Volume 19, Issue 2 (7-2025)
مرتع 2025, 19(2): 161-178 |
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Nateghi S, Bayat M, Souri M. Introduction of Suitable Priming of Astragalus kahiricus Seeds for Improvement and Rehabilitation of Rangelands in Yazd Province. مرتع 2025; 19 (2) :161-178
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1280-en.html
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1280-en.html
Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands
Abstract: (519 Views)
Background and objectives: Astragalus species are of considerable importance in Iran due to their uses in medicine, livestock fodder, and contribution to the national economy. Among these, Astragalus kahiricus is a native and well-adapted species thriving in the arid sandy regions of the country. Its resilience to harsh environmental conditions, combined with its nutritional value and ability to protect soil, makes it particularly valuable. However, many A. kahiricus populations suffer from poor establishment, often failing to progress beyond early vegetative stages and ultimately drying out. Seed priming offers a promising approach to overcome these challenges by accelerating germination and enhancing seedling tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses during critical developmental phases. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various priming treatments on the growth and performance of A. kahiricus.
Methodology: The experiment assessed the impacts of hydropriming, osmopriming, and hormone priming on key performance indicators including plant height, ground cover percentage, biomass production, proline content, and carbohydrate content of A. kahiricus. Seeds from three geographically distinct ecotypes - Saghand, Robat Pusht Badam, and Robat Khan - were subjected to the following priming treatments: hydropriming with distilled water; hormone priming with gibberellic acid (GA3) at 125 and 250 ppm, salicylic acid at 100 and 200 mg/L, and ascorbic acid at 100 and 200 mM; and osmopriming with potassium nitrate at 0.4%. The experimental design was a split-plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications.
Results: Statistical analysis indicated significant effects of priming treatments (p<0.01) on carbohydrate content, ground cover percentage, biomass production, and plant height. All primed seeds outperformed the untreated controls across measured parameters. The Saghand ecotype treated with 250 ppm gibberellic acid showed the greatest plant height (26 cm) and biomass production (65 g/m²). The highest carbohydrate concentration (34 g/100 g fresh weight) was recorded in the Robat Pusht Badam ecotype treated with 250 ppm GA3, while the Robat Khan ecotype primed with ascorbic acid (100 and 200 mM) exhibited the highest proline content (3 mM/g fresh weight). Additionally, the Saghand ecotype achieved the highest ground cover percentage (27%) under 250 ppm GA3 treatment. Overall, gibberellic acid priming at 250 ppm, combined with seed scarification, was identified as the most effective strategy for optimizing direct seeding and restoration of degraded dryland pastures using A. kahiricus.
Conclusion: Priming treatments enhanced water uptake and metabolic activity in seeds, resulting in improved germination performance and greater physiological uniformity among seedlings. Specifically, gibberellic acid priming at 250 ppm significantly promoted seedling growth indices -including height, ground cover, biomass accumulation, and carbohydrate content- in Astragalus kahiricus. These findings suggest that seed priming, particularly with gibberellic acid, is an effective and practical technique to enhance establishment success and biomass yield of this valuable forage species under the stressful conditions typical of arid and semi-arid environments.
Methodology: The experiment assessed the impacts of hydropriming, osmopriming, and hormone priming on key performance indicators including plant height, ground cover percentage, biomass production, proline content, and carbohydrate content of A. kahiricus. Seeds from three geographically distinct ecotypes - Saghand, Robat Pusht Badam, and Robat Khan - were subjected to the following priming treatments: hydropriming with distilled water; hormone priming with gibberellic acid (GA3) at 125 and 250 ppm, salicylic acid at 100 and 200 mg/L, and ascorbic acid at 100 and 200 mM; and osmopriming with potassium nitrate at 0.4%. The experimental design was a split-plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications.
Results: Statistical analysis indicated significant effects of priming treatments (p<0.01) on carbohydrate content, ground cover percentage, biomass production, and plant height. All primed seeds outperformed the untreated controls across measured parameters. The Saghand ecotype treated with 250 ppm gibberellic acid showed the greatest plant height (26 cm) and biomass production (65 g/m²). The highest carbohydrate concentration (34 g/100 g fresh weight) was recorded in the Robat Pusht Badam ecotype treated with 250 ppm GA3, while the Robat Khan ecotype primed with ascorbic acid (100 and 200 mM) exhibited the highest proline content (3 mM/g fresh weight). Additionally, the Saghand ecotype achieved the highest ground cover percentage (27%) under 250 ppm GA3 treatment. Overall, gibberellic acid priming at 250 ppm, combined with seed scarification, was identified as the most effective strategy for optimizing direct seeding and restoration of degraded dryland pastures using A. kahiricus.
Conclusion: Priming treatments enhanced water uptake and metabolic activity in seeds, resulting in improved germination performance and greater physiological uniformity among seedlings. Specifically, gibberellic acid priming at 250 ppm significantly promoted seedling growth indices -including height, ground cover, biomass accumulation, and carbohydrate content- in Astragalus kahiricus. These findings suggest that seed priming, particularly with gibberellic acid, is an effective and practical technique to enhance establishment success and biomass yield of this valuable forage species under the stressful conditions typical of arid and semi-arid environments.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
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Received: 2024/08/3 | Accepted: 2025/05/4 | Published: 2025/07/1
Received: 2024/08/3 | Accepted: 2025/05/4 | Published: 2025/07/1
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