Soil, nutrient, and management

Influence of specialty liquid fertilizer-seed

enhancer in promoting seed emergence and
seedling vigor of hybrid rice
N.U. Trillana, P. Groebler, and S.J. Hoop, East-West Seeds Company, San Rafael,
Bulacan, Philippines E-mail: nemesio.trillana@eastwestseed.com

The vulnerability of seed to adverse weather during storage has often forced
farmers to sow poor-quality seed, which results in inadequate seedling stand
(Seshu and Krishnasamy 1987). Seeds for planting in the next season should be
stored in an air-conditioned room to maintain their viability and vigor. Hybrid
rice seeds for immediate planting or distribution could be stored under room
conditions, but, if an air-conditioned room is not available, storing the seeds to
maintain seed vigor and viability would be a problem. Aging is also recognized
as a major cause of reduced vigor in many seed species.
The seeds may be stimulated in such a manner as to bring about a
complete and more uniform germination by placing them in contact with
materials comprising a surface active agent, a water-soluble salt of chlorophyll,
or an aqueous solution (Casper 1973). This method, known as seed enhancement,
is applied before sowing and can be used on a commercial basis by the seed
industry.
The specialty liquid fertilizer-seed enhancer (SLF-SE) is a new chelated
micronutrient formulation developed by East-West Seeds (Philippines) to
enhance seed emergence and seedling vigor. To test its efficacy, two trials at a
year interval were conducted in a randomized complete block design using two
certified varieties of hybrid rice—NSC16 and Bigante. SLF-SE was compared
with aqueous solution and the usual practice of incubating moistened seeds with
tap water before sowing. In the first efficacy test, two sets of experiments were
set up using the rag doll and seedling tray methods of seed germination. The
treatments were as follows: treatment 1 (control), seeds were wrapped with a
paper towel moistened with tap water overnight; treatment 2, seeds were
wrapped with a paper towel moistened with an aqueous solution of 2 ppm KCl
overnight; treatments 3, 4, and 5, seeds were moistened with solutions of SLF-SE
overnight at 25, 50, and 75 mL L−1 of water, respectively. The following day, all
seeds treated with SLF-SE were air-dried. Seeds under all treatments were sown
at the same time. In the rag-doll method, seeds were sown on a Petri dish with a
paper towel moistened with tap water. The Petri dish used in the control
treatment was sealed with a sheet of cellophane and the seeds were incubated at

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35 °C for 24 h (Chou and Young 1975). Incubation keeps the seeds warm,
increases embryo growth, and results in uniform germination (Vergara 1992). In
the seedling tray method, seeds were sown in potting media composed of peat
moss, sand, and coir dust (3:1:1). Seed emergence percentage was determined 14
d after sowing in the both rag-doll and seedling tray methods. The weights of
roots and shoots of seedlings were also measured to assess seedling vigor.
After 1 year, a second efficacy test was conducted to assess the effect of
SLF-SE on the same seeds. These were stored in a closed room at 35 °C. The same
data were collected and analyzed as in the first efficacy test.
In the rag-doll method, seeds of both Bigante and NSC16 treated with
SLF-SE at 25, 50, and 50 mL L−1 of water gave significantly higher percent
emergence and a lower decrease in emergence after a year of storage than the
control and those treated with aqueous solution (Table 1). In the seedling tray
method, during the first year, percent seed emergence of both varieties was
higher than in the aqueous solution and control treatments. The decrease in
emergence percentage after a year of storage was higher in Bigante than in
NSC16 (Table 2). This result could be attributed to the deteriorating status of the
hybrid seeds brought about by the combined effects of storage temperature and
length of storage. Related studies found that seeds exposed to high temperatures
show an elevation in enzyme kinetics, probably causing degradation of some
enzymes, other proteins, and other molecules such as lipid sugars and phenols
(Machado et al 2001). The weights of roots and shoots were also significantly
higher for seeds treated with SLF-SE (Table 2) as it helped improve seedling
parameters by early completion of metabolic steps and hastening radicle
elongation (Halmer and Bewley 1984).

Table 1. Mean percentage of seed emergencea of two hybrid rice varieties using
the rag-doll seed germination method.
Treatment 1st efficacy test 2nd efficacy test Percent decrease in
(Nov 2006) (Nov 2007) emergence after 1 year
Percent emergence Percent emergence of storage
(Nov 2006–Nov 2007)
Bigante NSC16 Bigante NSC16 Bigante NSC16
1. Control 93 b 88 c 82 d 81 c 11 8
2. Aqueous solution 95 b 92 b 86 c 89 c 9 3
3. SE (25 mL L−1 98 a 95 a 95 a 94 ab 3 1
of water)
4. SE (50 mL L−1 99 a 96 a 92 abc 94 ab 7 2
of water)
5. SE (75 mL L−1 99 a 95 a 93 ab 93 b 6 2
of water)
CV (%) 1 0.8 3 1
aMeans followed by a common letter are not significantly different at the 5% (DMRT) level.

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Table 2. Mean percentage of seed emergence and mean root and shoot dry weightsa of two hybrid rice varieties
using the seedling tray germination method.
Treatment 1st efficacy test 2nd efficacy test Percent decrease in Root weight Shoot weight
(Nov 2006) (Nov 2007) emergence (oven-dried) (oven-dried)
Percent Percent after 1 year (mg) (mg)
emergence emergence (Nov 2006–Nov 2007)
Bigante NSC16 Bigante NSC16 Bigante NSC16 Bigante NSC16 Bigante NSC 16
1. Control 93.3 c 93 b 82 c 82 c 11 11 8c 9c 8c 9c
2. Aqueous solution 97 b 91 ab 83 c 84 c 14 7 11 b 10 b 9 bc 11bc
3. SE (25 mL L−1 of water) 98 a 94 b 88 a 89 a 10 5 13 ab 13 a 13 a 13 a
4. SE (50 mL L−1 of water) 99 ab 95 a 89 a 89 a 10 6 12 b 14 a 14 a 13 a
5. SE (75 mL L−1 of water) 99 ab 95 a 87 ab 89 a 10 6 14 a 13 a 13 a 13 a
CV (%) 4 3 2 2 5 4 6 7 7 10
aMeans followed by a common letter are not significantly different at the 5% (DMRT) level.

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The results imply that the use of SLF-SE can enhance the germination of
new and good seeds better than the usual practices of incubating them before
sowing and using aqueous solution to promote germination. It also prevents
deterioration of seed viability and seedling vigor.

References
Casper MS. 1973. Specialty fertilizers. USA: Noyes Data Corporation.
Chou CH, Young CC. 1975. Phytotoxic substances in 12 subtropical grasses. J. Chem. Ecol. 1:183-
193.
Halmer P, Bewley JD. 1984. A physiological perspective on seed vigor testing. Seed Sci. Technol.
72:1063-1073.
Machado NB, Custodio CC, Takaki M. 2001. Evaluation of naturally and artificially aged seeds of
Phaseolus vulgaris. Seed Sci. Technol. 29:137-149.
Seshu DV, Krishnasamy V. 1987. Seed treatment in rice. J. Seed Technol. 11:69-78.
Vergara BS. 1992. A farmer’s primer on growing rice. Manila (Philippines): International Rice
Research Institute.

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