Effective Priming Techniques to Enhance Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria L. Druce) Seed Germination for Mass Planting

Abstract

Seed priming is a cost-effective and efficient pre-sowing technique that promotes seed germination and plant growth under abiotic stress. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different priming treatments on breaking the dormancy of ghaf (Prosopis cineraria L. Druce) seeds. Furthermore, the effects of storage conditions and seed coating on seed germination were examined. Treatments with hot water, KNO3, KCl, polyethylene glycol (PEG), H2SO4, gibberellin (GA3), cytokinin benzyl adenine (BA), and H2SO4 + BA were investigated. Among all the tested treatments, seeds responded the best to the H2SO4 50% 2 min + BA (200 ppm) priming treatment in terms of germination uniformity and effectiveness. This treatment initiated germination 5 days after sowing and increased the germination percentage from 11.32% in the untreated seed to 83% and 100% in the primed ones after 5 and 20 days, respectively. The germination percentage and primary root length were shown to be more responsive to this combined treatment, followed by the H2SO4 50% 2 min+ BA 100 ppm. This treatment achieved the best result of 100% germination when the seeds were covered in a seed ball. Additionally, the treated seeds could be stored at room temperature or 4 °C for more than 10 days with no negative effect on the germination. Based on these findings, this treatment could be recommended to farmers and plant producers to boost the mass production of ghaf trees.