Seed Priming with Micronutrients for

Improving the Quality and Yield of Hybrid

Maize

Tassadduq Rasool, Riaz Ahmad &

Muhammad Farooq

Gesunde Pflanzen
Pflanzenschutz - Verbraucherschutz -
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ISSN 0367-4223
Volume 71
Number 1

Gesunde Pflanzen (2019) 71:37-44

DOI 10.1007/s10343-018-00440-8

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 Author's personal copy
Gesunde Pflanzen (2019) 71:37–44
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-018-00440-8

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Seed Priming with Micronutrients for Improving the Quality and Yield
of Hybrid Maize
Tassadduq Rasool1 · Riaz Ahmad1 · Muhammad Farooq1,2,3

Received: 29 May 2018 / Accepted: 7 November 2018 / Published online: 20 December 2018
© Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, ein Teil von Springer Nature 2018

Abstract
Seed priming is a pragmatic, easy approach and an effective technique. It may prove to be an alternate approach to soil and
foliar application of micronutrients. In this study, the effect of micronutrient seed priming at different concentrations and
combinations was evaluated on the productivity of hybrid maize (DK-6578). For priming maize seeds were soaked for 8 h
in various solutions of zinc (0.5%), boron (0.01%), manganese (0.01%), boron + zinc (0.01% + 0.5%), boron + manganese
(0.01% + 0.1%), and boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%). For comparison, seeds were also soaked in simple
water (distilled), i. e. hydropriming, and untreated seeds were taken as control. Seed priming in all the treatments sub-
stantially induced the early emergence of maize compared to control. Likewise, highest grain yield, biological yield, cob
length, grain rows per cob, grains per cob and 1000-grain weight were observed in plants raised from primed seeds, while
boron + zinc + manganese priming (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%) was the best treatment. Similarly, maximum boron (77.60 mg/kg)
and protein contents (10.82%) were observed in boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%) primed seeds, followed
by boron + zinc (0.01% + 0.5%). In conclusion, different seed priming strategies improved emergence, yield and quality of
maize. The combined application of boron, zinc, and manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%) for seed priming was the most
effective treatment technique.

Keywords Micronutrients · Protein · Hydropriming · Osmopriming · Seed treatment

 Tassadduq Rasool
Tassadduquaf@gmail.com

1
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad, Pakistan
2
Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural
and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University,
Al-Khoud 123, Muscat, Oman
3
Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia,
MO82, 35 Stirling Highway, 6009 Crawley, Western
Australia, Australia

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38 T. Rasool et al.

Saatgutvorbehandlung mit Mikronährstofflösung zur Verbesserung der Qualität und des Ertrags von
Hybridmais

Zusammenfassung
Saatgutvorbehandlung ist eine pragmatische, leicht zugängliche und effektive Technik, die ein alternativer Ansatz für
die Boden- und Blattaufbringung von Mikronährstoffen sein kann. In dieser Studie untersucht wurde der Effekt einer
Saatgutvorbehandlung mit Mikronährstoffen in verschiedenen Konzentrationen und Kombinationen auf die Produktivi-
tät von Hybridmais (DK-6578). Für die Aufbereitung wurden Maissamen 8 h lang in verschiedenen Lösungen aus Zink
(0,5 %), Bor (0,01 %), Mangan (0,01 %), Bor + Zink (0,01 % + 0,5 %), Bor + Mangan (0,01 % + 0,1 %), Bor + Zink + Mangan
(0,01 % + 0,5 % + 0,1 %) quellen gelassen. Zum Vergleich wurden Maissamen in destilliertem Wasser quellen gelassen (Hy-
dropriming), und unbehandeltes Saatgut diente als Kontrolle. Die Saatgutvorbehandlung führte im Wesentlichen dazu, dass
der Mais im Vergleich zur Kontrolle früh aufging. Die höchste Kornernte, der höchste biologische Ertrag, die größte Kol-
benlänge, die meisten Kornreihen pro Kolben, die meisten Körner pro Kolben und die höchste Tausendkornmasse wurden
bei Pflanzen beobachtet, die aus vorbehandeltem Saatgut hervorgingen. Dabei war die Kombination Bor + Zink + Mangan
(0,01 % + 0,5 %+ 0,1 %) die beste Behandlungsmethode. Ebenso wurden maximale Bor- (77,60 mg/kg) und Proteingehalte
(10,82 %) bei mit Bor + Zink + Mangan (0,01 % + 0,5 % + 0,1 %) vorbehandelten Samen beobachtet, gefolgt von Bor + Zink
(0,01 % + 0,5 %). Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass verschiedene Strategien zur Saatgutvorbehandlung das Auf-
gehen, den Ertrag und die Qualität von Mais verbessern. Dabei hat sich die Kombination von Bor, Zink und Mangan
(0,01 % + 0,5 % + 0,1 %) als die effektivste erwiesen.

Schlüsselwörter Mikronährstoffe · Protein · Hydropriming · Osmopriming · Saatbehandlung

Introduction
The potential role of micronutrients in improving the
growth of various crops has been reported. However, no
study has been carried out to evaluate the potential role
of micronutrients as seed-priming agents for improving
the quality and quantity of maize (Scott 2008). Maize is
a high nutrient-demanding crop, which also requires mi-
cronutrients (particularly Zn), along with major elements
for proper growth and yield formation (Muhammad et al.
2015). Among these, Zn (zinc), B (boron) and Mn (man-
ganese) are of special consideration. So there is a need to
develop approaches that are pragmatic and easy to adapt for
integrated nutrient management (Gaind and Singh 2015).
Zinc deficiency is equally deleterious in plants as well as in
humans (Cakmak et al. 1999). Globally, 40% of cultivated
soils are Zn deficient. Regions with Zn-deficient soils are
also regions where human population suffers from Zn defi-
ciency; such areas include India, China, Pakistan, Iran and
Turkey (Cakmak et al. 1999; Rashid and Ryan 2004; Dye
et al. 2015). Zinc deficiency is usually widespread in the
cereal crops grown on calcareous soils of semi-arid regions,
where 50% soils are reportedly Zn-deficient (Singh et al.
2005; Nayyar et al. 2008).
In seed priming, seeds are partially hydrated to allow
metabolic events to occur without actual germination and
then re-dried close to their original weight to permit rou-
tine handling (Bradford 1986). Such seeds germinate faster
than non-primed seeds (Farooq et al. 2006). Seed prim-
ing with Zn can improve crop emergence, stand establish-
ment, and subsequent growth and yield (Harris et al. 2000;
Ajouri et al. 2004). Moreover, increase in the nutrient con-
tent of grains and further using the enriched seeds can also
produce yields with higher nutrient contents (Kataki et al.
2008: Farooq et al. 2012). For example, priming Echinacea
purpurea L. seed with 0.05% ZnSO4 solution increased ger-
mination by 38% and field emergence by 41% (Farooq et al.
2012).
Boron is incorporated in many cell constituents and in-
volved in many metabolic activities such as cell division
and elongation, required for the retention of protein in the
cell wall, its structure, and function (Brown et al. 2002). It
is also necessary for translocation of sugars across the cell
membrane and in maintaining the water relations within
the plant (Alam and Raza 2001). Boron deficiency in crop
plants may result in poor tillering, reduced flowering and
fruiting structures (Rehman et al. 2013) and poor yields,
with deformed or discolored fruit or grain (Goldbach et al.
2001). In another recent study conducted by Farooq and his
coworkers (2011), seeds of fine-grain aromatic rice culti-
vars ‘Super basmati’ and ‘Shaheen basmati’ were primed in
aerated boron solutions of different concentrations (0.001,
0.01, 0.1 and 0.5%). Stand establishment improved sub-
stantially by seed priming in 0.001% and 0.01% boron so-
lutions; however, beyond these concentrations, emergence
was suppressed (Farooq et al. 2011). Seed priming with
boron proved to be the most convenient and cost-effective
method of supplying this element.
Zinc is a vital micronutrient, which is an integral part
of various important enzymes, such as alcohol dehydro-

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Seed Priming with Micronutrients for Improving the Quality and Yield of Hybrid Maize 39

Fig. 1 Weather data Weather data

40 80

Relave Humidity %; and Rainfall (mm)

35 70

Temperature (ºC)
30 60
25 50
20 40
15 30
10 20
5 10
0 0
Aug 15 Sep 15 Okt 15 Nov 15
Duraon of crop in months

Max. Temperature Mini. Temperature Ave. Temperature RH% Rainfall

genase, carbonic anhydrase, Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase
(SOD), alkaline phosphatase, phospholipase, carboxypep-
tidase, and RNA polymerase (Soetan et al. 2010). There-
fore, deficiency of Zn causes inhibition of these enzymes.
Zn deficiency can cause severe damage to the plant sys-
tems through impaired membrane integrity, susceptibility
to heat stress, and reduction in synthesis of carbohydrates,
cytochromes nucleotide auxin, and chlorophyll (Singh et al.
2005).
Manganese (Mn) plays a vital role in nitrogen metabolism
and photosynthesis and is involved in the formation of sev-
eral other compounds required for plant metabolism (Stout
and Arnon 1939). Priming wheat seeds in MnSO4 solutions
significantly improved growth, grain yield and grain Mn
content (Khalid and Malik 1982).
Seed priming is a well-known dimension in crop im-
provement through early emergence, uniform stand estab-
lishment, better growth and improved yield. The combined
as well as individual effect of Zn, B and Mn priming on
hybrid maize has not been explored to the best of our knowl-
edge. Therefore, the following performed study will provide
a new perspective for improving the productivity of maize.
Materials and Methods
DK-6578 was sown manually on August 8, 2015, using
a seed rate of 25 kg ha–1. The net plot size was 3 m × 7 m,
having 4 ridges per plot, 7 m long, in 75 cm spaced rows
and 25 cm plant-plant spacing.
Before applying fertilizers, soil analysis was performed
and then nutrients were used at the rate of (N : P : K)
200–150–100 kg ha–1. The sources of fertilizers were urea
(46% N), diammonium phosphate (DAP) (18% N, 46%
P2O5) and sulfate of potash (50% K2O). All the potash
and phosphorus and one-third of nitrogen were applied as
a basal dose, while the remainder nitrogen was applied in
two splits (a common practice in maize-production areas
in Pakistan). The first split of nitrogen was applied at first
irrigation and the second split of nitrogen was applied at
the booting stage.
Treatment Combinations
The experiment comprised following treatments: T0: Con-
trol; T1: Hydropriming; T2: Seed priming with zinc (0.5%);
T3: Seed priming with boron (0.01%); T4: Seed prim-
ing with manganese (0.01%); T5: Seed priming with
boron + zinc (0.01% + 0.5%); T6: Seed priming with boron +
manganese (0.01% + 0.1%); and T7: Seed priming with
boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%).

Site of Experiment
Table 1 Physiochemical properties of soil before sowing
This study was conducted at Agronomic Research Area of
Characteristics 0–15 cm 15–30 cm
University of Agriculture Faisalabad (31°260 N, 73°060 E,
at 184 m above sea level) under semi-arid conditions of Soil chemical properties
Pakistan, during the year 2015. Weather data are shown in pH 8.3 8.2
Fig. 1. The soil and chemical characteristics are described Electrical conductivity (dSm–1) 1.84 1.93
in Table 1. Potassium (ppm) 9.4 7.9
Phosphorus (ppm) 114 108
Experimental Design and Methodology Soil physical properties
Organic properties (%) 1.54 0.42
The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete- Saturation (%) 38 38
block design (RCBD), with four replications. Maize hybrid Texture class Sandy loam

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Seed Priming Techniques
Maize seed was soaked in aerated solutions of 0.5% Zn,
0.01% B, and 0.1% Mn and in various combinations of
these for 8 h. All solutions were prepared in distilled water
and seed to solution ratio was kept 1:5 (w/v i. e. 1 kg seed
in 5 liters of solution) for seed priming. Aeration was pro-
vided throughout the priming to avoid anaerobic condition
development. After soaking, seeds were rinsed thoroughly
three times with distilled water and re-dried under shade to
their original weight. Both treated and untreated seeds were
sown in the well-prepared field.
Data Collection and Analysis
Time Taken to 50% Emergence in Days
Time taken to 50% seedling emergence was calculated via
the following formula (Farooq et al. 2005):
N   Wt
2 − ni tj − ti
T50 = ti
nj − ni
Where N is the number of final seeds germinated; and ni
and nj are the cumulative numbers of seeds germinated at
adjacent days at times ti and tj when ni < N/2 < nj.
Mean Emergence Time (Days)
Mean emergence time (MET) was calculated by using the
following formula (Ellis and Robert 1981):
P powdered sample was taken in the long Kjeldahl flask. Then
Dn
MET = P
n sulfate, potassium sulfate and 25 ml of concentrated com-
Where n is the number of seeds, which were germinated
on day D; and D is the number of days counted from the
beginning of germination.
Agronomic and Yield-Related Traits
Data on agronomic and yield-related traits were recorded
at maturity by following the standard procedures. For plant
height, ten plants per plot were selected from random sites
within the plot and height was measured from base to top.
Similarly, cob length (CL), grain rows per cob (GRPC),
grains per cob (GPC) were also determined from 10 cobs
and data were averaged. The 1000-grain weight was deter-
mined by manually counting of oven dried constant mois-
ture grains and two repeats were averaged. For biological
and grain yield all the plants from plot were harvested and
yield was calculated on per hectare basis by converting per
plot area to per hectare through unitary method.
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T. Rasool et al.
Boron Concentration Determination
Boron (B) content was determined by dry ashing method
(Chapman and Pratt 1961) and further measurements
were made colorimetrically using Azomethine-H (Bing-
ham 1982). For the measurements, 1 g dry ground grains
were ignited in a muffle furnace at 550 °C in porcelain
crucibles. The ash was wetted with DI water and then
10 ml of 0.36 N H2SO4 solution was added. This mixture
was heated in a steam bath for 20 min and then cooled at
room temperature for 1 h. The residual material was filtered
through Whatman No. 1 filter paper. The absorbance of
blank, filtrate and standards was measured on the spec-
trophotometer (Model 6300-VIS) at 420 nm wavelength.
A calibration curve was drawn from the standard readings
and B concentration was determined by using the following
equation:
V
B .mg kg−1 / = ppm B .calibration curve/ 
V = Total volume of the extract (ml)
Wt = Weight of dry pant (g); ppm is the amount of Boron
obtained through calibration curve after spectropho-
tometer readings.
Protein Concentration Determination
Total nitrogen in samples was determined via the micro
Kjeldahl method. For this, 1 g of oven-dried, then finely
5 g of catalyst mixture containing copper sulfate, ferrous
mercial sulfuric acid (98%) were added. The samples were
boiled in a digestion rack, initially at low temperature and
then at vigorous boiling till the contents became clear. After
cooling, the contents of the flask were diluted with distilled
water in a 250 ml volumetric flask. A 10 ml aliquot of this
solution was transferred to the micro Kjeldahl distillation
apparatus and distilled in the presence of 250 mg of zinc
dust and 40% sodium hydroxide solution. The so produced
ammonia was collected in a beaker containing 10 ml of 2%
boric acid solution containing two drops of methyl red as an
indicator. The distillate was titrated against standard 0.1 N
sulfuric acids to light pink end-point.
The percentage of nitrogen was calculated according to
the following formula:
ml N H2 SO4  0.0014  250  100
Nitrogen .%/ =
W  10
W = Weight of the finely ground sample
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Seed Priming with Micronutrients for Improving the Quality and Yield of Hybrid Maize 41

The protein percentage of the sample was determined by
use of the following formula:
Crude protein .%/ = Nitrogen .%/  6.25
(6.25 is a constant factor based on an assumption that, ni-
trogen constitutes 16% protein)
Statistical Analysis
The data were analyzed statistically by using the Fisher’s
analysis of variance technique (Steel et al. 1997). Treatment
means were separated via least significant difference (LSD)
test at 5% level of probability.
Results and Discussion
The primary objectives of seed priming are to reduce the
time to the emergence and establish good stand even under
unfavorable environments or stresses as well as to main-
tain normal metabolic and associated processes (Khaliq
et al. 2013). Time to 50% emergence and MET (mean
emergence time) are good indices of synchronized, uni-
form germination and seedling vigor. Data regarding the
effect of seed priming on days to 50% emergence are pre-
sented in Table 2. Seed priming with micronutrients had
a significant effect on days to 50% emergence. Seed prim-
ing with boron (0.01%) performed best and took the last
time (7.59 days) to 50% emergence, closely followed by
7.61 days for seeds primed with boron + zinc + manganese
(0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%). However, the seeds without any
treatment (control) took longer time (7.85 days) for 50%
emergence than all the priming treatments. The mini-
mum mean emergence time was recorded in seeds primed
with boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%) (8.23
days), which might have been the result of mobilization
of stored seed reserves attributable to priming and pro-
duction of germination metabolites (Basra et al. 2005;
Gallardo et al. 2001). This significant reduction in time to
Table 2 Effect of different
Treatments
seed priming treatments on
emergence of hybrid maize Control
Hydropriming
Seed priming with zinc (0.5%)
Seed priming with boron (0.01%)
Seed priming with manganese (0.01%)
Seed priming with boron + zinc (0.01% + 0.5%)
Seed priming with boron + manganese (0.01% + 0.1%)
Seed priming with boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%)
LSD (p  0.05)
MET Mean emergence time, T50 time to 50% emergence, LSD Least singficance difference test;
The differences among the treatment means are represented by the alphabatical letters in the lower case
emergence might be attributed to biochemical changes in
enzyme activation, biosynthesis and reserves mobilization
triggered due to seed priming (Aziza et al. 2004; Basra
et al. 2005).
Seed-priming treatment also significantly affected the
yield and yield-related attributes. Plant height was signif-
icantly improved by micronutrient application (Table 3).
The maximum plant height was recorded under com-
bined application of boron + zinc (0.01% + 0.5%), fol-
lowed by seed priming with boron + zinc + manganese
(0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%). The treatments (T2, T3, and T4)
were also equally effective to increase plant height of
maize hybrid. Increase in plant height (Table 3) occurred
as a result of increased internodal distance as reported by
Kaya et al. (2002) with manganese and boron application.
The application of micronutrients also markedly in-
creased the cob length, grains per cob and number of grain
rows per cob compared to control. The soaking of seeds
in a combined solution of boron, zinc, and manganese
(0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%) produced ears with increased length
and number of grains. The application of micronutrients en-
hances the nitrogen content in grain (Siddiqui et al. 2009).
Positive effect on the uptake of nitrogen during the milk
and grain-formation stages has also been found with Zn
application at an early stage of development (Grzebisz et al.
2008). Similarly, Potarzycki and Grzebisz (2009) reported
zinc, boron, and manganese application to be a positive
factor in improving the nitrogen content in the plant.
Highest 1000-grain weight was recorded in seeds that
were soaked in a combined solution of boron, zinc and
manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%), followed by boron and
manganese (0.01% + 0.1%). Early emergence, faster crop
growth rate and transfer of photosynthates to the sink con-
tribute towards larger grain size and weight (Bakhtavar et al.
2015).
Seed priming with (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%) boron + zinc +
manganese solution increased grain yield and biological
yield of hybrid maize. This increment in grain yield of
maize was attributable to enhanced nutrient-use efficiency,
photosynthetic rates and translocation of reserves in an
MET (days) T50 (days)
10.90 a 7.99 a
10.11 b 7.78 abc
9.17 c 7.73 abc
9.29 c 7.85 ab
9.24 c 7.70 bcd
9.06 c 7.54 cde
8.78 c 7.45 de
8.23 d 7.28 e
0.52 0.26

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42 T. Rasool et al.

Table 3 Yield and yield components of hybrid maize as affected by seed priming under different application concentrations
Treatments PH (cm) PP CL 1000-GW GPC GRPC GY BY
(m2) (cm) (g) (values) (values) (t/ha) (t/ha)
T1 169 d 104.50 b 15.72 e 215 e 453 f 13.50 c 7.11 g 16.70 d
T2 189 ab 112.75 ab 15.95 de 234 d 480 e 14.75 bc 7.37 f 17.25 cd
T3 189 ab 112.75 ab 15.75 e 244 bc 499 cd 16.00 ab 7.82 d 17.74 bc
T4 187 ab 112.25 b 16.41 cd 239 cd 498 d 14.75 bc 7.62 de 17.21 cd
T5 177 cd 116.25 ab 16.79 bc 236 d 500 bc 14.00 c 7.57 ef 17.18 cd
T6 196 a 128.75 a 17.12 ab 246 b 517 ab 14.50 bc 8.37 b 18.43 ab
T7 183 bc 115.00 ab 16.44 cd 243 bc 504 cd 15.00 bc 8.10 c 18.14 b
T8 189 ab 114.75 ab 17.47 a 265 a 521 a 17.00 a 8.77 a 18.95 a
LSD (P  0.05) 8.59* 16.22* 0.65* 7.24* 10.27* 1.88* 0.24* 0.73*
PH plant height, PP plant population, CL cob length, GPC grains per cob, 1000-GW 1000 grain weight, GRPC grain rows per cob, GY grain
yield, BY biological yield, T1 control, T2 hydropriming, T3 seed priming with zinc (0.5%), T4 seed priming with boron (0.01%), T5 seed priming
with manganese (0.01%), T6 seed priming with boron + zinc (0.01% + 0.5%), T7 seed priming with boron + manganese (0.01% + 0.1%), T8 seed
priming with boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%), LSD Least significance difference test
*Indicates the significance of above mentioned character’s at P value 0.05, The differences among the treatment means are represented by the
alphabatical letters given in the lower case

integrated way (Davis and Quick 1998). Increased yield
due micronutrient application is also the result of the en-
hanced synthesis of carbohydrates and their translocation to
grains (Shuman 2008). Increased biological and grain yield
might be attributed to improved nutrition and early seedling
growth of the plant that increased the growth-related at-
tributes (Fageria et al. 2008). Seed priming also improves
the activity of protease and α-amylase. These two enzymes
have important consideration in assimilate partitioning and
translocation (Zafar et al. 2012).
boron content (77.60) was also found in seeds treated with
the boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%) solu-
tion. This increase in boron content might be attributed
to genetically availability of a high pool of boron within
the plant tissues in genotypes of high sink capacity during
the reproductive stages (Khoufi et al. 2012). However, seed
priming role in reserve mobilization, better emergence lead-
ing to improved canopy development might be the possible
reasons for increased nutrient sequestration in grains.

Quality Attributes Conclusion

Micronutrient application improved the protein content in
maize. Data regarding the effect of different priming tech-
niques are shown in Table 4. Grains with highest protein
contents were obtained in plants grown from seeds treated
with boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%). The
application of micronutrients might help in ensuring opti-
mal transportation of nutrients because of the positive ef-
fect on growth and development. Similarly, highest value of
Out of the different priming strategies, the combination of
boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%) proved to
be the most effective technique. Therefore, it may be opted
to obtain uniform stand, grain yield, and quality of au-
tumn maize, under the prevailing agro-climatic conditions
of Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Table 4 Effect of micronutrient

Treatments B contents Protein contents
seed priming on grain protein
(mg kg–1) (%)
(%) and boron contents (mg
kg–1) Control 49.33 c 8.69 c
Hydropriming 63.05 b 9.01 c
Seed priming with zinc (0.5%) 65.92 b 9.08 c
Seed priming with boron (0.01%) 66.75 ab 9.27 bc
Seed priming with manganese (0.01%) 64.93 b 9.92 abc
Seed priming with boron + zinc (0.01% + 0.5%) 72.95 ab 10.47 ab
Seed priming with boron + manganese (0.01% + 0.1%) 69.50 ab 9.97 abc
Seed priming with boron + zinc + manganese (0.01% + 0.5% + 0.1%) 77.60 a 10.82 a
LSD (p  0.05) 11.57 1.31
LSD Least significance difference test;
The differences among the treatment means are represented by the alphabatical letters in the lower case

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Seed Priming with Micronutrients for Improving the Quality and Yield of Hybrid Maize
Conflict of interest T. Rasool, R. Ahmad and M. Farooq declare that
they have no competing interests.
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 Author's personal copy
44 T. Rasool et al.

Tassadduq Rasool is a Ph.D. graduate from the Department of Agron-

omy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. He will join The
Directorate General Soil Survey of Punjab in the coming month as a
Soil Survey Research Officer.