Effect of seed priming with microelements on germination speed, seedling vigor and flower yield of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)

Seed nutrient priming is a simple and low cost method for nutrition، germination and primary growth improvement of crops. In order to evaluate the effect of seed priming on germination and flower yield of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)، an experiment was conducted in Islamic Azad University، Tabriz Branch in 2011. Treatments were seed priming with zinc and manganese at concentrations of 0. 5، 1%، 1. 5% and 2%، Zn- 1%+Mn1%، Zn1. 5%+Mn1% and a control. Mean final germination percentage of seeds treated with zinc and manganese alone was 79% and 79. 5%، respectively، while in control only 71% of seeds completed the germination process. Increasing of zinc and manganese concentrations resulted in lower seedling vigor index. Flower yield in treatments of ZnSO41%+MnSO41%، MnSO41. 5%، ZnSO41. 5%+MnS 41%، ZnSO41. 5% and ZnSO42% produced higher flower yield، respectively. Two combined treatments were significantly different in essential oil yield، and essence yield in Zn1. 5%+Mn1% was 0. 03 ml. ha-1 lower than Z 1%+Mn1%. Response of essential oil yield to the studied treatments was positive and significant and all treatments produced higher yield in comparison to the control، exept 0. 5%Zn and 0. 5% Mn. In conclusion، seed priming with zinc and manganese solutions could be recommended as a method for improving marigold essential oil yield in field condition.