Effects of hydrogen peroxide on the germination characteristics of cucumber seeds

There is increasing interest in the role of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in regulating growth and death in plants. This research aimed to reveal the effect of H2O2 on the germination characteristics of cucumber seeds. H2O2 concentrations(0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mmol.L-1) were set up to study the effect of different treatments on such indexes as the germination rate, the germination potential, germination index, growing vigor index, the length and width of taproot and hypocotyledonary axis of cucumber. The results showed that low concentration H2O2 (0-0.01 mmol-L-1) increased the germination potential, germination index, the length of taproot and the length of hypocotyledonary axis, but decreased the growing vigor index, number of fist later root and fresh weight. Under the high concentrations(0.01-1 mmol.L-1), all those germination indexes decreased with the increasing of H2O2 concentrations. The result of subordination function showed that 0.01 mmol.L-1 H2O2 concentration had promoted the seed germination and growth of cucumber and was the better treatment concentration.