Abstract
The study investigated the potential of priming with moringa leaf extract (MLE) and magnetized water (MW) alone or in combinations on germination, seedling growth and biochemical attributes of pea seeds. Untreated seeds were used in the control treatment. Priming strategies improved germination capacity, stand establishment and seedling vigor compared with hydropriming and the control. Priming with MW greatly improved germination and seedling vigor of pea seeds compared with the control and other seed treatments. In MLE primed seeds alone and in combination, root and shoot growth, a-amylase activity and total soluble sugars were maximally increased. Overall, MW primed pea seeds performed better and this could be related to seedling vigor enhancement and lowering the mean emergence time as a result of imbibing the maximum quantity of structured (magnetized) water. The results suggest that MW and MLE priming treatments have the potential to enhance germination, early growth and a-amylase activity of pea seeds.