Effects of chemical seed priming on germination performance and seedling growth of Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill.) under salt stress
Al Baha University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Alaqiq, 65779-7738, Saudi Arabia
*Correspondence: houda_maaroufi@yahoo.fr
Abstract:
As an important economic plant, Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill.) faces salinity stress from germination to all growth stages. The aim of this study is to ride salt-induced agriculture difficulties of tomato by applying different chemical seed priming: ascorbic acid (ASA), potassium nitrate (KNO3) and calcium nitrate (CaNO3) during two time periods which are 24 and 48 hours. In the current case, the seeds were pre-treated with previously mentioned chemicals for varying periods of time before germination in a salt solution (100 mM NaCl). The treatments were replicated three times. For no primed seeds, salt treatment decreased germination parameters as well as seedling growth parameters (fresh weight, epicotyl and root length and chlorophyll content). Different chemical seed priming alleviated the salt harmful effect on germination and growth parameters. In saline conditions, the priming agents, had more significant effect in comparison with normal conditions. Significantly, the treatment including CaNO3-48-h priming, had high efficacy in promoting germination and plant growth and is associated with reduced levels of leaf proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) content.
Key words:
ascorbic acid, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, priming, salinity, seed germination, tomato