Influence of Moringa Leaf Extract and Coconut Water as Priming Agent to Improve the Emergence and Early Seedling Growth in Cucumber

Abstract

Rapid and uniform field emergences are two essential prerequisites to increased yield, quality, and ultimately profits in annual crops production. Priming with plant growth regulators have been widely reported to improve seedling vigor and emergence. This study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of improvement in emergence and early seedling growth in cucumber by treating the seeds of cucumber for 18 hours in aerated solution of Fresh moringa leaf extract; FMLE, Stored moringa leaf extract; SMLE and Fresh coconut water; FCW. Priming with plant growth regulator improved the emergence rate and uniformity and early seedling growth. However, seed treatment with FMLE was more effective in reducing the mean emergence time, and improving the final emergence percentage and emergence energy and number of roots. However, maximum seedling fresh and dry weights, root length were recorded from seed treatment with fresh coconut water. Seed treatment with moringa leaf extract and/or coconut water can be successfully employed to improve the germination and seedling growth in cucumbers.