Rice seed invigoration by hormonal and vitamin priming

The present study was designed to investigate the possibility of seed invigoration by seed priming with plant growth regulators (hormonal priming) and ascorbate (vitamin priming) in coarse and fine rice (Oryza sativa L.). Rice seeds were primed by soaking in aerated solutions of either ascorbate (vitamin priming) or salicylic acid (hormonal priming) at concentrations of 10 and 20 ppm for 48 h. Both rice types responded similarly to different hormonal and vitamin priming treatments. All the priming treatments resulted in vigour enhancement compared with control. However, the earliest and most uniform germination and emergence was observed in seeds primed with 10 ppm ascorbic acid as indicated by lesser time to start germination, MGT and T₅₀ and higher GI, GE, FGP, FEP, radicle and plumule length and seedling fresh and dry weights.