Effect of Hydropriming Treatment On Seed Germination Parameters, Growth and Yield Components of Corchorus olitorius (Jute Mallow)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the 2023 cropping season in Biology Department Botanical Garden, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger state,  to investigate the effect of hydropriming treatment on seed Germination parameters, Growth and Yield Components of Corchorus olitorius. The Objectives are to determine the effect of hydropriming treatment on seed Germination parameters, Growth and Yield Components of jute seed and to know which gives the highest germination percentage at intervals of 0,12,24,36 and 48 hours duration. The treatments were arranged in a Complete Randomized design (CRD) in five replications. Data collected were, Germination percentage (%), Germination index, Plant height (cm), Number of leaves per plant, Number of branches per plant, Number of flowers per plant, Number of fruits per plant and fruit length (mm).  Germination index was  significantly highest when seeds were primed for 36 hours  when compared with  0, 12, 24 and 48 hours priming duration with the lowest germination index recorded in the control were seeds were not primed. A similar trend was observed for number of leaves per plant and number of branches per plant. Hydro primed seeds for a duration of 36 hours resulted to better germination percentage, germination index, growth and yield than untreated (unprimed seeds). Hydropriming  Corchorus olitorius . seed for a duration of 36 hours is recommended for optimum germination, growth and yield of the crop.