Impact of Seed-Priming Technique on Seed Germination of Three Rice Varieties

Seeds quality, essential factor for a good germination and a harmonious development of the embryos / seedlings constitutes a real constraint in agricultural environment. In fact, many farmers suffer enormous financial losses each year because of the poor quality of the seeds they use. Very often this results in low germination rates (60 to 75 p.c.). The investigations carried out have shown that, in fact, the germination capacity of seeds depends on many parameters grouped into intrinsic factors (dormancy, permeability of the integument to water and oxygen, seed quality, etc.) and environmental (water, oxygen, temperature, light). Influences of these factors on germination differ from each other on the one hand, and differ from one variety to another. Thus, if the action of some parameters is irreversible, other such as the dormancy or ability of the seed to sprout when conditions are favorable, can be lifted, thereby improving the germination rate.

A series of experiments conducted for this purpose on three varieties of rice, consisting of a soaking of seeds in simple water (seed-priming) and in water containing phosphorus (P) provided in the form of TSP a allowed to effectively improve germination rates from 70 p.c. to 97 p.c.. These experiments have also shown that the soaking time of seeds used which causes a maximum and significant increase in germination rates depends of the rice variety. Beyond this period considered optimal, the rate drops.

Finally, these experiments have also shown to us through the high germination rates derived from nutripriming (soaking in P solution) the possibility of enriching the nutritional potential of rice seeds, thus increasing the nutritional autonomy of seedlings in environments difficult.