Influence of Pre-Sowing Bio-Agent Seed Treatment on Seed Yield, its Contributing Characters and Subsequent Seed Quality in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cv VLB-1 under Rainfed Conditions

摘要

Impact of pre-sowing seed treatment on seed yield, its contributing characters and subsequent seed germination and seedling vigor of barley was evaluated through bio-agent inoculation. The seeds were inoculated by Pseudomonas fluorescens (pf-173), Trichoderma harzianum at 4 g per kg seed and mixture of both bio-agents for (2g + 2 g) each for the same rate. All the inoculated treatments significantly affected the field germination, root length, plant height, length of the ear, number of grain/ear, 1,000-seed weight and ultimately yield at field level. However, seed produced through these inoculated treatments also significantly influenced the seed quality i.e. germination, root, shoots and seedling length, fresh and dry weight of seedlings, electrical conductivity, absorbance and transmitant of seed leachates and also vigor index at laboratory conditions. Seed inoculated with mixture of bio-agents performed the best as indicated by seed yield, its contributing character and most of the seed quality parameters. In addition Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma harzianum were also capable of enhancing the seed yield and quality at field and in controlled condition.