Modified Drum Priming and Exogenous Application of 24-Epibrassinolide (24-EBL) for Enhancing Germination under High Temperature Condition in Lettuce Seeds

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of modified drum priming and 24-Epibrassinolide (24-EBL) treatment to improve the seed quality for export. 40, 50 and 60% seed moisture content (SMC) of hydrated seeds were incubated for 16 and 24 h in a container with a relative humidity of 99% at 26 rpm for a modified drum priming treatment. The treated seeds were sown at $20^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$ (12/12h, light/dark) with four replications of 25 seeds on pleated paper. The seeds were hydrated with water or 24-EBL solutions of $10^{-7}$, $10^{-8}$ and $10^{-9}M$, respectively. The germination of the modified drum primed seeds (24 h incubation after 60% SMC hydration) improved to 1.6 days mean germination time (MGT) and $46%{\cdot}day^{-1}$ germination rate (GR), while the untreated seeds showed 2.1 days MGT and $28%{\cdot}day^{-1}$ GR. The modified drum priming (60% SMC and 24 h incubation with $10^{-9}M$ 24-EBL) showed improved results in MGT (1.8 days) and GR (55%) at $20^{\circ}C$, whereas untreated seeds showed 2.3 days MGT and 44% GR. Under $30^{\circ}C$, germination of modified drum primed seeds was significantly improved in GP (80%), GR ($31%{\cdot}day^{-1}$), HS (55%) and MGT (3.3 days), however, untreated seeds showed decreased GP (27%), GR ($22%{\cdot}day^{-1}$), HS (55%) and MGT (4.8 days). This study showed that the germination of lettuce seeds is enhanced by 24 h drum incubation with 24-EBL and this method can be used effectively to achieve the benefits of early germination and uniform seedling development. In addition, these treatments circumvent thermo-dormancy of lettuce seed and have a possibility of high-quality and environment-friendly seed processing.