Seed Priming with Silicon as a Potential to Increase Salt Stress Tolerance in <i>Lathyrus odoratus</i>
2021
Rasha S. El-Serafy | Abdel-Nasser A. El-Sheshtawy | Amira K.G. Atteya | Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi | Arshad Mehmood Abbasi | Ibrahim Al-Ashkar
Water shortage is a major problem limiting the expansion of green areas and landscapes. Using seawater as an alternative source of potable water is not a novel idea, but the issue of salt stress needs to be resolved. Salinity has a negative impact on growth and the aesthetic value of ornamental plants. In order to overcome these challenges, <i>Lathyrus odoratus</i> seeds were hydro-primed and halo-primed with silicon (Si) and silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs), and exposed to seawater levels. Seawater markedly reduced seed germination and growth of <i>Lathyrus</i> seedlings, but halo-priming was shown to significantly alleviate its negative effects. Broadly, SiNPs increased the germination percentage, reduced photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrates decrease, and enhanced water relations, despite having a negative effect on germination speed. Halo-priming significantly increased the proline content and the activities of certain enzymatic (SOD, APX and CAT) and nonenzymatic (phenolic and flavonoids) compounds, that positively influenced oxidative stress (lower MDA and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> accumulation), resulting in seedlings with more salt stress tolerance. Halo-priming with Si or SiNPs enhanced the Si and K<sup>+</sup> contents, and K<sup>+</sup>/Na<sup>+</sup> ratio, associated with a reduction in Na<sup>+</sup> accumulation. Generally, halo-priming with Si or SiNPs increased <i>Lathyrus</i> seedlings salt stress tolerance, which was confirmed using seawater treatments via improving germination percentage, seedlings growth and activation of the antioxidant machinery, which detoxifies reactive oxygen species (ROS).
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