Chaudhary Kamleshkumar Vaktabhai and Sanjeev Kumar

Abstract

A study on seedling invigouration in tomato against salt stress was undertaken by involving three levels of halo-priming [P (1, 2, 3% KNO3)] and two levels each of priming duration [D (24 and 48 hrs)] and salinity [S (2.5 and 5.0 EC)]. Halo-priming, priming duration and salinity individually as well as in interaction to each other influenced majority of growth, nutrient, biochemical and enzyme parameters of tomato seedlings. The interaction amongst all the factors also resulted in sufficiently good germination rate index and catalase activity (P1D2S2) under higher salinity displaying 12.09 and 0.80 µg-1, respectively. Whereas good amount of protein content (0.68 mg/g) and chlorophyll content (3.42 mg/g) were observed in P2D1S2 and P1D2S2, respectively under higher salinity. It is inferred from the study that Halo-priming of tomato seeds either with 1% or 2% KNO3 for 24 or 48 hrs of duration could invigourate tomato seedlings against salt stress.