Effect of cold air plasma and seaweed extract treatment on wheat seed germination and gene expression under salt stress conditions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2025.1002022Keywords:
Cold air plasma, Salinity, Seaweed extract, Wheat, Gene expressionAbstract
This study investigated the potential of cold air plasma (CAP) and seaweed extract (SWE), individually and in combination, to enhance wheat seed germination and molecular responses under salinity stress. A factorial CRD experiment was conducted using four treatment types (control, cold air plasma (CAP), seaweed extract (SWE), CAP+SWE) and four salinity levels (0, 4, 8, and 12 dS/m), with detailed physiological and gene expression analyses. The dual CAP+SWE treatment significantly outperformed all other treatments across key parameters. Germination percentage increased from 63.59% in untreated seeds to 89.42%, while mean germination time decreased from 4.53 to 3.56 days. Radicle length improved from 4.23 cm to 5.44 cm, and total chlorophyll content rose from 34.24 to 40.57 SPAD units. Enzymatic activity also increased, with α-amylase rising from 3.00 to 3.96 U/mg protein and SOD from 84.08 to 92.86 U/g fresh weight under CAP+SWE. At the molecular level, RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the CAP+SWE treatment significantly upregulated salt-responsive genes: P5CS (3.42-fold), NHX1 (3.14-fold), and APX1 (3.18-fold), compared to control levels. Notably, the highest gene expression values were observed at 8 dS/m salinity, suggesting optimal stress-induction synergy. These findings showed that combining physical (CAP) and biological (SWE) priming produces complementary physiological and molecular responses, hence improving the salt stress resistance in wheat. In saline conditions, this combined priming technique is a sensible, environmentally friendly way to raise seed vigour and early growth performance.
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