The effectiveness of seed priming with synthetic zinc-amino acid chelates in comparison with soil-applied ZnSO4 in improving yield and zinc availability of wheat grain

The effect of soil applied zinc (Zn) sulfate and seed priming with Zn-glutamine [Zn(Gln)(2)], Zn-glycine [Zn(Gly)(2)], Zn-arginine [Zn(Arg)(2)], and Zn-histidine [Zn(His)(2)] on yield and grain nutritional quality of two bread (Triticum aestivum L. cvs. Back Cross and Kavir) and a durum wheat genotype (Triticum durum L. cv. Durum) was investigated. Seed priming with [Zn(Gly)(2)] and [Zn(Gln)(2)] increased grain yield of wheat over soil applied Zn-sulfate treatment by 46 and 14%, respectively. Seed priming with [Zn(Gln)(2)], [Zn(Arg)(2)], and [Zn(His)(2)] significantly increased grain protein content of wheat in comparison with control treatment. Seed priming with [Zn(Arg)(2)] and [Zn(His)(2)] resulted in higher Zn and Fe accumulation in wheat grain as compared with the other Zn treatments. Priming seeds with [Zn(Arg)(2)] reduced phytic acid to Zn molar ratio of wheat grain. Seed priming with [Zn(Arg)(2)] and [Zn(His)(2)] might be used as an alternative approach for soil application of Zn-sulfate to overcome Zn deficiency in calcareous soils.