Seed Priming to Increase Germination, Drought Tolerance and Yield of Cucumber

Organic and inorganic pre-treatments were applied to cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds. Salicylic acid (SA), mannitol, ascorbic acid (AscA), KCl, and CaCl2.2H2O pre-treatments enhanced germination and seedling vigor. Seedlings obtained from the pre-treatd seeds with 0.2mM SA, 0.4mM AscA, 2% mannitol, 100mM KCl, and 50mM CaCl2 were transferred to field. Under normal irrigation (NI), SA and AscA groups, and under drought (Dr) treatment groups had higher increase in height. SA group had higher fruit yield/plant under NI, whereas KCl, mannitol, CaCl2 had lower inhibition in fruit yield/plant under Dr. KCl group yielded higher fruit weight under NI. All treatment groups maintained higher leaf relative water content. Under NI anthocyanin in leaves of SA, CaCl2 and mannitol groups were higher. NI and Dr anthocyanin levels did not differ in these groups. Total carotenoid levels were higher in pre-treatment groups under NI and Dr. Seed priming may enable establishment of more drought tolerant crops with higher crop yield.

کلیدواژه ها:

Seed pre-treatments ، Cucumber ، Germination ، Drought stress ، Field studies