Evaluation of seed vigour enhancement techniques on physiological and biochemical basis in coarse rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Impact of pre-sowing seed treatments on the germination and seedling vigour of rice was evaluated through investigating the biochemical changes following seed invigoration by analyzing the sugars and α-amylase activity. The seeds were invigorated by traditional soaking, osmoconditioning (-1.1 MPa KNO3) for 24 or 48 h and hardenening for 18 or 24 h. All the invigoration treatments significantly affected the germination rate and spread, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots, shoot length, total, reducing and nonreducing sugars and α-amylase activity. Seed hardening for 24 h and traditional soaking performed the best as indicated by reduced germination time and increased germination rate, shoot dry weight and non-reducing sugars. In addition αamylase activity and total and reducing increased. Osmoconditioning failed to improve the seedling vigour.