Optimum Water Potential, Temperature, and Duration for Priming of Rice Seeds

Experiments were carried out to find out the optimum water potential, temperature, and duration for the priming of rice seeds, Oryza sativa L. (cv. Ilpumbyeo) for better germination at sub-optimal temperatures. Seeds were primed in 0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8, and -1.0 MPa PEG (polyethylene glycol) solutions at $25^{\circ}C$. The optimum water potential for seed priming, the highest water potential at which rice seeds did not germinate, was -0.6 MPa. To find out optimum priming temperature and duration rice seeds were primed in -0.6 MPa PEG solution and 0 MPa (water as a control) for various durations at 15 and $25^{\circ}C$ and the seeds were germinated at 17, 20, and $25^{\circ}C$. Considering germination rate and speed, the optimum priming time in water (0 MPa) was 4 days at 15$^{\circ}C$ and 1 day at $25^{\circ}C$, while 4 days was the optimum priming time in a -0.6 MPa PEG solution, regardless of the priming temperature. Priming reduced the actual time of germination, especially at sub-optimal temperatures. Priming did not affect germination rate in -0.6 MPa PEG solution at 15$^{\circ}C$, but overpriming reduced the final germination rate in water at 15$^{\circ}C$ and in -0.6 PEG solution at $25^{\circ}C$. Total sugars and $\alpha$-amylase activity induced during the seed priming were negatively correlated with the final germination rate and there was no noted relationship with the speed or uniformity of germination.