micronutrient seed priming improves stand establishment, grain yield and biofortification of bread wheat

Agronomic biofortification by seed treatments is a convenient way to harvest improved yields of micronutrient-enriched grains. This 2-year field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of seed priming with zinc (Zn), boron (B) and manganese (Mn) alone and in combinations on stand establishment, grain yield and biofortification of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Seeds of wheat cv. Faisalabad-2008 were soaked in aerated solutions of 0.5 m Zn, 0.01 m B and 0.1 m Mn, alone and in different combinations, for 12 h. Seed priming with the micronutrients was quite effective in improving stand establishment, yield-contributing traits, grain yield, and straw and grain micronutrient contents during both years. Best stand establishment was achieved from seed priming with Zn+B, followed by seed priming with Zn+Mn. Grain yield improvement from different seed priming treatments was in the order Zn+B > Zn+Mn > Zn > B > Mn > Zn+B+Mn, with respective increases of 34%, 33%, 21%, 19%, 18% and 8% relative to untreated seeds. Seed priming with Zn, B and Mn alone and in combinations also improved the contents of the respective micronutrients in straw and grain. All seed priming treatments were economically profitable except Zn+B+Mn, which was not cost-effective. The highest benefit: cost ratio accrued from seed priming with Zn+B. In conclusion, seed priming with micronutrients was generally cost-effective in meeting the crop micronutrient requirements, and in improving crop stand, grain yield and grain micronutrient contents in bread wheat. Seed priming with Zn+B was the most effective in this regard.