Effects of KNO3 solution concentration and soaking duration during seed priming on germination and vigor of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) seeds

Abstract

Coriander seeds have often poor, slow and non-uniform germination. Seed priming is a technique used to improve seed germination and vigor. Therefore, the objective of this research was to study the effects of KNO₃ solution concentration and soaking duration during seed priming on the germination and vigor of coriander seeds in order to enhance the speed of germination and uniformity. The experiment was designed in 3x2 factorial in completely randomized design with non-primed seeds as a control. There were two factors including factor A was a concentration of KNO₃ solution with three levels of 0 [reverse osmosis (RO) water], 250 and 500 mg/L and factor B was soaking duration with two levels of 12 and 24 hr. There were four replicates with 50 seeds/replicate. Seeds were then reduced moisture content to the initial level (7%). The germination percentages at 1^st and final count (7 and 21 days after testing (DAT), respectively), days to emergence (DTE), time to reach 50% germination (T₅₀) and mean germination time (MGT) were recorded. The results showed that seed priming with KNO₃ solution at 500 mg/L for 12 or 24 hr had a non-significantly effect on germination percentage at the final count (99.0 and 96.5%, respectively), when compared with non-primed seeds (97.0%), but there had the DTE (2.81-2.86 days), T₅₀ (6.23 days) and MGT (7.01-7.02 days) faster than those of non-primed seeds (3.20, 6.60 and 7.71 days, respectively). Therefore, priming of coriander seeds with 500 mg/L KNO₃ solution for 12 hours gave the best priming methods.