Comparison the effects of different of seed priming techniques on improving germination and antioxidant enzymes activity in borage seedlings

One of the problems of producing medicinal plants, such as borage, is unequal and poor germination and seedling establishment. Priming is one of the technique for improving seed germination and seedling growth in crops and medicinal plants. This research was carried out in order to study the effect of seed priming on germination, growth and biochemical and enzymatic characteristics of borage seedlings. The Experimental treatments were hydro-priming for 48 hours, seed priming with 0.85 mM ascorbic acid for 48 hours, 4 mM salicylic acid concentration for 60 hours, 20 mM potassium nitrate (KNO3) concentration for 24 hours and control. The results showed that seed priming were significantly increased the seed germination, growth and biochemical characteristic of borage seedlings. The mean germination time and the percentage of abnormal seedlings were significantly decreased by priming the borage seeds. The highest percentage and rate of germination, vigor index and length of seedlings were obtained from hydro-priming seeds, which were significantly higher than control. Also, hydro-priming decreased the abnormal seedlings about caused 80% and mean germination time about 25%. The activity of catalase and peroxidase enzymes and proline in seedlings from primed seeds were significantly higher than those of the control. The highest activity of catalase enzyme and proline content were observed in seed priming of 20 mM KNO3 concentration for 24 hours and 4 mM salicylic acid for 60 hours respectively, which did not have significant difference with hydro-priming. Hydro-priming, caused increase 2.7 fold in the activity of peroxidase enzymes seedlings. Generally, among the treatments, hydro-priming for 48 hours for improving germination, growth and biochemical characteristics of borage is considered as the best treatment.