Abstract
Priming is a valuable, facile and well-established technique used to enhance seed quality to achieve rapid germination, establishment of stress resistance and improvement of crop yields. Different natural and synthetic priming agents have been used for better crop performance and abiotic stress management. In this study, four different benzimidazoles were selected as priming agents and their comparative effects were evaluated on different biochemical attributes including total soluble protein, total oxidant status, MDA contents, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD) and hydrolytic enzymes (protease, estrases) compared to control. Treatments with 2-thio-1-H-benzimidazole reduced total soluble proteins and increased total oxidant status significantly but no considerable effect was observed on other parameters. Priming with 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-H-benzimidazole considerably increased the total oxidant status and a little improvement was observed in total soluble proteins. Seeds primed with 1-H-benzimidazole showed a noticeable decrease in the protease activity while all other priming treatments were unable to induce any detectable change compared to control. The treatment with 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-H-benzimidazole induced maximum reduction in MDA contents and POD activity. Moreover, all benzimidazole priming treatments reduced mean germination time, increased germination percentage and germination rate of wheat seeds.
Highlights
Due to rising global population, it has been estimated that the demand for wheat is going to be doubled in 2050 [1]
A noticeable improvement in the protein contents was observed in the seeds primed with 30 ppm of both 1-H-benzimidazole and 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-H-benzimidazole
Jafar et al reported an increase in total soluble proteins when wheat seeds were primed with salicylicate, kinetin, CaCl2 and ascorbate [37]
Summary
Due to rising global population, it has been estimated that the demand for wheat is going to be doubled in 2050 [1]. To satisfy these rising wheat demands, farmers are supposed to boost crop yields by adopting new farming strategies. In this context, enhanced seed qualities has become priority requirements to achieve uniform and rapid seedling emergence for better crop performance and increased yield [2]. Seed quality is enhanced by employing facile, practicable and well established treatment called priming [3]. Often wheat crop productivity is limited by slow germination rate, reduced
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