Effect of seed priming on physiological characteristics of soybean seedling under water stress

The effects of seed priming on seed membrane permeability, soluble protein content, seed germination index and seedling physiological properties of two soybean varieties (weak drought-resistant variety “Jindou 19” and strong drought-resistant variety “Jinda 53” ) under water stress were analyzed. Results indicate that seed membrane permeability of the two varieties significantly decreases while soluble protein content increases significantly under seed priming. Meanwhile, the germination potential, germination rate, germination index and vigor index increase to some degree. When seedlings are under severe water stress (6~9h), compared with the treatments without seed priming, priming makes the seedling membrane permeability and MDA content of the two varieties significantly decrease, while makes SOD and POD activities, proline and soluble protein contents increase. This implies that seed priming improves drought tolerance of soybean seedling by increasing protective enzyme activity, proline and soluble protein contents. Furthermore, the study shows that seed priming exhibits more obvious drought-resistance-increasing effect on the weak drought-resistant variety (“Jindou 19”) than on the strong drought-resistant variety (“Jinda 53”).