Evaluating the effect of seed-priming for improving arsenic tolerance in rice

Abstract

Arsenic (As) toxicity affecting the animal and human health has become a major concern in the last few decades. Present study evaluated the role of the seed-priming with the Moringa olifera leaf extract (MLE) for ameliorating the As toxicity in rice during the seedling stage. The As toxicity (As III and As V) affected the germination frequency and the plant growth of rice. However, the As III had more severe effect on the rice seedlings as compared to the As V. Following the study, the MLE seed-priming improved the seed germination and the plant growth of rice under both the As III and the As V toxicity. The seed-priming also improved the relative water content and the chlorophyll content of the rice seedlings under the As stress. The study also showed the MLE seed-priming to decrease the electrolyte leakage and the MDA content in rice seedlings, thereby maintaining the plant growth under the As toxicity.