Effect of various exogenous salicylic acid concentration on wheat seed germination

Abstract

The present investigation has been carried out to study the effect of various concentrations of salicylic acid (SA) on the germination performance of wheat (cv. C 306 and HI 1544) seeds, which are most prominently grown varieties in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh. The seeds of these varieties were exposed to different concentrations of salicylic acid (Control D/W, 5 ppm, 10 ppm, 25 ppm, and 50 ppm). Both wheat varieties C 306 and HI 1544 showed significant germination by the use of various concentrations of SA application over control. After 48 hrs to 96 hrs, significant germination was observed for both the varieties of wheat, and it became constant afterward for all the concentrations of SA along with control. All the imposed SA concentrations increased germination percentage, shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight and vigor index over control (distill water, D/W) except 50 ppm SA after 48 hrs of germination experiment, which showed a decline in value for all the observed parameters. A similar trend was observed at 72 hrs, 96 hrs and 120 hrs. However, soaking of seeds with 25 ppm SA is best for seedling characteristics, hence beneficial for obtaining the higher yield. But 50 ppm SA treatment is not advisable for germination and other seedlings characteristics. Thus, it can be zeroed that benefits of SA treatment for germination parameters are doses dependent; and supra optimal concentration is harmful to plant growth.