Efficiency of Seed Bio-Priming Technique for Drought Management in Mungbean

Abstract

Drought stress is considered a severe treat to crop production as it adversely affects the morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular functions of plants especially in short duration crops like mungbean. Water stress during the growth phase (called terminal drought) has become a threat to mungbean productivity. To reduce stress, “biopriming” has emerged as a new agricultural and sustainable technology. Biopriming is a coating process or treatment with PGPR, which is good at hydration control and improves pre-germination preparation without the appearance of radicles. Biopriming significantly increased Mungbam yield and composition and modulated the activity of antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbic acid and all phenolics) by 8 - 12% under normal and drought conditions. Seed application will increase the germination capacity of mung bean production and the plant will eventually tolerate drought stress.