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. 2022 Apr 14;17(4):e0265694.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265694. eCollection 2022.

Seed priming with growth regulators modulates production, physiology and antioxidant defense of Indian squash (Praecitrullus fistulosus) under semi-arid conditions

Rafi Qamar  1 , Sanaullah Khan  1 , Muhammad Ehsan Safdar  1 , Atique-Ur-Rehman  2 , Abdul Rehman  1 , Hafiz Muhammad Rashad Javeed  3 , Muhammad Ather Nadeem  1 , Rashid Al-Yahyai  4   5 , Jawaher Alkahtani  6
Affiliations

Seed priming with growth regulators modulates production, physiology and antioxidant defense of Indian squash (Praecitrullus fistulosus) under semi-arid conditions

Rafi Qamar et al. PLoS One. .

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Abstract

Indian squash (Praecitrullus fistulosus) crop faces heat and drought during its growth that is considered the most important abiotic stress in semi-arid areas. Seed priming with growth regulators enhances stress tolerance; hence, mitigates the adverse effects of unpredictable stresses due to adverse weather conditions. This two-year (2019 and 2020) study was conducted to infer the role of seed priming in improving heat tolerance of Indian squash (cultivar Sahavi) through improvement in physiological and antioxidant defense systems. Six treatments that included no priming (control), hydropriming, priming with indole acetic acid (IAA) at 100 mg L-1, salicylic acid (SA) at 50 mg L-1, ascorbic acid (AA) at 100 mg L-1 and thiourea at 500 mg L-1 each for 06 hours) were included in the study. Results revealed that priming with AA and SA significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced germination (39 and 47%), germination index (57 and 58%), plant height (23 and 22%), vine length (15 and 14%), number of fruits per plant (62%), fruit weight per plant (66 and 67%), economic yield (32%), photosynthesis rate (18 and 17%), protein content (10%), proline (23%), glycine betaine (3%), malondialdehyde content (11 and 10%) and catalase activity (24%) compared to control treatment. Furthermore, seed priming with AA and SA significantly (P ≤ 0.05) shortened the mean germination time (25 and 28%) compared to the control. The results indicated that AA and SA had significant potential to mitigate adverse effects of heat stress in Indian squash. Findings from this study showed that seed priming with AA and SA promoted heat-stress tolerance and enhanced growth and productivity of Indian squash.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Meteorological data recorded at College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan during 2019 and 2020.
Fig 2
Fig 2. The influence of seed priming with different growth regulators on MDA contents of Indian squash.
The error bars represent ± standard error of the means. Alphabets on bar showed a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) among seed priming techniques.
Fig 3
Fig 3. The influence of seed priming with different growth regulators on SOD contents of Indian squash.
The error bars represent ± standard error of the means. Alphabets on bar showed a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) among seed priming techniques.
Fig 4
Fig 4. The influence of seed priming with different growth regulators on CAT contents of Indian squash.
The error bars represent ± standard error of the means. Alphabets on bar showed a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) among seed priming techniques.
Fig 5
Fig 5. The influence of seed priming with different growth regulators on APX contents of Indian squash.
The error bars represent ± standard error of the means. Alphabets on bar showed a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) among seed priming techniques.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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