Effect of Hyropriming Duration on Seed Quality of Two Okra Landraces (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench).

Abstract

A study was carried out to examine the effects of hydropriming duration on quality of seeds of two okra landraces ('Ikeregi' and 'Bokungi') at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. Seeds of two landraces were subjected to four hydropriming duration in hours (6, 12, 18 and 24 hours). The control did not receive any priming. Primed seeds of the two landraces were air-dried in the laboratory at room temperature (27C) packaged in polythene envelopes and stored in a growth chamber at 30C and about 70% Relative humidity to accelerate ageing for 18 weeks. Seed samples were drawn at tested for germination before storage at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 weeks of storage. Prior to storage and up to 4 weeks after storage (WAS) germination was significantly promoted in seeds of the two landraces that received 12 hours priming than in all other priming durations and control. Seed viability declined from about 90 to 75% as storage period increased beyond 4 WAS in the primed seed lots irrespective of priming duration in both landraces. In contrast to observation in the primed seeds, germination of the un primed seed lots improved significantly over the primed seeds with storage beyond 4 WAS. The superiority was maintained up to the end of storage. Generally, rapid germination was best with seeds primed for 12 hours and longevity was best maintained with un primed seed lots in both landraces.