Effect of Growth Promoting Bacteria and Salicylic Acid on Melon (Cucumis melo) Seed Germination and Seedling Growth under Salt Stress

Using of plant growth regulators is one of the methods can improve plant growth against environmental stresses such as salinity. Salicylic acid plays an important role in physiological processes regulation, including germination. Today, using of growth promoting bacteria has been increased and it causes to raise the seed vigor, uniformity, germination percentage and better seedling establishment. Growth promoting bacteria can be effect on increasing plant resistance to adverse environmental conditions by interposition in plant hormones production such as auxin, GA, cytokinins, and as well as the stabilization of nitrogen or phosphorus availability and other nutrients This experiment was conducted as factorial in a completely randomized design with three replications. Salicylic acid factor (SA) was selected at two levels (0 and 1 mM). The bacterial treatments included Azotobacter (AZ), Azospirilum (AZP), complex of Azotobacter and Azospirillum (AZ + AZP), and without inoculation (C) and salinity treatment (S) was at five levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM). Results showed that all treatments had no significant effect on germination percentage. Radicle and plumule length, seed vigor index and seedling fresh weight was significantly increased at 50 mM NaCl. Generally speaking, the elongation of plant organs when treated with low concentrations of salts may induce osmotic adjustment activity in the plants which may improve growth. Germination rate, Radicle and plumule length and seed vigor index were significantly increased by salicylic acid treatment. AZ and AZ+AZP increased germination parameters significantly than control. Generally germination factors were better improved by combination salicylic acid with AZ than AZP and AZ+AZP. These results could indicate the synergistic relationship between growth promoting bacteria and salicylic acid.   According to the results pre-treatment of melon seeds by 1 mM salicylic acid and Azotobacter can be proposed to improve seed germination and seedling establishment under salinity stress.   Highlights: Effect of salinity on seed germination characteristics of melon. Effect of biofertilizer and salicylic acid on germination and seedling growth of melon under salt stress.