Evaluation of different strategies for induction of chilling tolerance in spring maize using moringa leaf extracts

Spring maize is highly sensitive to low temperatures during the early development of seedlings and to high temperatures during its reproductive stage. Different strategies are being used to minimize the adverse effects of temperature extremes. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to enhance the performance of spring hybrid maize by seed priming (3% MLE) and transplanting 20 and 30-day-old seedlings. Seed priming with moringa leaf extract (MLE) significantly enhanced stand establishment in both direct sowing and in transplanting, as indicated by the higher emergence percentage, emergence index, and lower time taken to start of emergence and mean emergence time. Minimum days from sowing to tasseling and silking were found in MLE primed 20-day-old seedlings grown in a nursery. However, all the agronomic parameters increased considerably with MLE priming of 20-day-old seedlings. Thus, MLE priming reduced chilling damage by improving stand establishment, whereas transplanting 20-day-old seedlings further enhanced the agronomic traits, yield, and quality of maize. However, the performance of maize plants from 30-day-old transplanted seedling and direct sowing was substandard

Evaluating the potential effect of seed priming techniques in improving germination and root shoot length of maize seed

The present research was conducted under laboratory conditions. The purpose of research was to investigate the potential of priming with press mud, peat moss, sand, gunny bags, compost, farm yard manure and moringa leaf extract (MLE) on seedling growth and germination capacity of maize seed. Untreated or non-primed seeds were used as a control treatment. Priming treatments improved germination capacity, stand establishment and seedling vigor, compared with control. Priming with moringa leaf extract enhance germination and seedling vigor of maize seed, compared with the control and other seed primed treatments. In moringa leaf extract primed seeds, root and shoot growth was improved. Overall, moringa leaf extract primed maize seeds performed better than all other treatments and it could be related by seedling vigor enhancement and lowering the mean germination time, due to imbibition of higher quantity of water and earlier enzymatic activity. The results propose that moringa leaf extract priming treatment had the potential to enhance germination, stand establishment and early growth of maize seeds