Effect of spraying dates with nano-zinc on some characteristics of quality, viability and emergence of maize.

A laboratory experiment was carried out in the Seed Technology Laboratory of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad (during 2021) with the aim to study the effect of nano-zinc concentrations and the dates of their addition on the quality, viability, and seed vigor characteristics of maize seeds. A factorial experiment was applied according to a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The first factor represents the dates of spraying (the beginning of the male flowering stage, 50% female flowering, and the completion of female flowering) and its symbol (D1, D2, and D3) respectively, while the second factor was represented by zinc concentrations (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg L-1). The results of the statistical analysis showed the significant effect of the dates of spraying nano-zinc in all the studied traits, the early date (D1) gave the highest average germination energy (94.50%), final count of germination (96.67%), radicle length (6.85 cm), plumule length (6.96 cm), fresh weight of the seedling (4.85 g), and the highest dry weight (2.23 g). The results showed the superiority of nano-Zn concentrations in most of the viability and seed strength traits for the studied traits, especially at the concentration of 300 mg L-1, Which gave the highest average germination energy of 94.44%, radicle length of 7.07 cm, plumule length of 7.04 cm, fresh seedling weight of 5.86 g, and the highest dry weight of 2.83 g. It is concluded from this study that spraying at the beginning of flowering stage is the most responsive to spraying the nano-Zn element, and the concentration of 300 mg L-1 was distinguished in all viability characteristics and seed vigor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]