Physiological quality in seeds of the common bean is aff ected by the period of nutri-priming

Abstract

Nutri-priming is a low-cost and highly eff ective way of supplying seeds with micronutrients. The aim of this study
was to evaluate the physiological quality of seeds of the Pérola cultivar of the common bean under nutrient solutions containing
molybdenum, cobalt and zinc for diff erent imbibition times. The experiment was carried out in the laboratory and greenhouse of
the State University of Goiás UEG – UnU Ipameri, using a completely randomised experimental design, with eight micronutrient
treatments (T1. Control; T2. Mo; T3. Zn; T4. Co; T5. Mo + Co; T6. Mo + Zn; T7. Zn + Co; T8. Mo + Co + Zn) and six imbibition times
(6, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 hours). The variables under analysis were seed imbibition, germination test, fi rst germination count, accelerated
ageing, seedling emergence, emergence speed index, shoot length, root length, total length, fresh weight, dry weight, and shoot and root
biomass. The micronutrients aff orded an increase in germination in the seed batches under evaluation; on the other hand, imbibition
times of greater than four hours reduced the germination capacity of the seeds. It can be concluded that nutri-priming in the common
bean is only benefi cial for an imbibition time of up to four hours.