Hydro, Mg (NO3)2 and kinetin primed seeds mitigate the inhibitory effects of CdCl2 in germinating rice

Abstract

Seed priming is a technique of regulating the germination process by managing the temperature and moisture content of seeds. It is used to improve germination%, reduce the duration of germination and improve plant establishment and yield. In the present investigation efforts were made to see the effect of heavy metal stress imposed during germination by using solution of CdCl2 in three different concentrations (4, 12 & 30 ppm) in petridishes on primed and non-primed seeds of rice. Priming of seed was done with distilled water (hydro), Mg (NO3)2 and kinetin. Different germination parameters such as germination percentage, radicle and plumule lengths, and contents of soluble sugar and activity of α-amylase in endosperm were investigated at different study periods. All the germination parameters of primed seeds were increased in respect to non-primed seeds. However, the use of primed seeds have shown to overcome the inhibitory effects of heavy metal stress imposed in form of CdCl2 solution during the period of germination. Hence the work elucidates the mitigating effects of priming under heavy metal stress.