Laboratory Based Assessment of Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.) Genotypes Through Seed Priming by Water and Nutrient Solution

The purpose of this study was to establish that how sunflower genotypes respond to hydropriming and nutripriming. In this regard, four priming treatments, no priming, seed priming with canal water, 1.0% urea, and 0.2% zinc sulphate were experienced to four sunflower genotypes: HO-1, Charnika, Hysun-33, and NK-278. Different seed priming sources, genotypes, and their interactions had a substantial (P<0.05) impact on seed germination and other growth parameters according to the statistical analysis of the data. Seed priming with 0.2% ZnSO4 produced the highest seed germination (92.30%), seedling vigor index (1499), root length seedling-1 (6.07 cm), shoot length seedling-1 (16.82 cm), root fresh weight seedling-1 (16.82 g), shoot fresh weight seedling-1 (5.02 g), root dry weight seedling-1 (0.14 g), and shoot dry weight seedling-1 (0.31 g). All the values were superior to 1.0% urea while no priming gave the lowest results. Whereas, HO-1 performed superior to other genotypes in every parameter, including seed germination (83.80%), seedling vigor index (1316), root length seedling-1 (5.40 cm), shoot length seedling-1 (16.20 cm), root fresh weight seedling-1 (16.20 g), shoot fresh weight seedling-1 (3.89 g), root dry weight seedling-1 (0.11 g), and shoot dry weight seedling-1 (0.29 g), while Hysun-33 ranked second among the tested genotypes. The best results were obtained when 0.2% ZnSO4 × genotype HO-1 was combined. Therefore, it is determined that priming with 0.2% ZnSO4 performed superior.