The effect of chemical and biological priming on seed yield and yield components of fava bean plants (Vicia faba L.)

In order to evaluate the effect of chemical priming and inoculation with strains of Pseudomonas bacteria on fava bean yield and yield components, a randomized block design field experiment with three replication was conducted in research station of Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Guilan province, Rasht during 2014-2015. Experimental factors included different strains of Pseudomonas flouresens bacteria (41, 169, 187 and control) and different levels of chemical priming (urea solution and Zinc sulfate solution as well as tap water). The results showed that the interaction effect of chemical and biological priming was significant for pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, green pod yield and yield and protein of grains. In this experiment the highest seed yield and green pod yield were obtained under no inoculation and priming with urea solution. Also, the effect of priming and bacteria inoculation on grain protein content was significant. However, bacteria inoculation showed significant effect only on seed phosphorous content so that, the greatest seed phosphorous contents was obtained under inoculation with strain 187 of bacteria. In general, the results of this research showed that low cast priming technique with urea solution enhanced seed yield of fava beans under field condition. Thus, urea priming technique can be recommended for seed yield improvement in fava beans grown in Guilan paddy fields.