Resumen

PENA-DATOLI, Miguel et al. Maize (Zea mays L.) seed coating with chitosan and sodium alginate and its effect on root development. Agrociencia [online]. 2016, vol.50, n.8, pp.1091-1106. ISSN 2521-9766.

Time between seed germination and an autotrophic plant is a critical stage. During this period the seedling is susceptible to competition with weeds and adverse soil and climate change conditions due to its reduced root system and scarce leaf area, as in the case of maize (Zea mays L.). The use of biochemical agents as coating on seeds that promote a greater root development in early stages favors a good initial development of the seedling. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of coatings with chitosan (30 g L-1), sodium alginate (50 g L-1), salicylic acid (1x10-3 M) and fertilizers equivalent to a dose of N-P2O5-K2O: 26.7-7.5-13.3 kg ha-1 in the emergence, root development, and absorption of water and nutrients in two maize genetic lines with contrasting root development. The hypothesis was that the coating of maizeseeds with one or more of these materials favors the water and nutritional status of the seedling, which stimulates an efficient emergence, increases the root biomass and the absorption of water and nutrients. The experimental design was completely randomized with a 2x6 factorial arrangement (2 maize lines, 6 coatings) with two controls (uncoated seed). The experimental units were pots and the comparison of means was performed with the LSD test (p≤0.05). Seeds were covered by the ionic gelation technique sowed in tezontle and irrigated with the Steiner nutrient solution without macronutrients in the greenhouse. The biomass and nutritional concentration of the seedlings were evaluated 30 and 50 d after sowing (DAS). The emergence of plants decreased as a result of the coatings: chitosan (40 %) and sodium alginate (14 %). Fertilizers and salicylic acid reduced biomass and root length (30 DAS). There was no consistent effect of coatings on nutrient concentration in maize plants.

Palabras llave : Seeds coating; ionic gelling; root development; chitosan; sodium alginate.

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