Bio-priming of Seeds
Bio-priming of seeds with naturally occurring biologicals and plant extracts
Bio-priming of seeds is useful in almost all crops and is an environmentally safe alternative to chemical fungicides. Priming exposes seed to stimuli, in response to which a set of interlinked biochemical changes occurs such as activation of enzymes, synthesis of growth-promoting substances, metabolism of germination inhibitors and repair of cell damage. Bio-priming accelerates germination and increases seedling emergence even in harsh weather conditions and problematic soils.
The application of beneficial microorganisms (Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus spp., Azospirillum lipoferum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Rhizobium spp., etc.) improves soil properties, enhances plant growth and increases the activity of symbiotic microbes. These organisms help transform insoluble inorganic nutrients and their organic forms into soluble forms available for plant uptake through solubilization or mineralization. Seed pre-soaking with the inoculation of beneficial microorganisms promotes microbial colonization at the root zone of the plant and enhances growth.
Beneficial water-soluble chitosan oligosaccharide, a renewable, non-toxic,
polysaccharide derived from crustacean waste provides broad-spectrum antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral activity against pathogens. Many bio-priming agents or bio-stimulants also upgrade plant resilience by stimulating root and shoot growth. Ascophyllum nodosum, a marine plant harvested from the Atlantic and Arctic seas has been extensively researched and shown to improve biomass yield and crop quality. Applied at seeding to improve germination and at all plant growth stages.
Seed priming is a viable option to boost the performance of crops. Tapping the metabolic pathways of bio-priming and the subsequent germination facilitates the application of an inexpensive technology for maximizing seed performance.
