Organic fertilizer priming enhances eggplant seeds performance

The study of physiological conditioning of slow-germinating vegetable seeds with bioinputs is important as it enhances germination, ensuring higher crop yields and supporting sustainable farming practices. The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of organic fertilizer in priming eggplant seeds. A commercial organic fertilizer with biostimulant properties was utilized for priming two seed lots characterized by high and low vigor. A completely randomized design was used, with a factorial arrangement (2 seed lots × 5 doses), plus two unprimed controls, and four replicates. The treatments consisted of five doses of the biofertilizer: zero (distilled water); 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; and 0.8 mL L-1, and an additional control corresponding to seeds without priming for each lot. Seeds were evaluated for germination performance, physiological quality, and seedling vigor under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Priming low-vigor eggplant seeds with organic fertilizer proved beneficial for germination and overall performance. The high-vigor seed lot exhibited enhanced seedling emergence rate. Furthermore, priming enhanced seedling performance, resulting in increased length and mass, particularly when treated with the 0.8 mL L-1 dose of organic fertilizer. Therefore, the application of biofertilizer can be considered a viable alternative to increase the vigor and germination of eggplant seeds, thereby facilitating uniformity and successful seedling establishment.