Effect of spermidine on reproductive, seed quality and bio-physiological characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes under salt stress

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of foliar application of spermidine on various aspects of chickpea genotypes under salt stress. At the seedling stage the genotypes were treated with 4 and 8 dSm-1 Cl- dominated salinity followed by the spermidine application of 0.5 and 1.0 mM at the flowering stage. Salinity changed the different parameters of chickpea genotypes. The salinity had not much significant effect on the ovule receptivity in different chickpea genotypes studied. Results showed that both concentration of spermidine increased the CSI, MSI, antioxidant activity, and phenol in chickpea under salt stress. In addition it increases the protein and reduced the starch and phosphorus content in chickpea seeds. The application of spermidine increased the pollen germination, viability and tube length in all chickpea genotypes. It reduced the Na+ ion accumulation and maintains the ionic balance in chickpea seeds. The effect of spermidine application (0.5 and 1.0mM) was more obvious but 1.0mM had more positive effect in salt sensitive chickpea genotype.