Effect Of SEED Priming Using Bioregulators On SEED Antioxidant Activity and Seedling Growth Of Bell Pepper.

Seed enhancements by several types of priming treatments have provided advances in the performance of vegetable seed lots. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of seed priming using bioregulators on the antioxidant activity in seeds and initial seedling growth of bell pepper. Two cultivars each represented by three and four hybrid seed lots were used. Seeds were initially evaluated for germination and vigor (germination first count, saturated salt accelerated aging - SSAA and lipid peroxidation). Treatments consisted of controlled seed hydration between moistened papers with Stimulate® (10 ml/100 ml of distilled water), 24-epibrassinolide (10^-6 M; 10^-8 M; 10^-10 M), GA₃ (100 µM) or water (control). The antioxidant response was determined by enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) using the technique of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). To determine the initial seedling growth was used SVIS^® software on 6-day old seedlings, which provided data for vigor index and seedling length. The activity of SOD and CAT, responsible for the removal of toxic intermediate compounds, was favorably affected by seed priming with 10^-8 M of 24-epibrassinolide in the different seed lots and cultivars studied. Seed priming using 24-epibrassinolide (10^-8 M; 10^-10 M) or GA3 caused the elongation of bell pepper seedlings.