PJB-2021-671
A Study on Seed Priming with Potassium Nitrate for Mitigating Salt Stress in Two Varieties of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Amina Mumtaz
Abstract
Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that affect the crop production. Crop establishment, as well as production, is enhanced by priming of seeds with different plant nutrients, plant hormones and salts, under salinity conditions. In the present study, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of seed priming with Potassium nitrate (KNO3) of rice seedlings under salinity stress. The efficiency of KNO3 as a seed priming agent in improving salt tolerance was studied based on measuring certain biochemical stress-markers (lipid peroxidation and chlorophyll degradation), analyzing the level or activity of antioxidant mechanisms. The photosynthetic pigments and total soluble protein content in both varieties was increased at 1.5% and 2% KNO3 priming level at 75 mM salinity level. Seed priming with 1.5% and 2% KNO3 increased the enzymatic i.e., Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and Guaiacol peroxidase (POD) and non-enzymatic (Phenolic content) activities in both varieties under the different salinity stress. Seed priming with KNO3 has reduced the oxidative damage, in terms of MDA content. From the present study, it is concluded that seed priming is an effective and low-cost practice to reduce the harmful effects of salinity in rice crop. By using this practice, we would be able to grow healthy plants and get better yield under abiotic stress conditions.
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