Effects of seed priming on germination and seedling growth of desiccation-sensitive seeds from Mexican tropical rainforest

Abstract

Seed priming increases the vigor of seeds and seedlings through metabolic and biochemical processes occurring during controlled hydration, followed by dehydration. In the field, seeds are exposed to hydration-dehydration events in and on the soil after dispersal, as in seed priming. Nevertheless, seed priming has been sparsely tested on desiccation-sensitive seeds, which are vulnerable to climate change effects. We evaluated the effect of two priming methods on seeds from two tropical rainforest species: Cupania glabra and Cymbopetalum baillonii. For hydropriming, the seeds were fully hydrated and then dehydrated to three dehydration levels. For natural priming, the seeds were buried for 12 days in either closed forest or forest gap. Primed seeds were sown in 1% agar medium and placed in an environmental chamber. The growth of the seedlings from the highest germination priming treatments was evaluated for 1 year in the field. Our results showed that for C. glabra and C. baillonii, hydroprimed seeds varied in their germination response, depending on the degree of their dehydration. However, for C. baillonii, hydropriming seems to invigorate seeds, compared to non-imbibed seeds of the same dehydration level. Natural priming increased germination speed in both species without any difference between closed forest and forest gap. Moreover, seeds with natural priming had a higher final germination percentage than seeds with hydropriming. Seedlings from seeds with natural priming showed a higher growth rate than the controls in both species, whereas hydropriming produced a similar effect in C. glabra. Both priming methods could be used for restoration practices with the studied species, natural priming being a novel method. The ecological implications of priming in desiccation sensitive seeds are discussed in this study.

Seed priming with growth regulators modulates production, physiology and antioxidant defense of Indian squash (Praecitrullus fistulosus) under semi-arid conditions

“…The improvement in vine length, fruits number, weight, and economic yield due to seed priming with ascorbic acid and salicylic acid in the present study ( Table 3 ) might be due to improvement in early emergence on account of metabolic and biochemical processes occurring during controlled hydration. Controlled hydration promoted radicle to protrusion [ 49 ]; thus, supported the production traits depicted in correlation analysis (Tables 5 and 6 ). Such significant (P ≤ 0.05) modifications were predicted due to swift stimulation of physiological processes [ 50 ] in germination than non-primed seeds.…”

Influence of selected plant growth stimulators in enhancing germinability and germination parameters of Zea mays L. under microgravity conditions simulated by a two-dimensional clinostat

“…Seed pre-treatment significantly increased final germination percent, median germination period, peak germination length, germination time, and seedling vigor of maize, even under the influence of simulated microgravity, according to the findings of this study and also consistent with the work of Musa and Ikhajiagbe (2021) and Mshelbula et al (2015). Priming seeds with growth hormones boosts seed and seedling vigor through metabolic and biochemical processes that occur during regulated hydration followed by dehydration (Becerra-Vázquez et al, 2020).…”

Potential use of saline resources for biofuel production using halophytes and marine algae: prospects and pitfalls

“…Halophytes are plants of saline habitats that grow under conditions with variable stress and may change their responses rapidly between seed germination and later growth. Germination at high salinity may provide an advantage of high seedling population to start with but subsequent growth and biomass yield may not necessarily reflect tolerance to salinity during seed germination (Becerra-Vaźquez et al, 2020). Seed dormancy is an important means of delaying seed germination and initiating growth under suitable conditions.…”

“…Priming can provide resistance to heat, moisture and osmoticum stresses (salt) (Banerjee and Roychoudhury, 2018). Seed priming improves germination in Guazuma ulmifolia, Albizia saman (Ibrahim and Hawramee, 2019), Cedrela odorata, Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Becerra-Vaźquez et al, 2020), Swietenia macrophylla and also the performance of E. cyclocarpum (Pedrini et al, 2020). Seed priming improved fast emergence in seeds of Poa fendleriana and P. spicata (66-82%), while the density of P. spicata seedlings was 2.9-3.8 fold higher than non-treated seeds (Madsen et al, 2018).…”