Abstract
Experiment was conducted at the research farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in 2023 and 2024 early planting seasons to study the impact of priming methods (hydropriming, halopriming, osmopriming, hormopriming and unprimed) on growth and seed yield of five maize varieties in field conditions. Treatment combinations were laid out in 5 x 5 factorial arrangements in randomized complete block design replicated thrice. Data obtained were subjected to a two-way ANOVA and significant means were separated using LSD at p < 0.05. Impact of priming method showed significant influence on plant girth at 6 and 12 WAP (2023), 3, 9 and 12 WAP (2024); leaf area at 6 WAP (2023); plant height at 3 and 9 WAP (2023), 6 WAP (2024); tassel length (2023); 1000 seed weight, number of cobs/plant, cob girth, cob length, seed weight/cob, number of rows/cob and number of seeds/cob in 2024 respectively; seed yield t/h and fresh ear weight/plot/ear in both years. Hormopriming and osmopriming produced maximum number of seeds/plot and 1000 seed weight in 2024; seed weight/cob, cob girth, seed yield t/ha, fresh ear weight/plot in both years, longest plant girth, broadest leaves (2023), longest plant (both years)and tassel length (2023). Bende white had the highest seed yield t/ha followed by Oba super 6. Glycerol followed by cytokinin had more impact on growth of maize while cytokinin followed by glycerol had more impact on seed yield than other priming methods in field conditions.
Key words: Maize, priming methods, growth, seed yield, varietyjaerem Okoronkwo. C. M
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