Hydropriming enhances the germination of aged ultra-dry wheat seeds

Hydropriming is an efficient strategy for reviving aged seeds. In the present study, hydropriming was optimised for vigour enhancement in aged ultra-dry wheat seeds. Wheat seeds (initially dried to 5.0% moisture content) stored at ambient temperature for ten years were humidified over water for seven days, then soaked for 12, 24 and 36 hours in aerated distilled water (seed priming treatment). Primed and unprimed seeds were equilibrated at ambient conditions for 48 hours. Changes in germination traits, activities of anti-oxidative enzymes, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), alpha-amylase activity, soluble protein and soluble sugars were determined. Results indicated that hydropriming for 12 hours significantly increased the germination percentage, from 50.7 to 58.6%. The increase in germination was significantly positively correlated with catalase activity (r = 0.969), and significantly negatively correlated with accumulation of H2O2 (r = 1.000).