Developing microbial seed coating for enhancing seed vigour and prolonging storability in chickpea.

• Efficacy of cyanobacteria-based/biofilms and their formulations as seed coating evaluated. • Storability in terms of seed germination and vigor tested in two chickpea varieties. • Cyanobacterial seed coating led to significant enhancement in vigor indices. • Anabaena laxa and cyanobacterial consortium were the top performers. • Field performance needs to be undertaken to validate the beneficial impact of coated seeds. The efficacy of selected cyanobacterial formulations as seed coating for improving seed germination, vigor, and storability of two chickpea varieties Pusa 3062 (Desi) and Pusa 3022 (Kabuli) was evaluated. The application of microbial formulations through seed coating, and recommended chemical treatment (± RST) exhibited a positive impact on seed storability (upto 6 months). This was evident from improvement by 2–4 % higher seed germination, and 25–57 % higher vigour indices, even after 6 months storage; with notable interactions between varieties and treatment methods. Highest percent germination in Desi and Kabuli chickpea varieties after 6 months of storage was observed in An-Rh biofilm + RST (99.25) and BF1- 4 cyanobacterial consortium + RST (95 %), respectively. Percent decrease in germination over the storage period was greater in Kabuli, and among all treatments, across both varieties, in control. Viability studies of the seed coatings with cyanobacteria, using chlorophyll, microscopy and growth as indices, further supported their longevity and beneficial impact upto 6 months storage. Out of all treatments, Anabaena laxa followed closely by BF1- 4 Cyanobacterial consortium + RST were superior. The mean effect of treatments was influenced significantly by variety and their interactions with the period of storage (0, 3, 6 months). PCA validated the significant influence of treatments, with vigor indices as dominant variables. Seed coating with these cyanobacterial formulations can be recommended as an effective strategy to enhance crop vigor as well as seed storability, along with testing the field performance to further validate the beneficial impact of coated seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]