EFFECT OF ON-FARM SEED PRIMING ON YIELD AND SEED QUALITY OF BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Ahmed, H. M. I.; Dias, Denise C. F.; Moghazy, A. M.

doi:10.21608/jpp.2009.118342

EFFECT OF ON-FARM SEED PRIMING ON YIELD AND SEED QUALITY OF BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Vegetable Research Division, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt.

² Dept. de Fitotecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36571-000 – Viçosa, MG, Brazil.

³ Vegetable Crops Seed Production and Technology Department, Horticulture Res. Institute, Agric. Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

10.21608/jpp.2009.118342

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out during the two summer growing seasons of 2006 and 2007, at El-Baramoon Farm, Mansoura Horticultural Research Station, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, to investigate the effect of on-farm seed priming for different periods in water or in molybdenum (Mo) solution on growth, yield and pod characters as well as seed yield and its quality of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cv. Bronco. Nine treatments were arranged in complete randomized block design with 3 replicates.
Results indicated that priming bean seeds in Mo solution or water significantly increased the capability of the plants to produce vigorous vegetative growth expressed as plant height, number of branches and number of leaves per plant, plant fresh and dry weight as well as chlorophyll content.
All priming treatments enhanced the total green plant yield, especially priming for 9 hours in Mo solution or water. These treatments gave the highest values for yield. Seed yield and its quality were also improved as a result of using seed priming treatments.
Generally, On-farm seed priming seems to be a widely applicable technology and can be used to add to the benefits achieved by using improved modern varieties or by adoption of other improved technologies such as fertilizer or better crop protection. This low-cost, low-risk technology is good insurance for farmers by providing low-cost more options and improvements to their livelihoods.