Effects of hormopriming and pretreatment with gibberellic acid on fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) seed germination

Various approaches are used to improve crop production. Seed priming is one of the simplest and least expensive methods currently used to ensure rapid and uniform yields. Our study highlights the role of priming and imbibition in improving seed germination. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of seed imbibition and hormopriming with 0.1 mM gibberellic acid (GA3) on germination performance and biochemical changes in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) radicles. The results showed that hydropriming and imbibition with GA3 significantly improved germination performance and radicle growth. Concurrently, treatments induced stimulation of the antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbic peroxidase, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase, and decreased lipid peroxidation, stimulated an increase in total non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity and reduced glutathione content. Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and cytochemical analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situ confirmed the role of imbibition in stimulating ROS. Interestingly the effects of imbibition with gibberellic acid were more effective then hormopriming, probably due to the partial degradation of GA3 during dehydration process.