The effect of priming and deterioration on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the mobility of seed reserves in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cv. Sadri

To examine the effect of priming and deterioration on the activity of antioxidant enzymes, mobility of seed reserves in French bean, a factorial experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments included deterioration (control without deterioration, 88% and 78% of germination of control) and priming (control, hydro-priming, priming by gibberellin and salicylic acid). The results showed that deterioration reduced germination percentage. Priming reduced the effect of deterioration and improved germination percentage. By increasing deterioration, seed reserves use efficiency (SRUE), seed reserves remobilization efficiency (SRRE) and fraction of used seed reserves (FUSR) were reduced, but respiration index (SR) and residual seed dry weight (RSDW) were increased. SRUE reduction was about 30% compared to the control treatment of deterioration and seed respiration index in gibberellin pre-treatment was higher about 24% compared to the control treatment without priming. The total seed protein content in gibberellin pretreatment and without deterioration was increased about 32 percent. The peroxidase activity in gibberellin treatment and deterioration 88% compared to the control showed an increase about 57%. The most superoxide dismutase activity (SOD, 175.2 unit mg-1 protein) was observed in priming with salicylic acid and deterioration 88%. The maximum amount of malondialdehyde (MDA, 1.46 mmol g-1 FW) was related to the treatment with no priming and deterioration 78%. In general, using gibberellin pretreatment strengthened weak bean seeds physiologically and the treatment can be used to increase weak seed vigor.