Effects of Seed Priming on Seedling Growth, Vigour, and Protein Content in Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

Seed priming can improve early seed performance, but responses may differ among priming agents and genotypes. This study evaluated two field-pea varieties, KPMR-522 (V1) and Rachana (V2), under six seed treatments: T1, untreated control; T2, hydropriming; T3, KNO₃ at 3%; T4, GA₃ at 0.01%; T5, NAA at 0.01%; and T6, Panchagavya at 5%. The experiment was conducted during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 rabi seasons using a 2 × 6 factorial completely randomised design with four replications. Root length, shoot length, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour indices I and II, and seed protein content were evaluated. In the pooled analysis, the highest root length (16.31 cm), seedling dry weight (0.251 g), and protein content (26.28%) occurred with GA₃ at 0.01%. KNO₃ at 3% produced the highest seedling length (29.94 cm) and seedling vigour index I (2831.62). Panchagavya at 5% produced the highest shoot length (14.80 cm) and seedling vigour index II (23.46); for these traits, its pooled response was statistically comparable with KNO₃ for shoot length and with KNO₃ and GA₃ for vigour index II. Significant variety × treatment interactions were observed, demonstrating that treatment responses depended on genotype. Under the conditions tested, KNO₃, GA₃, and Panchagavya showed complementary advantages for different seedling and seed-quality traits; broader validation across seed lots and environments is required before general agronomic recommendations are made.