Boron Seed Priming Improves the Seedling Emergence, Growth, Grain Yield and Grain Biofortification of Bread Wheat

Boron (B) deficiency is quite prevalent in wheat growing regions of Indo-Gangetic Plains. This study, consisted of three experiments, was conducted to evaluate the effect of B seed priming on the productivity and grain biofortification of bread wheat. In first experiment, wheat seeds were primed with 1, 0.5, 0.1, 0.05 and 0.01 MB solutions of boric acid (H3BO3) and borax (Na2B4O7.10H(2)O) while dry seeds and hydropriming were taken as control. Seed priming with 0.05 MB and 0.01 MB were better than other treatments of both B sources in improving germination and early seedling growth. In second experiment, wheat seeds primed with 0.01 and 0.05 M B solutions of both sources of B were sown in sand filled small pots. Seed priming with 0.01 M B solution of borax was better than other treatments in improving the germination and seedling growth. In third experiment, wheat seeds primed with 0.01 and 0.05 MB solution of borax only were sown. Seed priming with 0.01 M B solution increased the grain yield by 64% over control; however, increase in grain B contents was 27%. In conclusion, wheat seeds may be primed with 0.01 MB using borax to improve the grain yield and grain B contents in wheat. (C) 2017 Friends Science Publishers