Salicylic acid seed priming boosts germination in Brassica rapa ssp pekinensis under cold stress

Abstract

In Korea, the seeds of Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis are sown in the winter and spring months. Cold stress can result in irregular seed germination and poor seedling establishment in some cases. Priming seeds with salicylic acid (SA) can reduce the likelihood of poor seedling establishment when exposed to cold stress conditions, which is beneficial for many plant species. The present study was carried out to determine the effectiveness of seed priming with SA on seed germination and seedling establishment in B. rapa ssp. pekinensis under cold stress conditions. Seeds were soaked in different SA concentrations (0.5 and 1.0 mM) for 12 and 24 hours, respectively, and then both primed and unprimed seeds germinated at 5 oC. Using SA treatment, seed germination was improved, as was root and shoot length, which were both longer in SA primed seeds than in unprimed seeds. Based on the findings, it is possible to use SA priming as one of the most effective ways to maintain productivity in B. rapa ssp. pekinensis while it is exposed to low temperatures.