Primed Seeds of NERICA 4 Stored for Long Periods under High Temperature and Humidity Conditions Maintain Germination Rates

Abstract

Agriculture depends on the ability of seeds to survive until the next planting season under ambient conditions that may be averse to seed quality even when the seed is in a quiescent state. Seed priming invigorates seeds, but the impact on the longevity of seeds has limited its adoption. This study investigated the effect of the storage of primed rice seed on seed viability, vigor, and longevity. Three seed priming methods were employed on the rice cultivar New Rice for Africa (NERICA 4) seeds. Subsequently, the seeds were stored for 120 days at 25 °C and 65% relative humidity, simulating the ambient seed storage conditions of the tropics and sub-tropics. The primed seed recorded increased vigor compared to the non-primed seed until 90 days of storage. However, seed storage for 120 days reduced seed vigor and viability for all the seeds. The results indicated a significant reduction in seed vigor, increased solute leakage, generation of hydrogen peroxide, and accumulation of malondialdehyde after storage. Priming enhances cell membrane integrity and maintains seed vigor in storage at near ambient conditions long enough before reversal of its performance by the storage conditions. This assures that primed seed can either be stored until the following planting season or remain viable in the soil during delayed germination.