Seed invigoration treatments employing ecofriendly wet and dry powdered botanicals along with pharmaceuticals for improved storability and field performance of high-medium vigour wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Hydration-dehydration treatments (soaking-drying and moist sand conditioning drying) and dry-dressing treatments especially with red chilli powder (Capsicum frutescens L.) @ 1g/kg of seeds and ascorbic acid @ 500mg/kg of seeds were effective in slowing down seed deterioration of high-medium vigour (3-month-old seed) wheat (cv. PBW-343) seed under subsequent ageing conditions. The wet treatments viz., soaking-drying and moist sand conditioning drying significantly improved germinability and field performance and productivity (effective tiller/ m2, grain yield/ m2 and 1000-seed weight) over untreated control. A few dry treatments, especially, red chilli powder and ascorbic acid also showed better results in improving storability and field performance than the untreated control. But the major effects were due to wet treatments in maintaining germinability as well as field performance of high-medium vigour wheat seeds. Physiological and biochemical studies revealed that soaking drying and moist sand conditioning drying followed by few dry treatments like red chilli powder and ascorbic acid showed reduced leakage of electrolytes and sugars with lower lipid peroxide formation and higher dehydrogenase enzyme activity than the control. On the basis of the above findings, wet treatments viz., soaking drying and moist sand conditioning drying; and dry-dressing treatment with red chilli powder may be suggested for the improvement of vigour, viability and field performance of high-medium vigour wheat seeds.