Enhancing Shallot Growth and Production: Roles of Zinc-Based Seed Priming Techniques

Abstract

This research aimed to study the effects of seed priming methods on the growth and yield of two shallot varieties available as seeds for propagation. The research site was at the Experimental Garden, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia. The research was conducted using a split-plot design, arranged as a randomized complete block design. The main plot was shallot variety, consisting of 2 varieties, namely Lokananta and Maserati. The subplot consisted of priming types in 6 treatments: control, hydropriming, IAA priming, ZnO priming, ZnSO4.7H2O priming, and Zn-EDTA priming. The results showed an interaction between Lokananta varieties and ZnSO4.7H2O priming on several parameters, i.e., bulb count, bulb diameter, and bulb shrinkage. The interaction between Maserati varieties and IAA priming on plant height parameters was significant. Treatment of the Maserati variety accelerated the arrival of its harvest stage. The Zn-EDTA priming treatment increased the percentage of surviving seedlings, number of bulbs, plant fresh and dry weight, bulb fresh and dry weight, bulb diameter, bulb height, bulb shrinkage, bulb moisture content, yield, and productivity. The ZnO priming treatment produced the lowest crown-to-bulb ratio and the highest harvest index. The ZnSO4.7H2O priming treatment increased the number of leaves. Seed priming using Zn could increase the growth and yield production of shallots after a maintenance period.