Effect of Seed Priming of Tomato with Salicylic Acid, Ascorbic Acid and
Hydrogen Peroxideon Germination and Plantlet Growth in Saline
Conditions
Abstract
In order to improve the germination of tomato seeds in saline conditions, effect of seed
priming by various concentrations of salicylic acid (SA) (0, 50, 100and150mg/L), ascorbic
acid (ASA) (0, 50, 100and150mg/L) and hydrogen peroxide (HP) (0, 40, 80and120 μM) was
investigated. Saline solution of 10 dS/m was applied to impose salinity stress. The
results showed that germination and plantlet growth of tomato severely reduced by
salinity. Seeds primed with 150 ppm ascorbic acid not only improved germination
percent but also reduced germination time under saline conditions. Seedling growth
from primed seeds with 150 ppm salicylic acid and 150 ppm ascorbic acid had
significantly higher in length of root and shoot than other treated or non-primed seeds
under saline conditions. Maximum seed vigor was observed at concentrations of 150
mg/L ascorbic acid and salicylic acid. In this experiment, high levels of hydrogen
peroxide pretreatment causes damage to seed germination and plantlet growth. It is
concluded that seeds priming has reduced the severity of the effect of salinity and the
best alleviation of salinity was achieved by seed priming 150 mg/L ascorbic acid.
Keywords: Germination, plantlet growth, salinity, Seed priming
Abbreviations: Salicylic acid = SA, Ascorbic acid = ASA, Mean germination time = MGT,
Hydrogen peroxide = HP