Volume 46 Issue 9 (September 2023) 1225 RESEARCH ARTICLE Legume Research- An International Journal, Volume 46 Issue 9: 1225-1232 (September 2023) Efficacy of Priming Agents on Seed Germination and Plant Growth under Salt Stress in Vigna radiata Naiya Chauhan 1 , Sonia Chauhan 1 , Vedanti Garg 1 , Ishani Mallick 1 , Shweta Sharma 1 , Rama Sisodia 1 10.18805/LR-5042 ABSTRACT Background: Vigna radiata or mung, an important pulse crop extensively used worldwide, suffers significant yield loss due to salinity stress. Seed priming technology offers the possibility of sustaining crop yield under abiotic stress by ameliorating stress-induced changes, especially during the highly susceptible germination stage. Methods: The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of selected seed primers on seed germination and plant growth in Mung bean cultivars-Pusa Vishal and Pusa 1431 under salt stress condition. Seeds primed with organic primers such as Cow Urine, Moringa leaf extract (MLE), Neem leaf extract (NLE); chemical primers-(KCl, KNO 3 , MgSO 4 ) hormone-Salicylic acid (SA) and amino acid Proline were assessed for various germination, growth and biochemical parameters under salinity stress (150 mM NaCl). Result: Among the two cultivars, Pusa-1431 exhibited a more positive response towards priming treatments than Pusa-Vishal. In Pusa 1431 seeds primed with NLE 50%, MgSO 4 50 mM and Proline 50 mM and in Pusa Vishal, SA 1 mM, cow urine 2%, MLE 100% revealed higher germination indices as well as enhanced biochemical parameters. Key words: Salt stress, Seed germination, Seed priming, Vigna. INTRODUCTION Vigna radiata, commonly known as green gram, moong, or mung, is a valued legume that forms an integral part of the human diet. It is a rich source of protein, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber and contains significant amounts of bioactive compounds. Vigna crop is also grown under crop rotation regimes for its ability to enhance crop fertility (Singh et al., 2016a; Singh and Bell, 2021). Globally 7.3 million ha of agricultural land is under mung bean cultivation producing 5.3 million tons (2015-17), with India and Myanmar each supplying almost 30%, China 16% and Indonesia 5% (Brassica, 2016; Nair et al., 2022). In 2022 the global market size of mungbean reached US$ 4,221.5 million (Mung Beans Market: Global industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028, Report ID-SR112023A648). Mungbean is grown on an area of 5.13 million hectares in India with the total production of 3.09 million tonnes with a productivity of 601 kg/hectare in 2020-21 (Annual Report 2021-22, Directorate of Pulses Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India). Mungbean yield potential varies between 2.5-3.0 tonnes/hectare however, the average productivity is strikingly low at 0.5 tonnes/hectare. The reduced productivity is attributed to various biotic stresses such as insect, bacterial and viral infections and abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, heat stress and waterlogging (Nair et al., 2019; Ambreen et al., 2021). Amongst the abiotic stresses, one of the leading factors restricting legume productivity is salinization (Raun et al., 2002). It is estimated that NaCl at a concentration of 50 mM can cause more than 60% yield loss of Vigna radiata (Desai et al., 2022). With rapidly increasing salinization of soils due to natural as well as anthropogenic activities, an estimated loss of 50% of cultivable land is expected by 2050 (Saha et al., 2010; Hasanuzzaman et al., 2013). Salinity stress influences nearly all phases of growth of leguminous plants, most specifically, the germination, vegetative and reproductive phases (Mounia Mansouri and Kheloufi, 2017). Seed germination and seedling emergence stage are highly susceptible to salt. Healthy and higher yield can be assured by enhancing the quality of seed sown and efficient seed germination (Haider and Ur Rehman, 2022). Seed priming is a promising method of enhancing seed germination under abiotic stress (Bose et al., 2018). It offers the advantage of overcoming slow and non-uniform germination, low seed vigor, poor crop stand and poor product quality. It also eases germination even under adverse conditions, lifts crop performance and enhances yield potential (Marthandan et al., 2020). The technique has emerged as a viable strategy for enhancing crop yield under stressful condition. 1 Department of Botany, Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, New Delhi-110 021, India. Corresponding Author: Rama Sisodia, Department of Botany, Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, New Delhi-110 021, India. Email: rsisodia@maitreyi.du.ac.in Orcid no. 0000-0002-3401-0448 How to cite this article: Chauhan, N., Chauhan, S., Garg, V., Mallick, I., Sharma, S. and Sisodia, R. (2023). Efficacy of Priming Agents on Seed Germination and Plant Growth under Salt Stress in Vigna radiata. Legume Research. 46 (9): 1225-1232. doi: 10.18805/LR-5042. Submitted: 14-09-2022 Accepted: 09-06-2023 Online: 31-07-2023