Seed hydro-priming, a simple way for improving mung-bean performance under water stress

Abstract

Seedling establishment and ground cover can strongly influence grain yield of crops. Thus, a split-plot experiment based on RCB design with three replications was conducted in 2013, in order to evaluate the effects of water supply (I1, I2, I3 and I4: irrigation after 70, 100, 130 and 160 mm evaporation from class A pan, respectively) and hydro-priming duration (P1, P2 and P3: 0, 8 and 16 h, respectively) on field performance of mung-bean (Vigna radiata L.). Hydro-priming of seeds for 16 h resulted in the highest seedling emergence in the field, compared with control and priming duration of 8 h. Seedlings from hydro-primed seeds also emerged earlier than those from unprimed seeds, with no significant difference between priming durations. Increasing water limitation reduced ground cover and plant biomass, leading to yield loss of mung-bean. However, these traits were improved as a result of hydro-priming, particularly hydro-priming for 16 h. Biological yield and percentage ground cover had the highest positive correlations with grain yield per unit area, indicating the importance of ground cover and plant biomass in determining final grain yield of mung-bean.