Effect of Seed Invigoration Techniques on Germination and Seedling Growth of Chinese Sweet Sorghum

 To assess the comparative efficacy of different priming techniques on the germination and growth of Chinese sweet sorghum, a laboratory trial was conducted at Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during 2013. The experiment was laid in completely randomized design (CRD) and was replicated thrice. The treatments included control treatment (T1) with no seed priming, seed priming with 1% KNO3 for 12 hours (T2), seed priming with 1% CaCl2 for 12 hours (T3), seed priming with 5% moringa leaf extract for 12 hours (T4), 10% moringa leaf extract for 12 hours (T5) and 15% moringa leaf extract for 12 hours (T6) and hydro-priming with distilled water for 12 hours (T7). The results showed that seed priming with 5% moringa leaf extract for 12 hours (T4) was the best seed priming technique as it gave the maximum final germination percentage and the minimum time for 50% germination as well as mean emergence time. This treatment also gave significantly the highest number of roots and leaves along with root and shoots length. Thus seed priming with 5% moringa leaf extract has the potential to give the highest germination as well as seedling growth and development.