~ 1592 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2020; 9(4): 1592-1596 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 www.phytojournal.com JPP 2020; 9(4): 1592-1596 Received: 18-05-2020 Accepted: 20-06-2020 N Punithavathi Associate Professor (Seed Science and Technology), Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, Tamil Nadu, India A Sabir Ahamed Professor (Seed Science and Technology), Horticultural College and Research Institute, (Women), Navalurkuttapattu, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India T Jayaraj Director (Rtd), Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, Tamil Nadu, India Corresponding Author: N Punithavathi Associate Professor (Seed Science and Technology), Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, Tamil Nadu, India Impact of seed priming cum foliar spray on yield of rice under salinity condition N Punithavathi, A Sabir Ahamed and T Jayaraj Abstract In India, approximately 8.6 million hectares of agricultural land is affected by varying degrees of salt related problems. The problems of soil sodicity, salinity and of poor quality water are likely to increase in near future. Cereals contribute mainly to food production and growing grain crops on saline soils require adoption of different strategies for sustainable crop production. Based on the above view an experiment was undertaken at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sikkal, Nagapattinam District to study the Impact of seed priming cum foliar spray on yield of rice in alleviating salinity stress. The paddy varieties viz.,TNAU Rice TRY 3 and Improved White Ponni were primed with chemicals, biofertilizer, bio control agents as well as plant growth regulator viz., Seed priming with 1% mixture of CaSO4+ZnSO4+FeSO4, Seed priming with 1% mixture of CaSO4+ZnSO4+FeSO4 + GA3 20 ppm +Azophos 1.0%, Seed priming with 1% mixture of KCl + CaSO4+ ZnSO4+ FeSO4 + GA3 20 ppm + Azophos 1.0% followed by foliar spray of 0.5% FeSO4, 0.5% ZnSO4, 2% DAP and 2% cowpea pulse sprout extract were given at active tillering and panicle initiation stage. Among the different combination of priming treatments tried, seeds treated with 1% mixture of KCl + CaSO4+ ZnSO4 + FeSO4 + GA3 20 ppm + Azophos1% + Pseudomonas fluorescens 1% along with 2% cowpea pulse sprout extract spray under salinity condition effectively enhanced the overall efficiency of the crop and improved the yield in both tolerant and sensitive varieties of rice grown under salt stress condition. Keywords: Seed priming, salinity, GA3, cowpea pulse sprout extract. Introduction Rice is grown in more than 154 million hectares in the world in a wide range of ecosystems under varying temperatures and water regimes in India and it occupies an area of 44 million hectares. While the population of rice consumers is increasing at a rate of 1.8 per cent annually, the population grow at a rate of 1.5 per cent every year. Hence, the rice requirement by the year 2025 would be about 125 million tons [12] . Increasing salinity had significant impact on food production and more agricultural lands are expected to become salt affected due to climate change effect [16] . Cereals contribute mainly to food production and growing grain crops on saline soils require adoption of different strategies for sustainable crop production. Rice is susceptible to salt stress [13] particularly during the early seedling stage [11] . Salinity affects the seed germination by creating osmotic stress due to reduced water uptake or through ionic imbalance due to toxic effects of sodium (Na + ) and chloride (Cl - ) ions [8] . Efficient strategies are required for effective utilization of saline lands for crop growth. Improvement of salinity tolerance in crop species is one potential strategy in overcoming salinity problems in agriculture [6, 23] . Development of salt tolerant plants through conventional breeding programs is very slow due to the complexity of salt tolerance and lack of reliable traits for selection [23] . Nonetheless, exogenous application of osmolytes, osmoprotectants or plant hormones through foliar or seed is a good option to alleviate the adverse effects of salinity stress on crops [1] . Higher production and productivity of crop is possible only through use of good quality seeds and proper management practices. Good quality seeds imply vigour, uniformity and structural soundness besides its genetic and physical purity. Seed priming is a controlled hydration process that involves exposing seeds to low water potentials that restrict germination, but permits pre germinative physiological and biochemical changes to occur [3, 7, 9] . Upon rehydration, primed seeds may exhibit faster rate of germination, more uniform emergence, greater tolerance to environmental stresses, and reduced dormancy in many species [9] . Availability of seed technological research work under saline soil condition is very negligible. Based on the above view an experiment was conducted in saline soil condition.