Efficiency of hydro- and osmopriming in improving garden pea seed quality and initial plant development under saline stress

Abstract

Worldwide, agricultural productivity is exposed to increasing constraints in the form of abiotic stresses such as salinity which affects plant growth and development causing yields loss. Previous studies suggest that seed priming improves stand establishment under optimal and stressful environment, given that seed priming might improve seed germination and initial development by altering seed vigour. This research aimed to define whether various seed priming treatments could be a feasible strategy to improve garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) resistance to abiotic stress, namely to salinity. Four garden pea cultivars obtained from the Department for Vegetable and Alternative Crops, Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia were included. Seeds of the tested pea cultivars were primed in distilled water (hydropriming), -0.5 MPa polyethylene glycol PEG 6000 solution, and 0.5% KNO3 solution for 24 hours at 25°C in dark. Non-primed seeds were taken as control. Seeds were submitted to germination test, using 120 mM NaCl to simulate salt stress. The energy of germination, germination, abnormal seedlings, shoot and root length, fresh and dry shoot and root biomass, and seedling vigour index were estimated. The results showed significant differences among garden pea cultivars and seed priming treatments for the assessed traits.