Abstract
Increasing the ability of crops to maintain growth and productivity under saline conditions is of paramount importance. The effect of salicylic acid (SA) priming on germination and physiological traits of Lathyrus sativus under salinity stress was studied in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments composed of SA at three levels (0, 0.1, and 0.2 mM) and NaCl salinity at three levels (0, 50, and 100 mM). The effect of salinity level and SA priming was significant on all recorded factors, except from final germination percentage. As salinity level increased, all germination and physiological traits declined compared with control, whereas the mean germination time and percentage of cell death were increased. Moreover, as salinity was intensified, the Hill reaction was decreased significantly. Salinity exhibited the strongest effects at NaCl rate of 100 mM. Seed priming with SA increased germination speed index, reduced mean germination time, and increased leaf relative water content, seedling fresh and dry weight compared with plants from non-primed seeds. Seedling vigor index was increased by 23.4% in primed seeds with 0.2 mM SA. SA priming especially at 0.2 mM rate increased the Hill reaction rate and reduced percentage of cell death. SA priming could be regarded as a practical approach to improve germination traits, seedling growth, and physiological traits of Lathyrus sativus L. under salinity stress conditions.
Highlights
Lathyrus sativus L., commonly known as grass pea, is an annual species of Fabaceae family that is highly adapted to adverse environments
The loss of germination speed index (GSI) under salt stress could be related to the negative impact of low water potential on water uptake as well as toxic effect of ions (Na and Cl) on biochemical processes and catabolic and anabolic stages of germination (Shamsadin Saeid et al, 2008)
The positive effect of salicylic acid (SA) on GSI could be due to reducing oxidative damage under high salinity (Lee et al, 2010)
Summary
Lathyrus sativus L., commonly known as grass pea, is an annual species of Fabaceae family that is highly adapted to adverse environments. L. sativus is resistant to environmental stresses and produces good grain yields under adverse climates (Cocks et al, 2000). It is commonly grown for human consumption and livestock feed in Asia and East Africa. This species is an excellent candidate for green manure owing to its fast vegetative growth, succulent organs, dense foliage, low C/N ratio, low water requirement (Lazanyi, 2000). Salinity stress can affect all physiological processes from germination to plant development. Reduced activity of the Hill reaction was observed in salt-stressed chloroplasts in wheat (El-Shintinawy, 2000), in cowpea (Vigna sinensis) (El-Shahaby et al, 2003), and in maize (El-Shahaby et al, 2003; Zeid, 2009)
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