Evaluation of the Responses of the Seeds of the Single - Cross 499 Cultivar of Corn (Zea mays L.) to Various Priming Combinations

An experiment using the randomized complete block design in three replications was conducted in 2012 under laboratory conditions to study the effects of different treatments of hydropriming and osmopriming on seed germination of the Singe - Cross 499 cultivar of corn. The treatments studied included subjecting the seeds for 12 or 24 hours to polyethylene glycol 6000 (��� ��� � ) at three concentrations (five, 10, and 15 percent), Potassium nitrate (KN� � ) at three concentrations (one, two, and three percent), potassium chloride (KCl) at three concentrations (one, two, and four percent), and also a control (with no priming). Results obtained showed that the maximum germination rate (19.02) was achieved by priming for 12 hours with PEG (at five percent), and the minimums (2.86. 8.14, and 2.35) by priming for 24 hours with KN� � (at three percent) and for 12 or 24 hours with KCl (at four percent), respectively. The highest germination percentage (90.66) was observed in the treatment of priming for 24 hours with five percent PEG, and the lowest (36) in the treatment of priming for 24 hours with three percent KN� � . Results observed also suggested that the factors measured, including the rate and the percentage of seed germination and also the lengths of the radicles and sprouts and seedlings, exhibited an ascending trend when higher concentrations of osmopriming compounds were used: these compounds showed their greatest effects when used at low concentrations.