Seed Priming Accelerates the Enzyme Activities in Three Cultivars of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus (L.) Moench)

Abstract

Seed priming is a pre-sowing treatment that involves controlled hydration of seeds for qualitative improvement and able to facilitate rapid and synchronized seed germination, and plant growth. A study was designed to compare the effect of four different seed priming methods namely, hydropriming, osmopriming, halopriming and solid matrix (SM) priming on selected physiological parameters-seed germination, seedling vigour, vigour index, and biochemical parameters-electrical conductivity of seed leachates, lipid peroxidation, dehydrogenase activity, antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) and reserve mobilising enzymes (amylase and phosphatases) of three cultivars of okra. Experiment was conducted in the laboratory. Though, all the priming treatments significantly affected the physiological and bio-chemical parameters but no single common treatment was adjudged as beneficial for all three cultivars. The statistical analysis of the recorded data revealed that hydropriming for 18 h for cv. A-4, halopriming with 1% CaCl2 for 6 h for cv. VRO-6 and SM priming with calcium aluminium silicate (1: 0.4: 1;Seed: SM: Water) for 48 h for cv. Phule Utkarsha may be the appropriate treatment which could accelerate enzyme activities and related metabolic events leading to faster germination in the three tested cultivars. It is concluded that adoption of cultivar specific treatment may lead to maximum benefit.