Chilling tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum induced by seed priming with putrescine

Chilling stress is one of primary constraints to tobacco production in many parts of the world. The present study was conducted to induce chilling tolerance in tobacco by seed priming with putrescine (Put) in relation to physiological changes, using seeds from two tobacco varieties, MSk326 (chilling sensitive variety) and Honghuadajinyuan (HHDJY, chilling tolerant variety). Seed germination, seedling antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, as well as polyamine concentration were determined under low temperature. During chilling stress at 11°C, seed priming with 0.01 mM Put for 48 h (Put0.01mM48 h) and seed priming with 0.1 mM Put for 48 h (Put0.1mM48 h) significantly increased germination percentage, germination index, seedling length and dry weight of both varieties compared to the controls without Put treatment. When seedlings of 4-leaf stage suffered a short chilling stress (5°C), Put 0.1 mM 48 h improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), increased endogenous Put, Spd and Spm concentration and decreased the MDA concentration. The results showed that Put priming treatments were available to enhance the chilling tolerance of tobacco seedlings. The optimal treatment of Put was Put0.1 mM48 h.