The efficacy of different seed priming agents for promoting sorghum germination under salt stress

Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] seed germination is sensitive to salinity, and seed priming is an effective method for alleviating the negative effects of salt stress on seed germination. However, few studies have compared the effects of different priming agents on sorghum germination under salt stress. In this study, we quantified the effects of priming with distilled water (HP), sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on sorghum seed germination under 150 mM NaCl stress. The germination potential, germination rate, germination index, vigor index, root length, shoot length, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, and shoot dry weight were significantly reduced by salt stress. Different priming treatments alleviated the germination inhibition caused by salt stress to varying degrees, and 50 mM CaCl2 was the most effective treatment. In addition, the mitigation effect of priming was stronger on root traits than on shoot traits. Mitigation efficacy was closely related to both the type of agent and the concentration of the solution. Principal component analysis showed that all concentrations of CaCl2 had higher scores and were clearly distinguished from other treatments based on their positive effects on all germination traits. The effects of the other agents varied with concentration. The priming treatments were divided into three categories based on their priming efficacy, and the 50, 100, and 150 mM CaCl2 treatments were placed in the first category. The 150 mM KCl, 10% PEG, HP, 150 mM NaCl, 30% PEG, and 50 mM KCl treatments were placed in the second category, and the 100 mM NaCl, 100 mM KCl, 20% PEG, and 50 mM NaCl treatments were least effective and were placed in the third category. Choosing appropriate priming agents and methods for future research and applications can ensure that crop seeds germinate healthily under saline conditions.

Genome‐wide association study reveals that the cupin domain protein OsCDP3.10 regulates seed vigour in rice

“…Seed priming techniques limit the availability of water to the seed (Heydecker and Higgins, 1973), which is an effective way to improve seed vigour under stress condition (Chen et al ., 2021). As mentioned above, the Met, Glu, His, and Tyr that have important roles for the improvement of seed vigour in rice.…”

Effects of salt stress on the photosynthetic physiology and mineral ion absorption and distribution in white willow (Salix alba L.)

“…Some plants do have the phenomenon that low salt promotes the increase of some indicators, such as: promoting the germination of sorghum seeds [ 37 ], the roots of the seedlings of wolfberry [ 38 ] and rice [ 39 ], and the growth indicators of corn [ 40 , 41 ]. Both ChorophyⅡin chrysanthemum [ 42 ] and proline content of cherry seedlings [ 43 ] are increased, while the net photosynthetic rate of wild chrysanthemum [ 44 ] and hazel trees increased [ 45 ].…”

Deciphering Reserve Mobilization, Antioxidant Potential, and Expression Analysis of Starch Synthesis in Sorghum Seedlings under Salt Stress

“…The growth rate of shoots controls the varietal difference in that lower shoot growth is associated with a higher level of NaCl in the leaves. Reduced shoot growth could also be due to reduced leaf initiation and progression and accelerated leaf abscission and internode growth [48]. The percent of root biomass showed a downward trend because the root was the first contacting organ to the treatment solution.…”