Efficacy of Hydropriming Employing Slow Hydration Followed by Soaking for Improved Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper)

Seed priming employing slow hydration viz. moist sand conditioning for 12 h and moist sand conditioning followed by soaking for various durations significantly improved vigour of the seedling as measured by root and shoot length over non - primed (control) black gram seeds (1 - month old) immediately after treatment. There was a marginal difference on germination percentage between the primed and non - primed seeds. Among the treatments, moist sand conditioning followed by soaking for 2 h and then lightly air - drying performed better results in improving germination and early seedling growth. Physiological and biochemical studies showed reduced leakage of electrolytes and sugar in the primed seeds than the non - primed ones. Similarly, primed seeds showed higher dehydrogenase enzyme activity than the non - primed (control) seeds. Among the treatment, moist sand conditioning (12h) followed by soaking for 2 h and then light air - drying have shown better results in maintaining membrane integrity (reduced leakage of electrolytes and sugar) and higher dehydrogenase enzyme activity. The results of the present experiment indicate that hydropriming employing slow hydration by moist sand conditioning and moist sand conditioning (12h) followed by soaking for 2 h and then light air - drying under ambient conditions may be practised for improved germination and early seedling growth of blackgram.