Efficacy H2O, SNP, Si and KNO3 priming for improving emergence, seedling growth and biochemical traits of two wheat Varieties under Salt Stress

Abstract

Salt stress has a significant impact on agricultural output, affecting seed germination and seedling growth. The uncontrolled production of oxidative species (ROS) induces a range of biochemical, physiological, and metabolic changes, resulting in reduced crop yields. Under such conditions, seed priming may be a feasible and practicable approach for achieving rapid, uniform emergence, vigorous seedlings, and higher crop yields. The present study was therefore executed to explore efficacious effects of various seed priming agents. The present work compares the effect of priming on two wheat varieties under normal and salt conditions at germination and vegetative stage. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the effects of hydropriming (H2O), Nitroprusside (SNP), Silicon (Si) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) priming in improving emergence, seedling growth, biochemical attributes of two wheat varieties under salt and no salt conditions. Seed emergence, seedling growth and biochemical attributes were thereafter evaluated. The results found that rice seedlings responded differently to different priming treatments. However, all primed rice seedlings had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved emergence percentage, seedling growth, seedling vigor, seedling fresh and dry biomass and shorter emergence time compared with controls. Likewise, soluble sugar and total chlorophyll contents of wheat seedlings were increased by seed priming compared with control. H2O showed less effect in increasing emergence, seedling growth and biochemical attributes of wheat. Thus, this study established that seed priming with SNP (NO donor), Si and KNO3 were more effective in improving emergence, seedling growth, biochemical attributes of wheat. Thus, priming of wheat with this chemical is recommended for fast emergence, seedling growth and drought resistance in salt ecosystems.