Pre-germination treatments are a promising tool for improving germination and early seedling development in economically important crops such as maize. The objective of this study was to evaluate different pre-germination treatments and identify the most effective ones for germination and early seedling development of the Zacatecas 58 maize variety. Variables such as daily germination (DG), total germination (GT), and time to 50% germination (T 50 ) (indicators of germination speed and synchronization) were measured. For seedling development, stem and root length and dry matter weight were measured, and the data were analyzed using analysis of variance for completely randomized designs. The most effective treatments for germination among the chemical substances were acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) at 0.06% (81% germination) and calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ) at 3% (84% germination), both superior to the control (75%) in germination speed and synchronization. The plant extracts that exhibited a hormetic effect were garlic at 15%, chili pepper at 15%, and onion at 25% and 50%. Regarding plant development, onion extracts significantly stimulated stem and root length. Biopriming with strains of Pseudomonas fungipugnans and P. hunanensis obtained from corn roots improved root length and dry weight, while Bacillus strains from tomato roots had no apparent effect on the corn seedlings. It is concluded that concentration and application time are critical factors and that plant extracts, biopriming, and chemical compounds represent viable and economical alternatives for improving seedling germination and vigor. A certain species-specific relationship between the root microbiota and its host was also demonstrated.
FAOSTAT (2023) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division. http://www.fao.org/faostat/
Hernández, J.A.S. (2009) El origen y la diversidad del maíz en el continente americano. Obtenido de Greenpeace. https://esant.mx/bach/perfil/hm/docs/hm-en1.8.pdf
Amogou, O., Dagbénonbakin, G., Agbodjato, N.A., Noumavo, P.A., Salami, H.A., Valère, S., et al . (2018) Influence of Isolated PGPR Rhizobacteria in Central and Northern Benin on Maize Germination and Greenhouse Growth. American Journal of Plant Sciences , 9, 2775-2793. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2018.913201
Bhardwaj, G., Shah, R., Joshi, B. and Patel, P. (2017) Klebsiella pneumoniae VRE36 as a PGPR Isolated from Saccharum officinarum Cultivar Co99004. Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology , 5, 47-52. https://doi.org/10.7324/jabb.2017.50108
Trejo, R. (2025) Superficie sembrada de maíz en México: Estadísticas y tendencias. Revista Mexicana de Agricultura , 45, 12-28. https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Update_Mexico%20City_Mexico_MX2025-0048
Sullivan, B.K., Keough, M. and Govers, L.L. (2022) Copper Sulphate Treatment Induces Heterozostera Seed Germination and Improves Seedling Growth Rates. Global Ecology and Conservation , 35, e02079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02079
Acurio Vásconez, R.D., Tenorio Moya, E.M., Medrano Jara, K.A. and Chiluisa-Utreras, V.P. (2020) Molecular Identification of Strains of Bacillus spp. and Its Use as Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria in Tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.). Scientia Agropecuaria , 11, 575-581. https://doi.org/10.17268/sci.agropecu.2020.04.13
Yakhin, O.I., Lubyanov, A.A., Yakhin, I.A. and Brown, P.H. (2017) Biostimulants in Plant Science: A Global Perspective. Frontiers in Plant Science , 7, Article No. 2049. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.02049
Dhal, P., Sahu, G., Dhal, A., Mohanty, S. and Dash, S.K. (2022) Priming of Vegetable Seeds: A Review. The Pharma Innovation Journal , 11, 519-525. https://www.thepharmajournal.com/archives/?year=2022&vol=11&issue=2&ArticleI=10560
Pandey, P., Mishra, T. and Gorakhpur, D. (2022) Seed Priming: An Effective Technique for Seed Germination. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , 11, 427-449.
Valenzuela Illanes, J.C. (2024) Diseño de tratamientos de hidrocebado mediante métodos caseros, dirigidos a pequeñas y pequeños agricultores del ámbito agroecológico, para la mejora de la germinación de semillas de cuatro variedades de maíz. Master’s Thesis, Universidad Internacional de Andalucía. https://dspace.unia.es/bitstream/handle/10334/9474/1814_Valenzuela.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Rendón, J.A.S. and Gómez, E.F.F. (2018) Ecotecnologías para la restauración ecológica: los tratamientos de semillas y las micorrizas. http://repositorio.geotech.cu/jspui/handle/1234/3607
Peña-Datoli, M.L., Hidalgo-Moreno, C.M.I., González-Hernández, V.A., Alcántar-González, E.G. and Etchevers-Barra, J.D. (2016) Recubrimiento de semillas de maíz ( Zea mays L.) con quitosano y alginato de sodio y su efecto en el desarrollo radical. Agrociencia , 50, 1091-1106. http://www.redalyc.org/pdf/302/30249305011.pdf
Budhbaware, S. and Rai, P.K. (2024) Standardization of Pre-Sowing Seed Treatment with Selected Botanical, Biofertilizers and Plant Growth Regulator on Seedling Parameters of Maize ( Zea mays L.). Journal of Cereal Research , 15, 403-407.
Nadeem, M.K., Qaswar, M., Ahmed, N., Rabnawaz and Rasool, S.J. (2017) Effect of Seed Soaking Time on Germination of Maize ( Zea mays L.). PSM Biological Re-search , 2, 46-50. https://scispace.com/papers/effect-of-seed-soaking-time-on-germination-of-maize-zea-mays-4bv0kuwsv0
Su, Y., Fan, G., Sun, J., Zhao, L. and Zhang, C. (2021) Germination Characteristics of Maize Seeds with High and Low-Vigour Levels in Response to On-Farm Seed Priming. Seed Science and Technology , 49, 125-134. https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2021.49.2.04
Marthandan, V., Geetha, R., Kumutha, K., Renganathan, V.G., Karthikeyan, A. and Ramalingam, J. (2020) Seed Priming: A Feasible Strategy to Enhance Drought Tolerance in Crop Plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences , 21, Article No. 8258. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21218258
Joya Dávila, J.G., Ramírez González, S.I., López Báez, O., Jiménez Núñez, S.A.d.R., Álvaro Alvarado Gaona, Á. and Espinosa-Zaragoza, S. (2021) Osmoacondicionamiento de semillas de Zea mays con extractos vegetales para aumentar el vigor de establecimiento. Ciencia y Agricultura , 18, 21-35. https://doi.org/10.19053/01228420.v18.n1.2021.12019
Adhikari, B., Dhital, P.R., Ranabhat, S. and Poudel, H. (2021) Effect of Seed Hydro-Priming Durations on Germination and Seedling Growth of Bitter Gourd ( Momordica charantia ). PLOS ONE , 16, e0255258. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255258
Escobar-Álvarez, J.L., Ramírez-Reynoso, O., Cinsteros Saguilán, P., Gutiérrez-Dorado, R., Maldonado-Peralta, M.d.l.Á. and Valenzuela-Lagarda, J.L. (2021) Viabilidad y germinación en semillas de maíz criollo del estado de Guerrero. Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios , 8, e2963. https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a8nii.2963
Flores García, A. and Jorge Méndez González, J. (2021) Evaluación cuantitativa de la germinación de Quercus variabilis Blume en tres tamaños de semilla. Revista Mexican a de Ciencias Forestales , 12, 202-211. https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v12i68.1104
Erofeeva, E.A. (2022) Hormesis in Plants: Its Common Occurrence across Stresses. Current Opinion in Toxicology , 30, Article ID: 100333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cotox.2022.02.006
Sagar, N.A., Pareek, S., Benkeblia, N. and Xiao, J. (2022) Onion ( Allium cepa L.) Bioactives: Chemistry, Pharmacotherapeutic Functions, and Industrial Applications. Food Frontiers , 3, 380-412. https://doi.org/10.1002/fft2.135
Finch-Savage, B. (2013) Seeds: Physiology of Development, Germination and Dormancy (3rd Edition)—J.D. Bewley, K.J. Bradford, H.W.M. Hilhorst H. Nonogaki. 392 pp. Springer, New York-Heidelberg-Dordrecht-London 2013978-1-4614-4692-7. Seed S cience Research , 23, 289-289. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0960258513000287
Mengers, H.G., Schier, C., Zimmermann, M., et al . (2022) Seeing the Smell of Garlic: Detection of Gas Phase Volatiles from Crushed Garlic ( Allium sativum ), Onion ( Allium cepa ), Ramsons ( Allium ursinum ) and Human Garlic Breath Using SESI-Orbitrap MS. Food Chemistry , 397, Article ID: 133804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.133804
Pareek, S., Sagar, N.A., Sharma, S. and Kumar, V. (2017) Onion ( Allium cepa L.). In: Fruit and Vegetable Phytochemicals : Chemistry and Human Health , Wiley Blackwell, 1145-1162. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119158042.ch58
Ahmed, A.A. (2023) Efficiency of Using Garlic and Moringa Extracts as a Priming for Improving Germination Traits and Seedling Growth of Maize ( Zea mays , L). Egyptian Journal of Plant Breeding , 27, 225-246. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371046247_Efficiency_of_using_Garlic_and_Moringa_extracts_as_a_priming_for_improving_germination_traits_and_seedling_growth_of_Maize_Zea_mays_L
Hayat, S., Ahmad, H., Nasir, M., Khan, M.N., Ali, M., Hayat, K., et al . (2020) Some Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms during Seed-to-Seedling Transition in Tomato as Influenced by Garlic Allelochemicals. Antioxidants , 9, Article No. 235. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9030235
Del Rosario García-Mateos, M., Sánchez-Navarro, C., Solís, J.M. and Pérez-Grajales, M. (2013) Actividad fitotóxica de extractos de chile manzano ( Capsicum pubescens R & P). DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals).
Oney-Montalo, J.C.L., Zamacona-Ruiz, M., Gómez-Rincón, E., Ramíre-Sucrez, M. and Rodríguez-Buenfil, I. (2018) Metabolitos presentes en Capsicum chinense en dos estados de maduración cultivados en diferentes tipos de suelos de Yucatán, México. Bionatura . https://doi.org/10.21931/rb/cs/2018.01.01.9
Singh, P., Arif, Y., Bajguz, A. and Hayat, S. (2021) The Role of Quercetin in Plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry , 166, 10-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.05.023
Cortes, J.S.A., Godoy, J.A., Cortés, J.D.A. and Mora, R.M.S. (2019) Principales reguladores hormonales y sus interacciones en el crecimiento vegetal. Nova , 17, 109-129. https://doi.org/10.22490/24629448.3639
Lemmens, E., Deleu, L.J., De Brier, N., De Man, W.L., De Proft, M., Prinsen, E., et al . (2019) The Impact of Hydro-Priming and Osmo-Priming on Seedling Characteristics, Plant Hormone Concentrations, Activity of Selected Hydrolytic Enzymes, and Cell Wall and Phytate Hydrolysis in Sprouted Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). ACS Omega , 4, 22089-22100. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b03210
Antonio-Medina, A., Gaytán-Alemán, L.R., Morales-Rivera, A., Mendoza-Pedroza, S.I., López-Salazar, R., Carrillo-Moreno, D.I., et al . (2024) Chemical Treatments in Maize Seeds to Improve Germination in Acidic Soils. Agro Productividad , 16, 81-87.
Rocha, T.M., Ferrazza, F.L.F., Nunes, U.R. and Muniz, M.F.B. (2024) Salicylic Acid in the Physiological and Sanitary Quality of Corn Seeds. Ensaios e Ciência : Ciências Biológicas , Agrárias e da Saúde , 28, 191-196. https://doi.org/10.17921/1415-6938.2024v28n2p191-196
Rodríguez-Larramendi, L.A., Ramírez, M.G., Gómez-Rincón, M.A., Guevara-Hernández, F., Salas-Marina, M.Á. and Gordillo-Curiel, A. (2017) Efectos del ácido salicílico en la germinación y crecimiento inicial de plántulas de frijol ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Revista de la Facultad de Agronomía , 34, 253-269.
Ashraf, M. and Rauf, H. (2001) Inducing Salt Tolerance in Maize ( Zea mays L.) through Seed Priming with Chloride Salts: Growth and Ion Transport at Early Growth Stages. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum , 23, 407-414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-001-0050-9
Bismillah Khan, M., Hussain, M., Raza, A., Farooq, S. and Jabran, K. (2015) Seed Priming with CaCl 2 and Ridge Planting for Improved Drought Resistance in Maize. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry , 39, 193-203. https://doi.org/10.3906/tar-1405-39
Khan, S.J., Salman, M., Kalim, M., Ahmad, H., Sattar, T., Noor, E., et al . (2023) Impact of Pre-Sowing Seed Treatments on Sweet Corn Landraces under Moringa Leaf Extract. Journal Advances of Nutrition Science and Technology , 3, 51-63. https://doi.org/10.15228/anst.2023.v03.i01-2.p06
Yousof, F. (2013) Effect of Rice Seed Priming with Calcium Chloride (CaCl 2 ) on Germination and Seedlings Vigor under Salinity Stress. Journal of Plant Production , 4, 523-535. https://doi.org/10.21608/jpp.2013.72394
Sutter, J.L. (2022) Phylogeny, Pangenomics, and Predicted Functional Diversity of Maize Rhizosphere Pseudomonas. Doctoral Dissertation, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen. https://bibliographie.uni-tuebingen.de/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10900/151475/Sutter_Monograph_no_sig_fixed_pagebreaks.pdf?sequence=1
Sangoquiza-Caiza, C., Zambrano-Mendoza, J., Borgues-García, M. and Cho, K.J. (2024) Response of Flour Corn ( Zea mays L. var. Amylacea) to the Inoculation of Azospirillum and Pseudomonas. La Granja , 39, 150-159. https://doi.org/10.17163/lgr.n39.2024.09
Chen, C., Wang, M., Zhu, J., Tang, Y., Zhang, H., Zhao, Q., et al . (2022) Long-Term Effect of Epigenetic Modification in Plant-Microbe Interactions: Modification of DNA Methylation Induced by Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Mediates Promotion Process. Microbiome , 10, Article No. 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-022-01236-9
Gao, J., Li, B., Wang, H. and Liu, Z. (2014) Pseudomonas hunanensis Sp. Nov., Isolated from Soil Subjected to Long-Term Manganese Pollution. Current Microbiology , 69, 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-014-0545-4
Wang, Y., Zhang, W., Zhang, Z., Wang, W., Xu, S. and He, X. (2020) Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Phenolic Acid-Degrading Bacteria from Soil. Journal of Applied Microbiology , 131, 208-220. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14956
Verma, P., Bhattacharya, A., Bharti, C. and Arora, N.K. (2024) Antifungal Metabolites Produced by Pseudomonas hunanensis SPT26 Effective in Biocontrol of Fusarium Wilt of Lycopersicum esculentum under Saline Conditions. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology , 40, Article No. 305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-024-04092-x
Schnyder, A., Kalawong, R., Eberl, L. and Agnoli, K. (2025) Pseudomonas fungipugnans Sp. Nov., a Potently Antifungal Bacterium Isolated from Moss. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology , 75, Article ID: 006624. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.006624
Ocwa, A., Ssemugenze, B. and Harsányi, E. (2024) Seed Treatment with Bacillus Bacteria Improves Maize Production: A Narrative Review. Acta Agraria Debreceniensis , 1, 105-111. https://doi.org/10.34101/actaagrar/1/12043
Pathania, P., Rajta, A., Singh, P.C. and Bhatia, R. (2020) Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Sustainable Agriculture. In: Bacterial Endophytes for Sustainable Agriculture , Academic Press, 1-28.