Improving the germination characteristics of aged lentil (Lens culinaris L.) seeds using the ascorbic acid priming method

Lentils are one of the most important legumes in the world and Iran. Seeds age during storage. The longer the seed is stored and the more unsuitable the storage conditions are, the faster it ages and the shorter the life of the seed. In recent years, much attention has been paid to the use of antioxidants to improve aged seed. In this study, the effect of ascorbic acid on aged seed recovery was investigated in two lentil cultivars. Seeds of two lentil cultivars (Kimia and Bilesavar) were subjected to different conditions of decay (no decay, mild decay, and severe decay). The deteriorated seeds were inoculated with different concentrations of ascorbic acid (۰, ۲۵۰, ۵۰۰, and ۷۵۰ μM) and evaluated in a standard germination test. The results showed that as the seed deteriorated, germination decreased in both lentil cultivars. Under conditions of no deterioration and mild deterioration, priming the seed with different concentrations of ascorbic acid had no significant effect on the germination characteristics of seeds and seedlings. However, under conditions of severe deterioration of germination, priming seeds with ۲۵۰ μM ascorbic acid significantly increased germination characteristics. According to the results, it is possible to improve aged lentil seeds by priming with a concentration of ۲۵۰ μM ascorbic acid.

Keywords:

Germination , Seed deterioration , Seed Priming , Ascorbic acid