CARROT AND ONION EXTRACTS BIOPRIMING FOR ENHANCED GERMINATION AND STRESS TOLERANCE IN SEEDS

Abstract

A study was conducted at the Department of Botany, Islamia University of Bahawalpur to estimate the effects of biopriming seeds with carrot and onion. There were five priming treatments vis a vis control (non-primed), hydropriming, carrot extract, onion extract, and a combination of carrot + onion extracts for 12 hours under both normal and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress conditions. Results revealed that biopriming significantly improved germination parameters compared to control. The amalgamated extract treatment showed the maximum germination percentage (85.7%) and least mean germination time (3.8 days). Seedling growth parameters i.e. shoot length (9.6 cm), root length (7.8 cm) and seedling vigor index (1207) were also expressively heightened by the joint extract treatment. Under PEG-induced stress, the amalgam again outperformed others, showing enhanced germination (72.3%), better root and shoot development, and maximum vigor index (774). These results suggest that carrot and onion extracts, predominantly in combination, can serve as operative biostimulants for improving seed performance and augmenting drought tolerance. This eco-friendly and cost-effective priming method offers auspicious potential for sustainable crop establishment under stress-prone environments.