This experiment was designed to determine the relationship between the antioxidant capacity and the vigour of alfalfa seeds during boron priming. Alfalfa seeds were primed with 1.8 % (W/V) concentration of borax solution for 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h at 20°C. The results showed that the vigour of alfalfa seeds declined with the extension of priming time, which was closely related to the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and malonaldehyde contents and the decrease of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase. The radicle might be the most sensitive site to boron priming in alfalfa seeds, but the boron-induced damage might be alleviated during alfalfa seeds’ germination.

This experiment was designed to determine the influence of boron priming on seed vigour in thirteen varieties of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Alfalfa seeds were primed with 1.8% (W/V) concentration of borax solution for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h at 20°C. The results showed that the original vigour of alfalfa seeds was disparate in thirteen varieties and there were highly significant (P less than 0.01) differences observed in both varieties and priming time and their interactions on the vigour of the seeds. Alfalfa seeds of WL525HQ and WL656HQ might be more sensitive to boron toxicity, but seeds of WL298HQ, WL343HQ, WL354HQ, WL903 and Pianguan were insensitive to boron toxicity. Thus, it is necessary to carefully select appropriate varieties of alfalfa seeds for the application of boron priming.