PJB-2022-32
Inducing drought tolerance in rapeseed via melatonin seed priming and its effect on growth and yield
Kaleem Ahmad
Abstract
The present experiment was arranged at Amir Muhammad Khan Research Farm, Mardan, The University Agric. Pesh. during Rabi 2019-2020. The present study was comprised of two rapeseed varieties (Pakola and Shiraali), and two environmental conditions (irrigated and rain-fed) and seed priming (hydro-priming and seed primed with MEL). The study was arranged in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements replicated four times. The environment and cultivars were allotted to main plot while seed priming was kept in sub plot. Seed of respective cultivars were grown in the end of November, 2019 in subplot size of 3m × 3m having 6 rows 3m long and 50 cm apart. Findings of the present study revealed that significant differences were noted between the rapeseed cultivars for all studied parameters excluding plants m-2, POD, CAT, thousand grain weight and harvest were found similar between the cultivars. The differences between MEL and water seed priming was also found significant for aforementioned traits excluding number of branches, harvest index and seed protein content. Rain-fed and irrigated conditions also substantially affected all the studied parameters except POD, number of branches, thousand grain weight. Rapeseed cultivar Sherali produced more number of plants m-2, chl a, plant height, protein content and erusic acid content whereas the activities of APX, CAT, chl b, carotenoid content, biological and seed yield as well as oil content and glucosinolate content as compared with Sherali. The seed primed with MEL enhanced antioxidant activities as well as plant pigments accumulation led to improved biological and seed yield as compared with hydro-primed. Substantial reduction was achieved number of plants m-2, plant pigments, seed yield, biological yield and protein content whereas oil content, glucosinolate, erusic acid, carotenoid content, and antioxidants activities were higher under ran-fed conditions. It is concluded that rapeseed cv. Pakola performed better in term of thousand seed weight, seed yield and oil content as compared with Sherali across irrigated and rain-fed conditions and MEL seed primed. Seed priming with MEL had improved seed yield of Pakola by 13.9%, thousand grain weight by 7%, antioxidant activities of POD, CAT and APX by 3%, 24.3% and 39%, respectively hwile that of Sherali as under rain-fed conditions as compared with no MEL under same conditions.
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