Seed Treatment Methods Research Articles

Advancements in Seed Treatment Methods and Storage Techniques of Marigold Seeds: An Overview

Floriculture plays a pivotal role in boosting national economies by driving foreign exchange revenues. However, current productivity levels in floriculture, particularly in marigold (Tagetes spp.), are insufficient to meet the escalating global demand for ornamental flowers. Marigold, being one of the most commercially significant crops in this sector, requires improved seed quality to achieve optimal performance and higher yields. Major constraints, such as the limited availability of high-quality seeds, and the rapid decline in seed viability during storage, continue to hamper productivity. Additionally, conventional seed treatment practices and storage methods often fail to sustain seed vigour and germination rates over extended periods. This review offers an in-depth analysis of the latest advancements in seed treatment technologies and storage practices to enhance germination, disease resistance, and seedling establishment. By integrating the insights from seed treatments and post-harvest storage of seeds, this review paper addresses key challenges faced by the floriculture industry and aligns with the growing global demand for high-quality floral crops.

Application of Some Physical Seed Treatment Methods to Increase Germination of the Genus Catalpa Scop.

To increase the production volume of planting material for ornamental plants in the conditions of Central Kazakhstan, the selection of pre-sowing treatment methods for seed material becomes relevant. The use of safe and effective germination activators accelerates the biological processes of plant growth. The aim of the research was to study the impact of physical methods on the germination of Catalpa speciosa seeds as relatively safe methods of seed material activation. The seed treatment was carried out in three ways: the effect of laser irradiation, magnetic fields for 24, 72 hours, and twenty-four-hour aeration. A different response of seedlings to physical factors of influence was noted. The effect of the magnetic field allowed to increase germination by an average of 10 % compared to the control group. The impact of laser irradiation for 1‒4 minutes on the growth of Catalpa speciosa seedlings was less significant. Aeration had a positive effect on the energy of seed germination. Thus, to increase the germination of seedlings during early sowings of Catalpa speciosa seeds, it is promising to use the influence of the magnetic field and aeration.

Effect of Cold Plasma Seed Treatment on Physiological and Biochemical Changes in Aged Mustard Seed Variety-RH0749

The low rate of seed germination is a major problem in modern agriculture. Cold-activated air plasma has been tested as a pre-treatment method to improve the rate and uniformity of the germination. In view of the widespread cultivation of mustard in India and other parts of the world, This study was conducted to determine alternative non-destructive seed treatment method based on cold plasma chemistry would offer a more viable alternative over traditional seed coating technologies Seed physiological characteristics as was modified in aged low vigour mustard seeds by coating the surface of the seeds with cold plasma process using a rotating plasma reactor during 2023-24 at CCS HAU, College of Agriculture Bawal. The source of atmospheric oxygen gas, nitrogen and heliun gas entering the plasma chamber during the reaction process determined the type of coating. Among the different treatments imposed, seed treatment with 300V at 10 Min significantly enhanced seed quality attributes viz., germination ( 92 %), root length ( 4.37 cm), shoot length ( 6.98 cm), mean seedling length (11.0 cm ), Seedling dry weight (2.67 mg) and SVI-I (1115), SVI-II (254), TDH (0.78 A480 nm) with lower electrical conductivity (14.20 dsm-1). The inhibitory effect noticed with a higher dose of plasma of 400v at 10 min suggested the need for judicious usage of these plasma frequencies in such applications. The first-ever report on the effect of new plasma state on seed germination and establishment of mustard revealed the positive influence that could be used as a seed treatment to enhance seed yield and quality.

EDUKASI PENANGANAN BENIH CABAI KATOKKON PADA KELOMPOK WANITA TANI LEMBANG SANDANA, TANA TORAJA

The katokkon chili plant (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) is a crop commodity that has high economic value. This type of chili is suitable for planting in high-altitude areas such as the Tanah Toraja region. However, its productivity is still low compared to its production potential, which can reach tens of tons/ha. The low level of knowledge and skills of chili farmers is one of the problems in increasing the productivity of katokkon chilies. The service aims to educate katokkong chili farmers in Lembang Sandana on good seed treatment. The methods used are outreach activities, education, and training on how to treat katokkong chili seeds and make appropriate chili seedling media. Pre- and post-tests were carried out to measure the level of success in implementing activities. Socialization carried out with target partners and collaboration resulted in collaborative support by the head of the Lembang and target partners for implementing kosabangsa. The results of education and training show that 94% of target partners have understood and implemented seed treatment methods such as using growth regulators, soaking in warm water (hot water treatment) and sowing seeds in rockwool media, as well as making growing media using a ratio of buffalo manure. , top soil and husk (1:2:1, v/v) appropriately. The education carried out by the kosabangsa service team has increased the level of knowledge and skills of farmers regarding how to treat katokkon seeds properly

Effect of Pre-treatments on Germination of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. for Developing Field Gene-Banks in Eastern India

Aims: Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. is an important timber species with high medicinal properties belonging to the Fabaceae family. The species is severely threatened by anthropogenic and ecological pressures coupled with less natural regeneration. No results in vegetative propagation methods and very less germination is reported for the species under nursery conditions. This study investigates the germination potential of P. marsupium seeds under the prevailing climatic conditions of regions in eastern India. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the ICFRE - Institute of Forest Productivity (IFP), Lalgutwa, Ranchi, during the 24th to the 32nd Meteorological Standard Week (MSW) of 2022, spanning from June to August. Methodology: Seeds were collected from three CPTs selected from natural forests of Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal and the experiment was carried out following split plot design. Observations on several germination parameters and seed vigour indices were recorded until eight weeks after sowing and subjected to factor multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) in SPSS 25.0. Results: The experiment revealed that alternate wetting and drying of seeds significantly (P <. 001) outperformed all other treatments with a highest germination percentage of 60±1.196%. Accessions from Jharkhand and West Bengal exhibited significantly (P < .001) better vigour indices (1959.8, 1855.35 for SVI-I and 538.715, 527.742 for SVI-II, respectively) compared to the accession from Bihar (1796.49 and 532.618 for SVI-I and SVI-II). Although the study did not find any significant interaction between the treatments and accession, there was a statistically significant impact on the aggregate dependent variables (F (126,503.279) = 1.579, P <. 001; Wilks' Λ = .077). Conclusion: The results of this study report an economically feasible and rapid seed treatment method for establishing field gene banks of P. marsupium in eastern India to aid its ex-situ conservation practices.

Seed priming: An overview of techniques, mechanisms, and applications

Seed priming is a pre-sowing seed treatment method that has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential to improve seed germination and early seedling growth. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of seed priming techniques, their underlying mechanisms, and diverse applications in crop production during the recent years. The article introduces the concept of seed priming and its importance in optimizing seed performance, discussing various seed priming techniques including osmotic priming, hydro-priming, hormonal priming, and microbial priming. Each technique is described in detail, outlining the specific procedures and conditions involved, and their advantages and limitations are discussed. The underlying mechanisms of seed priming are explored, elucidating the biochemical, physiological, and molecular changes that occur during seed priming, and the interactions between priming substances and seeds. The article also provides an in-depth analysis of the applications of seed priming, discussing its positive effects on seed germination, seedling vigour, stress tolerance, and its potential for sustainable agriculture. This review article serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scientists and faculties working in the field of seed technological research and progressive farmers who can adopt this technology for enhancing crop yield. This article provides insights into the techniques, mechanisms, and applications of seed priming for optimizing seed performance and enhancing crop productivity in diverse agricultural systems.

CeO2NP priming enhances the seed vigor of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) under salt stress.

Soil salinization is a common environmental problem that seriously threatens crop yield and food security, especially through its impact on seed germination. Nanoparticle priming, an emerging seed treatment method, is receiving increasing attention in improving crop yield and stress resistance. This study used alfalfa seeds as materials to explore the potential benefits of cerium oxide nanoparticle (CeO2NP) priming to promote seed germination and improve salt tolerance. CeO2NPs at concentrations up to 500 mg/L were able to significantly alleviate salt stress in alfalfa seeds (200 mM), with 50 mg/L of CeO2NP having the best effect, significantly (P< 0.05) increasing germination potential (from 4.0% to 51.3%), germination rate (from 10.0% to 62.7%), root length (from 8.3cm to 23.1cm), and seedling length (from 9.8cm to 13.7cm). Priming treatment significantly (P< 0.05) increased seed water absorption by removing seed hardness and also reducing abscisic acid and jasmonic acid contents to relieve seed dormancy. CeO2NP priming increased α-amylase activity and osmoregulatory substance level, decreased reactive oxygen species and malonaldehyde contents and relative conductivity, and increased catalase enzyme activity. Seed priming regulated carotenoid, zeatin, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways, among other metabolic pathways, while CeO2NP priming additionally promoted the enrichment of α-linolenic acid and diterpenoid hormone metabolic pathways under salt stress. In addition, CeO2NPs enhanced α-amylase activity (by 6.55%) in vitro. The optimal tested concentration (50 mg/L) of CeO2NPs was able to improve the seed vigor, enhance the activity of α-amylase, regulate the osmotic level and endogenous hormone levels, and improve the salt tolerance of alfalfa seeds. This study demonstrates the efficacy of a simple seed treatment strategy that can improve crop stress resistance, which is of great importance for reducing agricultural costs and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Effective Treatments for the Successful Establishment of Milkweed (Calotropis procera L.) under Water Deficit

The application of superabsorbents to soils and seed coatings is a pre-sowing seed treatment method that is commonly used to improve early vigor and establish stability and uniformity under water deficit conditions. To evaluate the interaction of seed coating and superabsorbent on Calotropisprocera L. (milkweed) under water deficit conditions, a greenhouse experiment was conducted. The experiment was conducted with four coating material levels (non-coated seeds and seeds coated with peat moss, vermicompost, and canola residue), four growth medium levels (soil, sand + soil, soil + 2 g superabsorbent, and soil + 4 g superabsorbent), and three field capacity regimes (25, 50%, and 100%) in a completely randomized design factorial arrangement with four replications. Reducing the field capacity from 100 to 25% led to decreased growth (shoot and root dry weights and leaf area) and chlorophyll content. The activities of SOD, CAT, APX antioxidant enzymes, and proline increased under drought stress. The use of superabsorbent polymers in growth media enhanced growth indices and chlorophyll content and decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and proline under water deficit conditions. The highest chlorophyll and growth indices were observed when 4 g of superabsorbent was added to the growth medium under drought stress. The application of 4 g of superabsorbent to the growth medium reduced the activity of antioxidant enzymes and proline. The use of seed coatings improved the growth indices, antioxidant enzyme activity, and chlorophyll content under drought stress. The most adaptive morphological and physiological responses to water stress were observed in the vermicompost-coated seeds. The vermicompost coating containing a superabsorbent polymer (4 g/kg soil) proved to be the best for establishing milkweed under mild (50% FC) and severe water deficits (25% FC).

In silico and in vitro Assessment of Indigenous Organic Practices on Germination and Seedling Metrics of Compact Cotton using GerminaR R Software Package

Background: Cotton crop is sensitive in its young stages i.e. stand establishment. Cotton seeds are fuzzy and messy in handling and field sowing. Delinting is a necessary process done commonly using acids and are comprehensively not protective. Optimal plant population, growth and persistence are strongly influenced by germination and establishment. In line with this, it is necessary and needful of an hour to find an alternative, eco-friendly, ecologically safe and low cost seed treatment method. Methods: The experiment was conducted in two methods viz., a petridish method and roll-towel method with seed treatment methods viz., cowdung and red earth mix treated with and without biofertilizer and compared with acid-delinted and fuzzy seeds. The germino-metrics were determined using GerminaR package, an interactive web application and statistical analysis was performed using R software package v. 4.2.1. Result: The summative effect of seed treatment with fresh cow dung, red earth and biofertilizer (Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria) per kg of seeds at respective quantities (0.5:0.25:0.12) recorded significantly maximal germination indices and seedling growth determinants. This present study would be a complementary to comprehensively promote the use of indigenously available natural materials as an alternative to acids in cotton seed delinting.

Evaluation of the impact of Gleditsia triacanthos seed treatment methods on reproduction

Representatives of the genus Gleditsia, valuable trees for agroforestry in the south-east of the European part of Russia, form productive forest strips. In regions with difficult soil and climatic conditions, good plant development at the initial stage is important. The introduced species Gleditsia triacanthos has characterized by a high degree of drought resistance and stable fruiting. The main source material for reproduction is seeds, but the structural features of the seed coat affect the germination and development of Gleditsia seedlings. The aim was to assess the impact of processing methods on the dormancy of seeds with a hard shell and the growth of seedlings. Under laboratory conditions at the Federal Scientific Center of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the period from November 17 to December 1, 2022, an experiment was conducted to study the effect of methods of treatment of seeds of Gleditsia triacantha (2022 year of fruit harvest) . It has been established that the chemical method (H2SO4 concentration 95.72%, density 1.895 g/cm3, 1757 g/l) is more effective, because swelling (after 24 h-96%) and the appearance of hypocotyl (after 72 h–39.7%) in seeds and other phases of seedling formation of Gleditsia triacanthos. The recommended methods of seed pretreatment ensured mass sprouts (76-78% on day 7) and increased the yield of seedlings (55.0-61.5%). Research findings contribute to the search for techniques and methods for the development of low-carbon production technologies.

Alternative Seed Treatment Methods for Control of Septoria petroselini on Parsley Seed

Septoria leaf blight caused by the fungus Septoria petroselini is one of the major and important diseases in parsley occurring in many countries. The use of high quality seeds is one of the conditions for an efficient crop production. As the fungus is a seedborne, use of clean and certified seeds is important for disease control especially for use in organic farming. Resistance inducers, commercially formulated and non-formulated selected bacterial strains were applied as seed treatments on naturally infested seeds and were tested under controlled and field conditions. Most of these treatments had positive effect on seed germination. Among the seven resistance inducers tested in greenhouse experiments, Jasmonic acid had the best result and increased seed germination by 25.6%. All the three commercial products and the experimental strain Bacillus subtilis K3 increased the number of plants, the yield and decreased the disease incident significantly in field experiments. The experimental bacteria reduced Septoria infection by 70% and increased the yield by 24%. Results indicate that several options for non-chemical control of this pathogen exist and can be recommended for better quality and quantity of the parsley crop production.

Endophytic Colonization by Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae in Maize Plants Affects the Fitness of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Noctuidae; Lepidoptera), is a serious threat to food security as it has the potential to feed on over 353 plant species. To control this insect pest, endophytic colonization of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in plants is being considered as a safer and more effective alternative. This study evaluated the efficacy of two EPFs, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, for endophytic colonization using foliar spray and seed treatment methods on maize plants, and their impact on the survival, development, and fecundity of S. frugiperda. Both EPF effectively colonized the maize plants with foliar spray and seed treatment methods, resulting in 72-80% and 50-60% colonization rates, respectively, 14 days after inoculation. The EPF negatively impacted the development and fecundity of S. frugiperda. Larvae feeding on EPF-inoculated leaves had slower development (21.21 d for M. anisopliae and 20.64 d for B. bassiana) than the control treatment (20.27 d). The fecundity rate was also significantly reduced to 260.0-290.1 eggs/female with both EPF applications compared with the control treatment (435.6 eggs/female). Age-stage-specific parameters showed lower fecundity, life expectancy, and survival of S. frugiperda when they fed on both EPF-inoculated leaves compared with untreated leaves. Furthermore, both EPFs had a significant effect on population parameters such as intrinsic (r = 0.127 d-1 for B. bassiana, and r = 0.125 d-1 for M. anisopliae) and finite rate (λ = 1.135 d-1 for B. bassiana, and λ = 1.1333 d-1 for M. anisopliae) of S. frugiperda compared with the control (r = 0.133 d-1 and λ = 1.146 d-1). These findings suggest that EPF can be effectively used for the endophytic colonization of maize plants to control S. frugiperda. Therefore, these EPFs should be integrated into pest management programs for this pest.

Emmer wheat productivity formation depending on pre-sowing seed treatment method in organic and traditional technology cultivation

Determination of chlorophyll and carotenoid content is an important way of obtaining information about the plant's photosynthetic activity as well as an indirect method of assessing the productivity of plant crops, particularly grain crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of chlorophyll and carotenoid in the productivity formation of emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum (Schrank.) Schuebl) grown under the traditional and organic farming systems and the different pre-sowing seed treatment methods. The base indicators of the photosynthetic apparatus (chlorophyll and carotenoid content, ratio of photosynthetic pigments) were evaluated in the emmer wheat plants as a function of the cultivation technology and pre-sowing seed treatment. The cultivation of the emmer wheat under organic technology was carried out in crop rotation: winter rye – mustard – T. dicoccum wheat. The pre-sowing seed treatment in the traditional technology of emmer wheat cultivation was carried out only by the UV-C irradiation. In the organic technology, both UV-C irradiation and treatment with humic preparation of natural origin “1r Seed Treatment” were used. The content of chlorophyll a (by 9.2%) and chlorophyll b (by 14.5%) increased in the emmer wheat plants under the organic technology cultivation compared to the traditional technology, but with the same method of seed treatment (UV-C irradiation). As a result, the yield increase was 21.0%. The application of the “1r Seed Treatment” humic preparation in the pre-sowing seed treatment led to the increase in yield by ~ 8.0% compared to the plots with UV-C irradiation seeds treatment under organic farming cultivation. An inverse correlation between the ratio of chlorophyll a/ chlorophyll b and the crop yield has been established. The evaluation of economic indicators of the emmer wheat cultivation in the rotation: winter rye-mustard-emmer wheat under organic farming technology, proved its high profitability. So, the photosynthetic pigments’ content and their ratio can be used as the indicators of the efficiency of the introduced elements of agrotechnologies and for predicting future yields.

Design of Non-Thermal Plasma Alfalfa Seed Vigor Enhancement Device and Study of Treatment Effect

Highlights An effective seed treatment method is provided. Three generations of field growth trials were conducted. We Investigated the effects of low-temperature plasma treatment on the biological characters and yield components. Abstract. An atmospheric pressure, low-temperature dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma seed treatment device was developed for plasma seed treatment. The device worked continuously on alfalfa seeds and evenly distributed the seeds in a plasma discharge range. The processing time, voltage amplitude, and frequency were adjustable. The device was used to study the effect of DBD plasma treatment at different voltages and times on alfalfa seed germination using untreated alfalfa seeds as the control (CK). The results showed that the DBD plasma treatment of alfalfa seeds promoted seed germination and seedling growth, and the optimal discharge conditions were a discharge voltage of 11 kV and a discharge time of 40 s. Compared with CK, the germination potential and germination rate increased by 12.49% and 18.08%, respectively. After treatment using the optimal discharge time, the germination potential, germination rate, dry weight, and seedling height increased by 9.9%, 16.1%, 15%, and 32.9%, respectively, compared with CK. The Scanning Electron Microscope images of the seed epidermis treated with 11 kV and 40 s plasma showed that the surface of alfalfa seeds was etched. Different doses of discharge radiation had different effects on physiological processes in seeds, and their sensitivity to plasma discharge was different. In a certain range, the germination rate, germination potential, fresh weight, dry weight, root length, and seedling height of alfalfa seeds improved to different degrees under different discharge voltages and times. Plasma has a good application prospect for improving the growth of alfalfa seeds. Keywords: Alfalfa, Dielectric barrier discharge plasma, Germination, Seed treatment device, Seedling growth.

Evaluating the Alignment and Quality of Microgreens Training Materials Available on the Internet: A Content Analysis

Interest in microgreens, young, edible seedlings of a variety of vegetables, spices, and herbs, is growing worldwide. A recent national survey of the U.S. microgreen industry reported 48% of 176 growers learned to grow microgreens by viewing websites and videos on the internet. However, it is unknown if the content related to growing microgreens is aligned with regulations and clearly presented. The aim of this research was to conduct a content analysis to determine alignment with the Food Safety and Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule (PSR)and the presentation quality of existing microgreen training materials available on the internet. Microgreen training materials were collected using two search engines – Google and YouTube. A deductive approach was used to inform the development of three coding manuals to evaluate the training materials meeting the eligibility criteria. One was used to determine the alignment of the content and was based on the PSR. The other two manuals were used to determine the presentation quality of Google and YouTube training materials according to CDC's Quality E-learning Checklist. A total of 223 training materials (86 Google and 137 YouTube), which fulfilled the inclusion criteria, were selected for the analysis. The results of the alignment with the PSR revealed that both sources minimally covered food safety principles with several areas minimally or not addressing specific information (e.g., water testing, worker training, environmental monitoring, and record keeping). In addition, some food safety information was unclear or presented conflicting information (e.g., requirement of washing microgreens, cleaning and sanitization methods, seed treatment methods, and waste management). The Google and YouTube quality scoring systems resulted in a mean quality score of 15.81 and 22 of a maximum score of 28, respectively. These findings indicate the quality and alignment with the PSR of microgreen training materials need to be improved.

Effects of Moringa oleifera seeds on the physicochemical properties and microbiological quality of borehole water from Botswana

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effects of Moringa oleifera seeds on the physicochemical properties and microbiological quality of borehole water collected from Thamaga village in Botswana. Borehole water samples were subjected to two different Moringa seed treatment methods: M. oleifera crushed seed powder and Moringa seed extract. Five treatment levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 g or mL extract) were used for each treatment method. Borehole water treated with Moringa seed extract had significantly lower (p &amp;lt; 0.05) total dissolved solids and conductivity as compared with water treated with crushed Moringa seed powder. However, borehole water treated with Moringa seed extract had significantly higher (p &amp;lt; 0.05) pH and total suspended solids as compared with water treated with crushed Moringa seed powder. Escherichia coli and total coliforms were completely inhibited by Moringa seed extract after 2 h of treatment at a concentration level of 40 mL extract. It was observed that Moringa seed extract at a concentration level of 40 mL was the most effective in treating borehole water compared with Moringa crushed seed powder. In conclusion, Moringa seed extract can be used as an alternative and affordable source of borehole water treatment in rural Botswana.

The efficiency of the use of biological products in cultivation of spring wheat in Western Siberia

In an experiment on quasi-gleyed agrochernozem in the south of Western Siberia, it was found that biological preparations (biological fertilizers and growth stimulants) are effective when used for spring wheat by seed treatment method. With a yield of 2.41 t/ha in the control variant, the use of biological preparations contributed to the formation of 2.70-2.88 t/ha of grain. The greatest effect is obtained from the use of variants: azotovit + phosphatovit and azotovit + phosphatovit + potassium humate. The use of biofertilizers has a positive effect on the soil nitrate nitrogen and mobile phosphorus content. The use of stimulants did not significantly affect the fertility level. Biological fertilizers and growth stimulants had a positive effect on crop quality indicators. It was revealed that the sum of amino acids increases from 9.24% without fertilizers to the highest 9.81% in the variant with potassium humate.

Evaluation of Pseudomonas and Bacillus Strains as Potential Biocontrol Agents against Fusarium Wilt of Chickpea

Evaluation of Pseudomonas and Bacillus Strains as Potential Biocontrol Agents against Fusarium Wilt of Chickpea

English

Rice sheath rot disease is one of the obstacles in Fogera plain of rain-fed rice production system. A cultivar called X-Jigna has been used by small scale farmers based on mono-cropping system for over two decades. This production system contributed to the disease occurrence and adversely impacted the production and productivity. So far, there were no any effective measures taken as research remedies in the rain-fed production areas. Since the disease is seed-borne, recently, effective seed treatment methods were identified and evaluated at farmers&rsquo; fields. Partial budget analysis was employed to estimate economic costs and benefits to realize the seed treatment methods were economically viable or not. The yield responses from fungicide and hot water treatments were higher than the control check. Marginal rate of return of hot water and fungicide treatment methods were higher than untreated production. Sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the resistance and responses to the changes in prices and yields of new production method. The result shows that marginal rate of return was declining with an increasing price change of fungicide. Marginal rate of return was highly sensitive to decreasing level of yields but not strongly sensitive to the different level of price changes of fungicide. When farmers change their production method from use of untreated to treated seed, the yield loses could be dramatically decreased and marginal rate of return were considerably increased. The result ascertained that seed treatment methods were found to be effective, economically feasible and highly recommended for rice producing farmers. Key words: Break-even price, break-even yield, cost-benefit, marginal rate of return, partial budget analysis, seed treatment, sensitivity analysis, sheath rot disease.

Inspiration of Different Bio Fertilizer onGermination and Seedling Growth ofRice (OryzasativaL.) by Seed Treatment Method

Bio fertilizers are natural fertilizes which are living microbial inoculants of bacteria, algae, fungi alone or in combination and they augment the availability of nutrients to the plants. The role of biofertilizers in agriculture assumes special significance, particularly in the present context of increased cost of chemical fertilizer and their hazardous effects on soil health. For the evaluation of impact of various fertilizers on Rice (OryzasativaL.) cultivar Karjet were collected from Kharland Research station, Panvel. Biofertilizerssuch asAzospirillumbrasilense(Agrosun) , Bacillus megaterium(Biostila) Pseudomonas fluorescens (Remonas),Trichodermaviride (Bhparistricho), Blue green algae, and Mycorrhizae (Reap Mycorrhiza) were purchased from Agharkar Research Institute Gopal Ganesh Agarkar Road, Pune, Maharashtra. The Chemical fertilizer (19:19:19-Paras) were collected from Authorized Private Agro Centre, Panvel.The seeds are with inoculatedviz. Azospirillumbrasilense, Bacillus megaterium, Trichodermaviride Pseudomonas fluorescens, Blue green algae and Mycorrhizae in single and with different combinations.The results of germination percentage of highest in seeds treated with triple inoculants (T11- A.brasilense +B. megaterium + P. fluorescens, 97.66, 10.609 and 19.214 similarly seedling growth on 7th days of sowing were significantly higher than those recorded in single and double inoculation as compare to untreated seeds control (T0). Overall results suggest that Biofertilizers inoculation improves germination percentage and seedling growth of Rice.