Effect of seed biopriming on cucumber seed quality and health parameters

Application of bioagents to seed is a practical choice for the safe and inexpensive use of beneficial microorganisms for sustainable agriculture as it focuses to benefit seed during seedling establishment which ultimately leads to improved plant growth throughout the growing season due to presence of advantageous microorganisms colonies established in rhizosphere and is a great alternative to harmful agrochemicals. Therefore considering its benefits to both the environment and plant, ten indigenous isolates of bioagents including five bacterial bioagents (Bacillus licheniformis strain B6, B. pumilus strain MK5, B. subtilis strain RDO10, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain N2S6, P. fluorescens strain HB-13) and five fungal bioagents (Trichoderma atroviride ta001, T. atroviride ta002, T. atroviride ta003, T. atroviride ta004, T. atroviride ta005) were screened for their bio-efficacy as seed treatment of cucumber var. Solan Srijan under laboratory conditions following standard methods of seed quality and health testing as prescribed by International Seed Testing Association. Maximum germination percent, speed of germination, seed vigour parameter viz. seedling length, seedling dry weight, seed vigour index I, seed vigour index II as well as lowest seed microflora percent and seed infection percent were found in seeds bioprimed with B. pumilus strain MK5 and T. atroviride ta001 among their respective isolates.