Seed Priming Improves the Performance of Late Sown Spring Maize (Zea mays) Through Better Crop Stand and Physiological Attributes

High soil temperature and low water potential is one of major impediment of reduced and delayed germination of spring maize under delayed planting. Seed priming helps to ameliorate the seedling establishment under both normal and less than optimal conditions but very few studies available highlight maize crop establishment improvement by seed priming on physiological basis under field conditions. The present field study evaluated the effects of various seed priming techniques on stand establishment, growth, yield and various physiological attributes of spring maize under normal and late sown conditions. The hybrid maize seed soaked with hydro-priming (water), osmopriming with CaCl2 (s= -1.25 MPa), moringa leaf extract (MLE; 1:30) and salicylic acid (SA; 50 mg L-1) were grown under two sowing dates (optimum and late conditions). Hydro-priming and dry seeds without priming were taken as controls. Among priming treatments, osmopriming with CaCl2 reduced the time to 50% emergence (E50), mean emergence time (MET), enhanced number of grains per cob, biological yield and improved relative water contents with reduced cell membrane permeability including grain protein contents. Osmopriming with moringa leaf extract (MLE) improved emergence time (EI), Chl a and b contents, grain yield and harvest index (HI) including hormonal priming with SA for maximum HI. Nevertheless, hydro-primed seeds exhibited the minimum days to maturity. The present study suggests that seed osmopriming with MLE and CaCl2 are effective not only to improve seedling establishment but also yield performance of spring maize through physiological improvement under both optimal and late sown conditions Copyright 2015 Friends Science Publishers