Comparison of various seed priming methods for seed germination, seedling vigour and fruit yield in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Seed priming is a method which is potentially able to promote rapid and more uniform seed germination and plant growth. In this study the presowing effects of seed priming treatments on some physiological viz. seed germination, mean germination time, seedling vigour and vigour index and biochemical parameters viz. seed viability, electrical conductivity of seed leachates, lipid peroxidation, dehydrogenase activity, antioxidant enzymes, reserve mobilising enzymes and field performance of okra were investigated. Seeds were subjected to four seed priming methods, namely, hydropriming, osmopriming, halopriming and solid matrix (SM) priming comprising a total of 19 treatments of different priming combinations (P1-P18) along with control (P0). Hydropriming for 12 h and SM priming with calcium aluminium silicate (1:0.4:1; Seed:SM:Water) for 24 h significantly increased the seed germination, seedling vigour, mean germination time and marketable fruit yield in okra cv. Hisar Unnat. Hydropriming, being simple, economical and safe, is recommended which can be effective to increase the fruit yield up to 55% as compared to control.