Seed quality of sorghum (sorghum bicolor (l.) Moench) as affected by seed priming and storage

An experimental study was conducted in laboratory and glasshouse to evaluate the effect of seed priming on seed quality parameters of three sorghum varieties:(Muyra-I, Muyra-II and Fendisha) with different storage of one year and two years using different priming agents with different soaking time for each priming agent (1.0mM KNO3, 1mM NaCl and distilled water for 72, 48 and 12 hours respectively) at Haramaya University Seed laboratory. Completely randomized design in 2 x 3 x 4 factorial arrangement with three replications was used to carry out the germination and vigor tests. The priming concentrations and durations were based on previous work, which was effective in hydro and osmo-conditioning of sorghum seed. In the experiment, seed priming increased germination percentage (GP), Mean Germination Time (MGT) and improved seedling shoot (SSL) and root length (SRL), seedling dry weight (SDW) and seedling vigor indices in all varieties of both storage durations compared to their respective control. Priming with NaCl and KNO3 showed positive response followed by hydro priming for all varieties of different storage duration. When treated with sodium chloride, almost all the varieties of each storage year demonstrated an increase in germination and the degree of increment was higher for Muyra-I (89.33) and Fendisha (88.0), the lowest being for Muyra-II which was significantly lower for both storage year. In case of mean germination time Muyra-II exhibited better with hydro priming for older seeds and with KNO3 for newer seeds while Muyra-II and Muyra-I showed better with KNO3 for older seeds and with hydro priming for newer seeds. Responses of varieties for the remaining parameters were intermediate. Therefore, sorghum seed priming with Osmo-media and water can compensate storage deterioration of sorghum seeds in addition to significantly improving the seed germination and vigor quality parameters