Effects of Hydro-Priming Duration on Seedling Vigour and Grain Yield of Pinto Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Cultivars

Abstract

Seeds of pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars (Talash, COS16 and Khomain) were divided into four sub-samples, one of which was kept as control (non-primed, P1) and three other samples were soaked in distilled water at 20oC for 7 (P2), 14 (P3) and 21 (P4) hours and then dried back to initial moisture content. In the laboratory, the lowest mean germination time and the highest germination percentage and seedling dry weight were achieved with P2, which was not significantly different from P3. Mean time of seed germination for Khomain was significantly higher than that for Talash and COS16. In the field, 1000 grain weight of Khomain was significantly higher than that of other cultivars, but mean grains/plant, grains/m2, grain yield/plant and grain yield/m2 of COS16 and Talash were significantly higher than those of Khomain. Therefore, grains/plant was the most important yield component affecting grain yield of pinto bean cultivars. Hydro-priming for 7 and 14 hours resulted in lower mean emergence time and higher seedling emergence percentage, grains/m2 and grain yield/m2, compared with P1 and P4. Grains/plant, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant were not significantly affected by hydro-priming. However, hydro-priming for 7 and 14 hours improved grain yield per unit area indirectly through enhancing seedling establishment and grains/m2. Extended priming duration negatively affected laboratory and field performance of pinto bean cultivars.