Effect of seed hardening on growth and yield of rice under different moisture regimes

摘要

Seed hardening treatment with Azospirillum was found to improve tiller number, plant height, dry weight and encouraged low chlorophyll stability index (CSI) value under water stress condition in rice at seedling stage of growth. Stressed plants had the highest accumulation of free proline and lowest nitrate reductase activity at tillering stage, which was improved by presowing seed treatments.