Loading...

Crop Research

Influence of seed priming agents on germination and seedling vigour in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)


DOI: 10.31830/2454-1761.2026.CR-1094    | Article Id: CR-1094 | Page : 165-172
Citation :- Influence of seed priming agents on germination and seedling vigour in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Crop Res. 61: 165-172
DJETRINA Y. TACBIAN, RAYMUND JULIUS G. ROSALES, CHRISTIAN BUTCH ANDREW A. BALBAS, GLISTEN FAITH S. PASCUA, JOHN MARLO M. BANGAYAN, MICAH BENIZE S. GREGORIO-BALBAS AND AIRA LILAC I. PUNGTILAN djetrinatacbian@gmail.com; rgrosales@mmsu.edu.ph
Address : Department of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development, Mariano Marcos State University, City of Batac 2906, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Submitted Date : 20-01-2026
Accepted Date : 31-01-2026
Online Published:

Abstract

Cucumber is an important crop in the Philippines, yet poor seedling vigour from unprimed seeds often limits germination and overall productivity. Seed priming techniques such as hydropriming, gibberellic acid (GA₃), and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) have shown potential to enhance germination and seedling growth, but their effectiveness varies with cultivar.  Based on this, a study was conducted to evaluate the germination and seedling vigour of cucumber after seed priming. Three priming methods (GA3, CaCl2, and hydropriming) were applied to cucumber seeds (Pegasus F1). Three concentrations (6.25, 12.50, and 25 ppm) of GA3 and two concentrations (200 and 400 ppm) of CaCl2 were used, whereas unprimed seeds served as the control. The seeds were primed for 3 h. Ambient condition was used to grow the primed and unprimed seeds. A Completely Randomized Design in 4 replicates was employed. An improved germination index and early seed germination were observed by exposing the seeds to priming. The three seed priming techniques hasten the germination with low mean germination time than the unprimed seeds. Moreover, at 8 days after sowing (DAS), hydropriming, GA₃, and CaCl₂ induced the growth of secondary root count per seedling. At DAS, 12.50 ppm GA3 produced longer roots and seedlings. Likewise, GA3 concentration produced more vigorous seedlings than the other seed priming techniques. Cucumber growers may consider using 12.50 ppm GA3 for vigorous seedlings.

Keywords

Calcium chloride chlorophyll GA3 hydropriming primed seeds

References

Anwar, A., Yu, X. and Li, Y. (2020). Seed priming as a promising technique to improve growth, chlrophyll, photosynythesis and nutrient contents in cucumber seedlings. Not. Bot. Horti. Agrobot. Cluj-Na. 48: 116-27.
Dela Cruz, S., Rosales, R., Gregorio-Balbas, M., Balbas, C. and Pascua, G. (2025). Effect of seed priming in squash on germination and seedling vigor. Crop Res. 60: 179-84.
E’Rahim, N., Nordin, M. and Salleh, M. (2021). Effects of seed priming on seed germination and early seedling growth of chili (Capsicum annuum L.) under water deficit condition. Trop. Agrobiol. 2: 35-39.
Ellouzi, H., Debez, I., Amraoui, S., Rabhi, M., Hanana, M., Alyami, N., Debez, A., Abdelly, C. and Zorrig, W. (2024). Effect of seed priming with auxin on ROS detoxification and carbohydrate metabolism and their relationship with germination and early seedling establishment in salt stressed maize. BMC Plant Biol. 24: doi:10.1186/s12870-024-05413-w.
Gao, L. and Yan, M. (2020). Calcium chloride priming increases chilling tolerance in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Chil. J. Agric. Res. 80: 219-26.
Imran, M., Boelt, B. and Muhling, K. (2018). Zinc seed priming improves salt resistance in maize. J. Agron. Crop Sci. 204: 390-99.
ISTA (2008). International rules for seed testing edition. Bassersdorf. The International Seed Testing Association, Richtiarkade 18, CH-8304 Wallisellen, Switzerland.
Kamboj, A., Sangha, M., Devi, V., Kumar, P., Pathak, M. and Singhla, D. (2024). Enhancing germination and growth in wild okra genotypes through gibberellic acid priming. Sci. Hort. 334: doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113332.
Karim, M., Sani, M., Uddain, J., Azad, M., Kabir, M., Rahman, M., Choi, K. and Naznin, M. (2020). Stimulatory effect of seed priming as pretreatment factors on germination and yield performance of yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata). Hortic. 6:  doi:10.3390/horticulturae6040104.
Nouairi, I., Jalali, K., Zeribi, F., Barhoumi, F., Zribi, K. and Mhadhbi, H. (2019). Seed priming with calcium chloride improves the photosynthesis performance of faba bean plants subjected to cadmium stress. Photosynthetica. 57: 438-45. doi:10.32615/ps.2019.055.
Pandey, P., Bhanuprakash, K. and Umesh. (2017). Effect of seed priming on seed germination and vigour in fresh and aged seeds of cucumber. Int. J. Environ. Agric. Biotech. 2: 2261-64.
Shariff, A., Wahab, P., Jahurul, A., Huda, N., Romes, N., Zakaria, M., Roslan, J., Wahab, R. and Huyop, F. (2020). Nutrient composition, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of tropical Kundasang-grown cucumber at two growth stages. Chil. J. Agric. Res. 81: 220-27.
Soniya, T. and Arivazhagan, E. (2023). Impact of plant growth regulators on growth and yield of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Crop Res. 58: 228-32.
Wang, X. and Shi, Y. (2024). Effect of different seed priming agents on seed germination and physiological characteristics of wheat under saline-alkali stress. Chil. J. Agric. Res. 84: 489-99.

Global Footprints