H2O2 SEED PRIMING TO ALLEVIATE THE SALINITY EFFECT IN TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICON)

Salinity is one of the important constraints of sustainable agriculture, globally reducing crop production by impairing various biochemical, physiological and molecular functions. To examine hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) role to palliate the salinity stress, we investigated the seed-inducing effect of different H2O2 concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM) in tomato (Solanumlycopersicon) crops resistance to salt stress. During this study, we estimated the eventuality of preparing tomato seeds with H2O2 to promote seed sprouting, plant growth and induce salt stress tolerance. Soaked seeds were pre-germinated and grown in pots on different saline soils (0, 40 and 80 mMNaCl). Findings revealed that saltness explosively affected tomato germination and seedling growth. Seed germination with 50 and 100 mM H2O2 improved germination in saline solutions, while high levels of hydrogen peroxide pretreatment (200 mM) inhibited tomato germination. In the pot experiment, application of hydrogen peroxide significantly increased tomato fresh weight (85% at 200 mM dose) compared to controls. At 80 mMNaCl, the concentrations 50 and 100 mM of H2O2 areshowing the most important effect on tomato fresh weight. Results indicate that treatments have a positive effect on membrane integrity (100% at 200 mM) and a general positive effect was observed for all properties measured under salt stress. At the same time, H2O2 priming significantly increased catalase activity. Seed preparation with hydrogen peroxide could be an efficient sustainable way to reduce tomato salinity stress.