Effect of Seed Priming with Zinc on Seed Germination Characteristics, and Morphological Characters, and Mineral Content of Rice Tissues of Hashemi Rice Cultivar

Nutripriming of rice seeds with micronutrient (Zn) is considered to have the potential of optimizing Zn application, faster germination, uniform seedlings’ growth, better establishment of transplanted rice seedlings. The current experiments were designed and conducted to explore the effects of rice seeds nutripriming of with micronutrient (Zn) on macro and micronutrient content of primed seeds, morphological characteristics of rice seedlings and uptake of macro and micronutrients (N, P, K, Zn) for Hashemi rice cultivar through two laboratory and open-air pot experiments during 2021 at rice research institute of Iran. The highest increase in seed germination vigor index (2.9 times) ad reduction in germination dynamics or three germination fractions (t 10, t 50, and t 90) compared to control were recorded at nutripriming with zinc sulfate (5g. L-1) for 12 hours by about 2.28, 2.49, and 2.47 times, respectively. The maximum increase in Zn content of rice seeds (17.5 times) were observed at nutripriming with zinc sulfate (5g.L-1) for 24 hours compared to the control. Also, the highest positive, significant increase in the length of coleoptile and radicle by seed nutripriming with zinc sulfate (5g.L-1) for 6 hours compared to the control by about 25.87 and 18.67%, respectively. The maximum significant and positive increase in root wet and dry weight of rice seedlings were found at about 24.36, 20.00, 38.23, and 38% compared to the control through nutripriming of seeds with zinc sulfate (5g.L-1) for 6 hours in soils with Zn deficiency and sufficiency, respectively. The highest significant and effect on Zn content of shoot and root of rice seedlings were observed about 2.71, 2.91, 2.27, and 2.51 compared to the control through nutripriming of seeds with zinc sulfate (5g.L-1) for 6 hours in soils with Zn deficiency and sufficiency, respectively. Nutripriming of rice seeds with zinc sulfate (5g.L-1) solution for 6 hours could be an alternative solution for traditional methods of macro and micronutrients application (soil and foliar) by farmers in seed nursery.