Seed Treatments to Improve Field Emergence of Soybean Seed.

Abstract

This study was conducted at Seed Technology Research Unit in Mansoura, Seed Technology Research Department and Tag El-Eiz Experiment Station, ARC, Egypt during 2014 and 2015 yearsto improve seed quality and field emergence of soybean (c.v Giza 111) lots (new and old) through some seed treatment methods i.e.magnetic field(0, 30, 60 and 90 mT), seed priming in ascorbic acid (0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm) and magnetic-priming (magnetic field + seed priming). The main results could be summarized as follows that expose soybean seed to magnetic field up to 90 mT increased seed vigor (normal seedling, germination rate and field emergence), seedling vigor (shoot and radical lengths and seedlings dry weight), enzyme activity (ascorbateperoxidase and catalase) and reversed abnormal seedling andungerminated seed. Seed priming with ascorbic acid significantly increased all studied traits, except abnormal seedlings and radical length. Seed priming in ascorbic acid (150ppm) recorded the highest means of germination % under laboratory and field emergence, shoot length and catalase activity comparing dry seed. Treating soybean seed by magnetic-priming method significantly affected all studied traits. Magnetic-priming treatments (60mT+150ppm ascorbic acid) and (90mT+150ppmascorbic acid) recorded the highest means of seed germination, seedling vigor and field emergence for new and old seed respectively. Generally, it could be improve of seed quality under laboratory and field emergence of soybean (c.v Giza 111) of old seed(one year stored) and get germination % under laboratory and field conditions above the level of acceptance certified seed (75%) by treating seed with magnetic-priming treatment (magnetic field 90mT+ priming inascorbic acidat the rate of 150ppm).