Glycinebetaine Seed Priming Improved Osmotic and Salinity Tolerance in Turfgrasses

Abstract

<jats:p>Exogenous application of glycinebetaine (GB), an osmoprotectant, increases tolerance to stresses including salinity in various plants. Information on turfgrass, however, is limited. In this study, GB was used to prime turfgrass seeds to enhance salinity tolerance during germination and seedling growth stage when plants are more sensitive to stresses. Unprimed and primed (50, 100, 150, or 200 m<jats:sc>m</jats:sc> solution of GB or distilled water) seeds of perennial ryegrass (<jats:italic>Lolium perenne</jats:italic> L.) (PR), tall fescue (<jats:italic>Festuca arundinacea</jats:italic> Schreb.) (TF), creeping bentgrass (<jats:italic>Agrostis palustris</jats:italic> Huds.) (CB), and kentucky bluegrass (<jats:italic>Poa pratensis</jats:italic> L.) (KB) were germinated in solutions of distilled water, mannitol (causing osmotic stress only), or NaCl (causing both osmotic and ionic stresses). Their osmotic potential (ψ<jats:sub>S</jats:sub>) and salinity level were -0.1 MPa and 0.1 dS·m<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> (no stress), –1.0 MPa and 0.1 dS·m<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> (moderate osmotic stress), and –1.0 MPa and 14.6 dS·m<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> (moderate osmotic and ionic stresses), respectively. Seeds primed with GB showed a higher germination rate (11.0% to 13.9% increase) and seedling growth (19.3% to 20.7% increase) in mannitol or NaCl solution than in distilled water. Different turf species showed different responses to osmotic and ionic stresses. No differences in germination and seedling growth of PR, TF, and KB were observed between mannitol and NaCl treatments, indicating that osmotic stress appeared to more critical than ionic stress under saline conditions. For CB, the seed germination rate and seedling growth were lower (19.3% to 44.2% reduction) in NaCl than in mannitol, showing an accumulative effect of both osmotic and ionic stresses under saline conditions.</jats:p>

Seed priming improves germination in saline conditions for Chenopodium quinoa and Amaranthus caudatus

“…Therefore, no standard methods to treat seeds or target osmotic or ionic effects of salt stress are clearly defined. For example, seed priming with glycine betaine resulted in enhanced seed germination and seedling growth of turfgrasses under salinity (Zhang & Rue, ), while NaCl in hot pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) was the most effective treatment to improve seed performance under normal as well as under saline conditions (Amjad et al., ; Khan et al., ). In maize ( Zea mays L.), different salts used as priming agents were effective in alleviating adverse effects of salt stress at germination stage (Ashraf & Rauf, ), and similar results were reported for fine aromatic rice (Afzal et al., ).…”

“…Therefore, no standard methods to treat seeds or target osmotic or ionic effects of salt stress are clearly defined. For example, seed priming with glycine betaine resulted in enhanced seed germination and seedling growth of turfgrasses under salinity (Zhang & Rue, 2012), while NaCl in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)…”

The Importance of Ion Homeostasis and Nutrient Status in Seed Development and Germination

“…Thus, soaking seeds in ascorbate, salicylic acid, kinetin and CaCl 2 for 12 h resulted in a high salt stress tolerance in wheat plants, with increments in K accumulation and reductions in Na content in their leaves [75]. Also, a decreased NaCl toxicity was observed after priming turfgrass seeds with glycine betaine [76] or after the osmopriming with PEG-6000 in sorghum seeds, demonstrating a palliative effect even in low quality seeds [77].…”

How are germination performance and seedling establishment under abiotic stress improved by seed priming? A review

“…As a result, some of these substances might even be useful in seed priming treatments for abiotic stress alleviation. For instance, Zhang and Rue (2012) showed that seed priming with glycine betaine improved the osmotic and salinity tolerance of turfgrasses, resulting in enhanced seed germination and seedling growth under salinity stress. Oliveira et al (2011b) verified that the osmopriming of low physiological quality sorghum seeds (non-aged) reduced the negative effects of salinity (100 mM NaCl) on seedling growth.…”