ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Enhancement of Root System Architecture,
Seedling Growth, and Germination in Lentil
under Salinity Stress by Seed Priming with Silicon
and Salicylic Acid
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1
Siirt University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Siirt, Turkey
2
Uludağ University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Bursa, Turkey
3
Siirt University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Siirt, Turkey
Submission date: 2023-03-03
Final revision date: 2023-06-25
Acceptance date: 2023-06-28
Online publication date: 2023-09-01
Publication date: 2023-09-08
Corresponding author
Mustafa Ceritoglu
University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Siirt, Turkey
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(5):4481-4491
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ABSTRACT
To deal with increasing salinization, plants show an array of responses such as root system
architecture remodelling, thereby enhancing stress tolerance. Although various chemical, molecular and
genetic techniques such that generally expensive and difficult applications are used to enhance stress
tolerance, out of them, seed priming with suitable substrates is an easy-applicable and cost-effective
treatment. The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of salicylic acid (SA), silicon (Si), and sodium
chloride (NaCl) priming on lentil seed germination parameters, seedling development, and root system
architecture. In 2022, the experiment was carried out in the Field Crops Department laboratory at Siirt
University in Turkey. Petri and pot investigations were part of the two stages of the experiment. Three
concentrations of NaCl and priming treatments were utilized. Germination characteristics were impeded
by rising saline levels. But seed priming, which boosted uniformity of germination by 50% as compared
to unprimed seeds under saline stress, enhanced germination characteristics. A pot experiment revealed
that the dry matter accumulation in roots was reduced by 24.6% due to salt stress. Si priming increased
number of lateral roots by 32.6% compared to control seeds, whereas salt stress lowered it by 22.8%.
The total length of lateral roots (TLLR) and mean length of lateral roots (MLLR) were inhibited by
salinity stress by 75% and 63, respectively. Total root area was reduced by salinity stress by almost 70%,
although seed priming increased it by as much as 29.3%. The SA and Si priming treatments improved
germination stage and induced seedling growth by reducing salinity stress via more effective shoot development and root system architecture. In conclusion, seed priming with SA and Si is an affordable
and sustainable method for reducing salt stress in lentil farming.