<div>The experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram with an objective to study the effect of nutripriming with ZnSO4 and borax on the early growth and seedling vigour and Zn and B content in grain cowpea. Nutripriming treatments had significant effect on germination parameters. Nutripriming with ZnSO4 either at 0.025 or 0.05 per cent recorded higher values for the germination parameters. These treatments recorded 19.68 and 18.51 per centage higher germination than control. Germination index was 1.4 times higher in seeds primed with ZnSO4 @ 0.025 and 0.05 per cent and also recorded higher values for mean daily germination and speed of germination. The highest co-efficient rate of germination and germination rate index was recorded by seed priming with ZnSO4 at 0.05 per cent and it was closely followed by ZnSO4 @ 0.025 per cent for 4 h. &nbsp;Nutripriming with ZnSO4 either @ 0.025 or 0.05 per cent recorded the lowest mean germination time and time to reach 50 per cent germination and also recorded higher Zn and B content. Vigour index also followed the same trend. Hence it can be concluded that nutripriming with ZnSO4 either at 0.025 or 0.05 per cent can be recommended for early seedling growth, seedling vigour and higher Zn and B content in grain cowpea.</div>

<div>Nutripriming with zinc sulphate and borax for early growth and seedling vigour in grain cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]</div>

<div>Background:&nbsp;In rainfed agriculture, lentil is considered an important legume crop. But in rainfed conditions adequate soil moisture condition is a major obstacle that leads to reduced germination per cent, slow down growth of the seedlings and finally reduction in yield. Seed priming is an alternative which can improve the germination percentage and seedling establishment of lentil.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The present work, deals with the lentil (Lens culinaris L.) cv. HUL 57 where seeds were primed with different concentrations/combinations of boric acid (H3BO3) and zinc sulphate heptahydrate (ZnSO4.7H2O). The parameters taken into consideration was germination percentage (ranging from 18 to 96 h), radicle and plumule length, fresh and dry weights of radicle and plumule at different time intervals (ranging from 48 to 96 h) during both the consecutive years i.e., 2014-15 and 2015-16.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Among all the priming treatments, priming with 4 mM boric acid (B2), 2 mM zinc sulphate heptahydrate (Zn1) and 2 mM of zinc sulphate + 4 mM of boric acid (T1) significantly improved the germination percentage, plumule and radicle lengths, fresh and dry weights of lentil seedlings over other treatments in both the consecutive years.</div>

Effect of Nutripriming with Boric Acid, Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate and its Combination on Germination Physiology of Lentil (Lens culinaris L.) cv. HUL 57