Effect of Salicylic Acid and Ascorbic Acid on Germination Indexes and Enzyme Activity of Sorghum Seeds under Drought Stress

Abstract

Seed priming methods have been used to increase germination characteristics under stress conditions. The effects of drought stress (0, -4, -8, -12 and -16 bar) and salicylic acid 25 ppm at 15 °C for 15 h and ascorbic acid 25 ppm at 15 °C for 15 h on germination percentage, germination index, means time to germination, normal seedling percentage and enzyme activity were assessed in the laboratory for sorghum seeds (Sorghum bicolor L.). Results showed that the highest germination percentage (83.33%), normal seedling percentage (69.67%), germination index (25.29) and the minimum means time to germination (2.87) were attained from priming with salicylic acid in control conditions. Therefore, seed priming significantly (p≤ 0.01) increased germination characteristics as compared to the unprimed under drought stress. Also, priming increased catalase and ascorbate peroxidase as compared to the unprimed seeds.

Keywords

• Sorghum bicolor L.
• Hormone-priming
• Germination characteristics
• Drought stress
• Enzyme activity