BORON NUTRIPRIMING IMPROVES THE GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING GROWTH OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

Boron (B) is one of the important micronutrient required for rice in particular during reproductive growth. A laboratory study was conducted to explore the potential of boron nutripriming in improving the germination and early seedling growth of rice. Seeds of fine grain aromatic rice cultivar Super Basmati were primed in aerated B solution (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5% w/v) while untreated thy seeds were taken as control. Seed priming in 0.001 and 0.1% B solutions improved the time to 50% germination, germination energy, final germination percentage, mean. germination time, and germination index. Beyond this concentration either there was no effect or an adverse effect on rice seeds. In the cases of radicle length, plumule length and secondary roots priming more diluted B solution, i.e., 0.001% proved better than rest of the treatments as suppression in these three traits was observed by other B treatments than control. Seed priming in relatively concentrated B solution, i.e., 0.5% completely suppressed the germination and growth.