Seed priming with aqueous plant extracts improved seed germination and seedling growth under chilling stress in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik)

Application of commercial antioxidants, vitamins or nutrients for seed enhancementsis very expensive for resource poor farmers. This study was planned to inspect thepotential of Aloe vera, Moringa olifera or sugar beet aqueous extracts for germinationand seedling vigor enhancement in lentil under controlled conditions (10±1°C and25±1°C). Lentil seeds were soaked in aerated solutions of A. vera leaf extract (ALE),M. olifera leaf extract (MLE) and sugar beet root extract (SRE) for 14 h using fiveconcentrations (1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%) of each. Water soaked and untreated seedswere used as control. Priming with 2% ALE, 3% MLE and 2% SRE were the mosteffective in boosting up germination rate and succeeding seedling growth underchilling conditions. Better performance of seedlings was the consequence of decreasedtime to 50% germination (T50) and mean germination time (MGT); elevatedgermination index (GI) and final germination percentage (FGP). Improved seedlinggrowth with ALE and SRE or MLE was a feature of increased shoot, root lengths andenhanced seedling weights compared with control. Enhanced performance of lentilseedlings with priming of 2% ALE, 3% MLE and 2% SRE was an attribute of superiorα-amylase activity and sugar contents under both temperature limits.

کلیدواژه ها:

Chilling tolerance ، Lentil ، Plant extracts ، Seed priming ، Germination