Seed Priming

Seed is the basic input for forage crop production. A seed is a fertilized ovule consisting of intact embryo, stored food and seed coat which viable and has got capacity to germinate. Every seed should be healthy and readily germinate to produce a vigorous seedling to ensure better crop yield. The process of soaking seeds in water or salt solution or some chemicals followed by drying before sowing is called seed priming. It is done to enhance germination, crop stand and seedling growth. Seed priming is an effective technology to enhance rapid and uniform emergence and to achieve high vigour, leading to better stand establishment and yield. It is a simple and low cost hydration technique. Priming allows some of the metabolic processes necessary for germination to occur without germination take place. This prevents the seeds from absorbing in enough water for radicle protrusion, thus suspending the seed in the lag phase. This hydration is sufficient to permit pre-germinative metabolic events but insufficient to allow radicle protrusion through the seed coat.