Seed nutripriming with magnesium to improve seedling growth and yield in wheat: Consequences for seed nutrient reserves metabolism and photochemical efficiency

Abstract

Early seedling growth is an important determinant of uniform crop stand and yield in soils of low nutrient availability. Seed nutripriming can be cost effective, non-toxic, and alternative to soil and/foliar approaches to support the early seedling growth under low or nutrient deficient soil condition. The present study evaluated responses of seed nutripriming with magnesium (Mg) on the germination and seedling growth, photochemical efficiency, and yield of wheat under Mg deficient condition. Wheat seed of cv. Fsd-2008 were soaked in 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg L−1of MgSO4.7H2O. Untreated dry seed and water soaked hydropriming were taken as controls. Data on seed metabolic reserves, seedling growth, photochemical efficiency and yield were determined following standard procedures. Among treatments, higher α- amylase activity, total soluble and reducing sugars were measured in seed nutriprimed with 150 mg L−1 MgSO4.7H2O compared to control. These increases in seed biochemical attributes consequently improved final emergence and seedling growth in wheat. Seed nutripriming with Mg increased the photochemical efficiency and maintained chlorophyll contents during grain filling period. Seed nutripriming with 150 mg L−1 also showed higher grain numbers per spike and seed yield per plant. These increases in seedling growth due to nutripriming were associated with an increase in seed α- amylase activity which enhanced mobilization of reserves sugars towards growing embryo. Improved wheat yield by nutripriming was attributed to an increase in photochemical efficiency and stay green trait in wheat plants during grain filling. In crux, seed nutripriming with Mg can be a potential application to enhance crop performance under abiotic stress including soil limited in Mg deficiency.