Germination characteristics of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench under different pH regimes after chemopriming.

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) Moench is an important crop that is predominantly produced in the Nothern part of Nigeria. However, the challenge of desertification has consistently affected the soil pH, hindering the growth and yield of the crop. Soil pH plays a significant regulatory role in seed germination. This study investigated the germination characteristics of Sorghum under varying pH levels and possible ameliorative effects of seed priming using plant growth-promoting chemicals. Viable seeds of Sorghum were primed in 150ppm Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), Gibberellic Acid (GA3) and Ascorbic Acid (ASA) and that was sown in Petri dishes moistened with pH solutions at 1,3,5,7,9,11 and 13 levels. Results showed no seed germinated at extreme pH (1, 3 and 13) in the unprimed seeds, while seed germination was observed when primed with IAA, GA3 and ASA at all pH levels, except for 1 and 13. Germination time and germination percentage in the both primed and unprimed seeds were observed to show significant differences at different pH levels. Furthermore, it was observed that seeds chemoprimed with IAA showed highest average germination properties (30%) compared to other plant growth-promoting chemicals at all the assayed pH suggesting that germination characteristics of Sorghum can be improved through chemoprime even under different pH levels.