Impact of priming and storage containers on enzyme activities of naturally aged seeds of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

The study was conducted on six barley varieties viz. BH 885, BH 946, BH 393, BH 902, DWRB 92 and DWRB 101 at CCS HAU, Hisar during 2020-21. The results revealed that maximum catalase activity (243.168 and 157.981umoles/g FW), peroxidase activity (22.33 and 35.03 units/g FW), superoxide activity (22.03 and 35.03 nmoles/g FW) and dehydrogenase activity (0.213 and 0.245 OD/g/ml) were estimated in the seeds primed with ZnO NPs @ 100ppm in cloth and polythene bag, respectively in variety DWRB 92. Among the varieties, DWRB 92 recorded highest catalase activity (217.168 umoles/g FW) in cloth bag while BH 393 recorded maximum catalase activity (232.961 umoles/g FW) in polythene bag. Minimum catalase activity was observed in DWRB 101(60.351 umoles/g FW) in cloth and BH 885 recorded least (121.418 umoles/g FW) in polythene bags. Maximum peroxidase activity (21.22 and 31.56 units/g FW) was estimated in BH 885 while minimum (12.71 and 22.54 units/g FW) in BH 946 in cloth and polythene bag, respectively. Maximum SOD activity (18.033 and 25.033 nmoles/g FW) was measured in DWRB 92 and minimum (12.712 and 22.537 nmoles/g FW) in BH 946 in cloth and polythene bag, respectively. Maximum DHA activity (0.170 and 0.206 OD/g/ml) was recorded in DWRB 101 and least in BH 946 (0.234 and 0.281 OD/g/ml) in cloth and polythene bag. It is concluded that among the various seed priming treatments, priming with ZnO NPs@100ppm at 25°C for 24 hours maintained higher enzyme activity. Barley seed quality can be maintained by storing the seeds at optimum moisture content (<8%) in polythene bags (>700gauge) with germination upto 94.61% as compare to cloth bags (85.89%).