Seed priming with endophytes on physiological, biochemical and antioxidant activity of hybrid maize (Zea mays l.) COH (M) 8 seeds

Abstract

Endophytes are important microorganisms that enhance the plant's stability through a symbiotic relationship, without any harmful effects and symptoms in the host plant. To study the effect of endophytes on overall performance of COH(M)8 hybrid maize seeds, the present study was conducted with different endophytic seed priming for 12 hrs duration with Beauveria bassiana @ 5% (T2), Metarhizium anisopliae @ 5% (T3) and Bacillus subtilis @ 8% (T4) along with hydro priming (T1) and untreated control (T0). The seed priming treatments with all the above three endophytes enhanced the seed quality parameters, among which M. anisopliae @ 5% (T3) registered maximum increase of germination (4.34%), shoot length (20.73%), root length (15.04%), dry matter production (15.22%) and vigour index (22.68%) over control. Similarly, the seeds primed with M. anisopliae @ 5% (T3) recorded the highest value of dehydrogenase activity (0.441 OD value), α- amylase activity (2.06 mg maltose min-1) and antioxidant activity viz., catalase (1.55 μmol H2O2 min-1 g-1 protein) and peroxidase (0.87 U mg-1protein min-1). Results of this study revealed that the endophytes can enhance overall the seed quality in maize.