International Journal of Agricultural

Science and Research (IJASR)

ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087
Vol. 6, Issue 5, Oct 2016, 381-388
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd

PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES OF BIOPRIMED SNAKEGOURD

Cv. CO2 SEEDS DURING GERMINATION
GOWTHAMY.U1 & P. SELVARAJU2
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Seed Centre
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
ABSTRACT
Seed priming is a controlled hydration process that involves exposing seeds to low water potentials that restrict
germination, but permits pregerminative physiological and biochemical changes to occur . Upon rehydration, primed seeds
may exhibit faster rate of germination, more uniform emergence, greater tolerance to environmental stresses, and reduced
dormancy in many species . Biopriming is a process of biological seed treatment that refers combination of seed hydration
(physiological aspect of disease control) and inoculation (biological aspect of disease control) of seed with beneficial
organism to protect seed. In order to utilize the biopriming influence on seedling growth in snakegourd (Trichosanthes
cucumerina),this experiment was conducted to study the physiological changes of bioprimed snakegourd seeds cv. CO2
equal volume of seeds was found to be the best and suitable biopriming treatment.This treatment showed a higher
imbibition rate (71.3%) of 48h, radical emergence(80.0%) of 84h, germination(78%), longest radicle length(1.6cm) of
84h and seed metabolic efficiency(4.34).
KEYWORDS: Snakegourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina), Pseudomonas fluorescens, Seed Biopriming, Physiological
Changes, Seed Metabolic Efficiency, Radicle Emergence

Original Article

germination. The results showed that the seeds bioprimed with Pseudomonas fluorescens 80% concentration for 24h in

Received: Sep 18, 2016; Accepted: Oct 06, 2016; Published: Oct 15, 2016; Paper Id.: IJASROCT201647

INTRODUCTION
Snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) also known as Chinese cucumber belongs to the family
Cucurbitaceae. It is called potlakaaya in Telugu, pudalankaai in Tamil, dhundul in Assamese, paduvalakaayi in
Kannada and padavalanga in Malayalam. It occupies an important place among vegetables in India. It is an annual
plant with rapid growth and of climbing habit. The fruits are large and greenish white. They often reach upto 150
cm. in length and 8 cm. in thickness. There is also a short-fruited type. Tender fruits are used as vegetables.
Snake gourd is a very nutritious vegetable. An analysis of this vegetable shows it consists of moisture
94.6 percent, protein 0.5 percent, fat 0.3 percent, fibre 0.8 percent and carbohydrate 3.3 percent per 100 grams of
edible portion. Snakegourd is cultivated in Tamil Nadu in larger area with an average productivity of 18 tonnes ha-1.
For any crop production, seed is the basic input and if the seed is not having good germination, the
optimum population in the field cant be maintained which ultimately affect the crop yield. In snakegourd,
normally the germination is below 60 per cent and by any presowing treatment if the germination is improved it
would help in maintaining the required population in the field. Biopriming is one of the presowing treatments that
can improve the germination and vigour of the seedling.

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Gowthamy. U & P. Selvaraju

Research on physiological changes of bioprimed seeds during germination, particularly their effects on imbibition rate,
radicle emergence, radicle length and seed metabolic efficiency is lacking. Hence the present study was designed to
investigate the beneficial effects of biopriming on snakegourd seeds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Genetically pure seeds of snakegourd cv.CO2, a short duration variety obtained from Susi seeds international, Mylapore,
Chennai of Tamil Nadu, formed the base material for this study. The laboratory studies were carried out at the Department of Seed
Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2011-2013. Eight treatments viz., non primed
seed (control), hypropriming, biopriming with Humic acid, Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Azotobacter,
Azospirillum, phosphobacteria were taken up in this study. The experiment was carried out with four replications in
Completely Randomized Block Design (CRD). In order to standardize the optimum concentration of biopriming agent and
duration, the commercially available humic acid was diluted 5, 10, 15 and 20 percent. Biocontrol agents were prepared at
40, 60 and 80 percent concentration and liquid biofertilizers were prepared in three different concentration viz., 10, 15 and
20 percent. Seeds were soaked in equal volume of solution in different concentrations in each of the biopriming agents. For
hydropriming, simple water is used for soaking. The nonprimed seeds formed the control. After soaking, the seeds were
removed from the solutions and shade dried at room temperature for assessing the seed quality parameters. The number of
seeds germinated on each day was recorded daily upto 14th day. After 14th day germination their performance were
evaluated for germination (%), dry matter production (g seedlings-10) and vigour index.
The best six treatments one each from the humic acid, biocontrol agents, liquid biofertilizers) along with
hydropriming and unprimed seeds were subjected to germination and the germinating seeds were collected at 12, 18, 24,
and 30 h. During different stages of germination the bioprimed and unprimed seeds were evaluated for the following
physiological characterization. The study was conducted adopting factorial completely randomised design with four
replications.
Rate of Imbibitions
Four replicates of 10 seeds in each treatment were incubated in between pre-moistened germination paper at 251C
for 0 to 72 h to avoid the possible effect of temperature variation on water absorption during imbibition. At 12 h interval, the seeds
were taken out and the surface moisture on the seeds was removed by placing the seeds between 2 to 3 layers of filter paper. After
recording the fresh weight, the seeds were dried to a constant weight in a hot air oven maintained at 1032C for 16 h. The seed
moisture was estimated and expressed in percentage on wet weight basis.
Germination test was conducted using 4x10 seeds between two layers of pre-moistened germination paper kept in
9 mm petri dishes. A seed was considered germinated when the radicle pierced the seed coat up to 2 mm. The following
observations were taken till 72h.
Radicle Emergence
For every 12 h till 72 h, the number of radicles emerged were counted and expressed in percentage.
Radicle Length
For every 12 h till 72 h, the emerged radicle length was measured using a plastic scale and expressed in
centimetre.
Impact Factor (JCC): 4.8136

NAAS Rating: 3.53

Physiological Changes of Bioprimed Snakegourd Cv. Co2 Seeds during Germination

383

Endosperm and Embryo Degradation (Seed Metabolic Efficiency)

Seed Metabolic Efficiency (SME) may be defined as the amount of shoot and root dry matter (g) produced from 1
unit (g) of dry seed weight that was respired. Thus higher the value of Seed Metabolic Efficiency, the higher is the
efficiency of seed as more seed reserves would be used for producing roots and shoots. Amount of seed respired (SMR)
was calculated as
SMR = SDW-(SHW+RTW+RSW)
Where,
SDW - Seed dry weight before germination
SHW - Shoot dry weight
RTW - Root dry weight
RSW - Remaining seed dry weight
Seed Metabolic Efficiency (SME) was calculated using the following formula (Rao and Sinha, 1993)

Germination
The seeds were sown in sand medium prepared as per ISTA procedures (2010) and the seeds were sown in four
replications of 100 seeds each and were placed in a germination room maintained at 25 2C temperature and 903 %
relative humidity. After the germination period of 14 days, the seedlings were evaluated as normal and abnormal seedlings
and dead seeds. Based on the normal seedlings, the germination percentage was calculated adopting the following formula.
Number of seeds germinated
Seed germination (%) =

----------------------------------------- X 100
Total number of seeds sown

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
The data obtained from different treatments were analysed for the F test of significance following the methods
described by Panse and Sukatme (1985). Wherever necessary, the per cent values were transformed to angular (Arc-sine)
values before analysis. The critical differences (CD) were calculated at 5 per cent probability level. The data were tested
for statistical significance. If the F test is non-significant, it was indicated by the letters NS.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Significant variations were observed on between non priming and priming treatments and Pseudomonas
fluorescens 80% for 24 h recorded the highest percentage of imbibition rate at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of germination
(59.8, 60.5, 61.6 and 71.3 per cent, respectively), radicle emergence (57.5, 62.5 and 80.0 per cent at 60, 72 and 84 h of
germination, respectively,). Longest radicle length (1.6 cm) and Seed Metabolic Efficiency (4.34) and germination (78%)
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Gowthamy. U & P. Selvaraju

were also more, compared to nonprimed seeds. McDonald (1999) and Ghassemi-Golezanik et al. (2008) who reported that
seeds priming accelerates the imbibition during germination which stimulates the metabolic activities leading to
mobilization of food reserves to initiate germination (Atia et al., 2006). The metabolic events like cell cycle related event
(De Castro et al., 2000), endosperm weakening by hydrolase activities (Groot et al., 1988; Bradford et al., 2000) and
mobilization of storage proteins (Job et al., 1997; 2000) were also activated by the faster imbibition rate. These observations
are also agreed by Haigh and Barlow (1987) who proposed that priming resulted in more rapid imbibition and increased
extensibility of radicle cell walls.

CONCLUSIONS
McDonald (1999) and Ghassemi-Golezanik et al. (2008) observed the early and faster radicle emergence due to
water soaking which is also confirmed in the present investigation. Over the germination period from 12 to 48 h, all the
treatments recorded early radicle emergence from 24 h of germination. Liu et al. (1996) in tomato, Bailly et al. (2000) in
sunflower, Chiu et al. (2002) in maize and Afzal et al. (2009) in tomato. The significant and faster rate of radicle
emergence and radicle length noticed in the bioprimed seeds of the present investigation might be attributed to the quicker
uptake of water coupled with early initiation of high metabolic changes. Higher radicle length in bioprimed seeds was also
observed by Dezfuli et al. (2008) in maize and Afzal et al. (2009) in tomato. They measured higher radicle length in the
primed seed. Maize seeds bioprimed with Pseudomonas fluorescens 80% for 12 h recorded higher radicle emergence and
radicle length due to increased metabolic activities within the seeds (Kalaivani, 2010). Biswas (1994) and Asch et al.
(1999) stated that the mobilization rates known to affect the germination and seedling growth.
Table 1: Effect of Seed Biopriming Using Humic Acid, Biocontrol Agents and Liquid Fertilizers on
Physiological Changes during Germination in CO2 Snakegourd Imbibition (%)
Biopriming
Treatments (T)
T0
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
Mean
SEd
CD (P=0.05)

Time Course of Germination (H)

12
24
36
48
Mean
49.3
51.2
53.7
62.3
41.6
51.7
52.3
54.6
64.7
55.8
56.3
57.8
59.2
69.8
60.8
58.4
59.4
60.9
70.6
62.3
59.8
60.5
61.6
71.3
63.3
53.5
54.8
55.5
66.5
57.6
54.4
55.8
57.8
67.5
58.9
52.2
53.8
55.9
65.2
56.8
54.4
55.8
57.4
67.2
T
H
TxH
0.10
0.07
0.21
0.20**
0.14**
0.41**

Table 2: Effect of Seed Biopriming on Physiological Changes during

Germination in Snakegourd Cv. CO2 - Radicle Emergence (%)

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.8136

Biopriming
Treatments (T)
T0
T1

Time Course of Germination (H)

48
60
72
84
0.0
0.0
22.5
40.0
0.0
0.0
42.5
57.5

15.6
25.0

T2

0.0

37.5

55.0

75.0

41.9

T3

0.0

45.0

57.5

77.5

45.0

T4

0.0

57.5

62.5

80.0

50.0

Mean

NAAS Rating: 3.53

Physiological Changes of Bioprimed Snakegourd Cv. Co2 Seeds during Germination

T5
T6
T7
Mean
SEd
CD (P=0.05)

Table 2: Contd.,
67.5
47.5
0.0
0.0
72.5
52.5
32.5
0.0
65.0
45.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
21.6
48.2
66.9
T
H
2.52
1.78
5.00**
3.54**

385

28.8
39.4
27.5
TxH
5.03
10.00**

Treatment Details
T0 - Nonprimed seed

T3 Trichoderma 40% 24h

T6 - Azospirillum 20% 18h

T1 - Hydropriming 24h

T4 pseudomonas 80% 24h

T7 phosphobacteria 15% 18h T2 humic acid

5% 30h T5 Azotobacter 20% 30h

Table 3: Effect of Seed Biopriming on Physiological Changes during
Germination in Snakegourd Cv. CO2 - Radicle Length (Cm)
Biopriming
Treatments (T)
T0
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
Mean
SEd
CD (P=0.05)

Time Course of Germination (h)

Mean
48
60
72
84
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.5
0.2
0.0
0.3
0.9
1.1
0.6
0.0
0.4
1.1
1.3
0.7
0.0
0.4
1.2
1.6
0.8
0.0
0.0
0.6
0.9
0.4
0.0
0.2
0.7
1.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.8
0.3
0.0
0.2
0.7
1.0
T
H
TXH
0.012
0.008
0.024
0.024**
0.016**
0.048**

Table 4: Effect of Seed Biopriming on Physiological Changes during Germination in

Snakegourd Cv. CO2 Endosperm and Embryo Degradation (Seed Metabolic Efficiency)
Biopriming
Treatments
(T)
T0
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
Mean
SEd
CD (P=0.05)

Seed Metabolic
Efficiency
0.59
0.62
3.12
3.88
4.34
0.82
1.02
0.79
1.89
0.013
0.028

Germination (%)
60
65
75
76
78
70
73
68
71.7
6.8
14.1

Treatment Details
T0 - Nonprimed seed

T3 -Trichoderma 40% 24h

T6 - Azospirillum 20% 18h

T1 - Hydropriming 24h

T4 - pseudomonas 80% 24h

T7 - phosphobacteria 15% 18h T2 - humic acid 5%

30h T5 - Azotobacter 20% 30h

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Gowthamy. U & P. Selvaraju

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387

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