Seed invigoration with water, ascorbic and salicylic acid stimulates development and biochemical characters of okra (Ablemoschus esculentus) under normal and saline conditions

Abstract

Role of seed priming in okra (Ablemoschus esculentus L.) in saline soil under field environment was investigated. A split plot design with two main factors including six priming treatments (control, hydropriming, ascorbic acid 50 mg L-1,100 mg L-1 and salicylic acid 50 mg L-1, 75 mg L-1) and two stress levels (control and 125 mM NaCl) was implicated. Soil salinity hampered the growth of okra plants causing reduction in yield of un-primed plants. Maximum growth, pigments, and yield of okra was observed with priming concentration of ascorbic acid 100 mg L-1 under stress and non-stress conditions. However, lower concentration of SA priming (50 mg L-1) had more prominent effect on growth, chlorophyll contents as compared to its higher dose (75 mg L-1). Seed soaking with ascorbic acid (100 mg L-1) and salicylic acid (75 mg L-1) enhanced antioxidative activities of CAT and POD in saline environment. Hydropriming was quite effective in improving growth, pigments and yield. Furthermore, optimization of time duration for water seed soaking can be done to draw out its role in modulating growth, physiological attributes and yield under normal and saline conditions.