ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Seed priming: An efficient method for enhancing growth and yield of Sesamum indicum L. under drought stress

Seed priming is a pre-germination physiological treatment of seeds with natural or synthetic compounds which provides faster and synchronized germination. In the present research work, the seed priming effects of NaCl and KNO₃ in Sesamum indicum L.var. Thilothama under drought stress were studied. Sesame is a well known oil yielding plant and the seeds of these plants are used for oil extraction. Morphological, physiological and biochemical analysis were conducted in the seedlings raised from primed and non-primed seeds under field conditions. The results of analyses showed significant reduction in the growth of seedlings under drought stress conditions. But both the seed priming treatments resulted in an increase in the germination percentage, growth and yield. The germination percentage and growth attributes were found to be high in KNO₃ primed plants, but as far as the yield parameters were concerned, the fruit weight and seed weight were found to be maximum in NaCl primed plants. Thus from the present research work, it was concluded that both the seed priming methods improved the drought stress tolerance potential of sesame and among the two seed priming treatments, we recommend seed priming with 15 mM NaCl as the most effective method for enhancing yield under drought stress in sesame.