Nitric oxide (NO) donor seed treatment on germination and seedling establishment under

saline / sodic condition in tomato

Vinothini. K, Manju. V, Arthi. R, Kowsalya.V, Priyadharshini. R. A and Sabir Ahamed. A*
Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Tiruchirappalli-620 027, Tamil Nadu
*Corresponding author’s e-mail: asatnau@gmail.com
Salinity is a major environmental factor limiting plant growth, productivity and
distribution. Salt stress affects seed germination leading to a reduced and delayed germination
rate. Nitric oxide (NO) is an atmospheric gaseous molecule soluble in water and lipids. Research
on NO in plants has gained a considerable attention in recent years and there is increasing
evidence of a role of this molecule in plants. The present investigation was carried out to
determine the extent of salinity stress that could be tolerated by tomato plants and the ability of
NO donors in ameliorating the impact of salinity stress on the germination and seedling growth
of tomato. The laboratory experiments were conducted during 2017 - 18 to determine the effect
of seed treatment with Nitric Oxide donors on germination under saline and sodic soil conditions
in tomato cv. PKM 1 at Seed Science and Technology laboratory, Horticultural College and
Research Institute for Women, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu.
The study revealed that the salinity stress imposed by NaCl at 40mM and 50mM
reduced the seed germination to 69 and 57 per cent respectively as compared to 92 per cent in
control in tomato PKM 1. The tomato seeds subjected to salinity stress recorded the highest
reduction in germination per cent at NaCl 50mM concentration followed by 40mM NaCl with
59 and 67 per cent respectively as compared to control with 92 per cent germination. The root
length and shoot length also had similar reduction at above stress levels with the maximum
reduction in 50mM NaCl concentration with 8.01 cm in root length and 2.54 cm in shoot length,
while in control the above parameters were the highest with 19.88 and 6.55 cm respectively.
Similar results were obtained for seedling dry matter production and vigour index.
When the tomato seeds were given sodicity stress upon germination, the highest
reduction in germination per cent was recorded at NaHCO3 30 mM concentration followed by
27 mM NaHCO3 with 31 and 57 per cent respectively as compared to control with 92 per cent
germination. The root length and shoot length also had similar reduction at above stress levels
with the maximum reduction in 30mM NaHCO3 concentration with 0.94 cm in root length and
1.80 cm in shoot length, while in control the above parameters were the highest with 15.55 and
6.55 cm respectively. Similar results were obtained for seedling dry matter production and
vigour index.
It was also found that for imposing seed treatment with NO donor, it is enough to soak
tomato PKM 1 seeds for 6 hours for achieving maximum infusion of chemical compounds inside
the seeds. Beyond 6 hours of soaking, there was no change observed in rate of imbibition.
Among seed treatment with different concentrations of Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP) imposed by
subjecting them to salinity and sodicity stress condition, 50 µm SNP at 27mM NaHCO3 stress
level and 100 µMSNP at 30mM NaHCO3 level found to be effective in alleviating the salinity
and sodicity stress by increasing the seed germination and seedling growth attributes viz., root
length, shoot length, dry matter production, vigour index as compared to untreated seeds.
Similarly, among seed treatment with different concentrations Diethylene Triamine
Penta acetic Acid (DTPA), 50 µm DTPA at 27mM NaHCO3 stress level and 100 µm DTPA at
27mM NaHCO3 stress level were found to be effective. The enzyme and proline content in seeds
and seedling treated with 100 µm DTPA recorded the higher activity for nitrate reductase and
catalase enzymes and proline content. The seeds treated with 100 µm DTPA treated PKM 1 were
found to have higher field emergence per cent than other concentrations of NO donors and
untreated tomato PKM 1 seeds under sodic soil field condition.
Therefore, seed treatment with 100 µm DTPA as NO donor may be effective in
alleviating the salinity and sodicity stress on germination and seedling vigour of tomato PKM 1.
Tomato seeds can be given with above seed treatment before sowing the seeds in sodic soil field
conditions for getting better seed germination and seedling growth attribute.