Effects of Salicylic Acid Seed Priming on Germination of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Exposed to Salt Stress

Abstract

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an essential crop globally, particularly in Türkiye, West Asia, Southern Europe, India, and Africa. Lentil is a valuable food source, rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. However, lentil production faces challenges due to salinity stress, which hampers water uptake and causes toxic effects on plants. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of salicylic acid (SA) seed priming and varying salt (NaCl) concentrations on the germination and development of lentil seeds. The research was conducted in Field Crops Biotechnology laboratory, University of Dicle, Faculty of Agriculture, Türkiye. In the research, control, 2 salt (NaCl), 4 salicylic acid (SA) doses and their combinations were used on Lens culinaris variety called İlke. Germination percentage, energy, rate index, mean germination time, peak value, and vigor index were calculated. The results demonstrated that SA had a significant impact on improving lentil germination under salt stress conditions. Specifically, lower concentrations of NaCl combined with SA showed positive effects on germination and growth parameters, compared to higher NaCl concentrations. The highest germination percentage, energy and rate index values were in the control and 0.25 SA dose treatment. Salicylic acid doses, under 50 NaCl concentration exhibited higher germination percentage, energy and rate index values than under 100 NaCl. Increasing SA and salt doses negatively affected lentil seed germination. This finding is significant for lentil cultivation in salt-affected areas, offering a potential strategy to improve crop resilience and yield in challenging environmental conditions.