Salicylic Acid-mediated Modulation of Biochemical Parameters in Aged Tomato Seeds

This study investigated the influence of salicylic acid (SA) priming on the physiological and biochemical attributes of aged tomato seeds (Solanum lycopersicum L., variety BT-10, Utkal Kumari). Seeds were subjected to priming with varying concentrations of SA (0 mM, 0.1 mM, 0.25 mM, 0.5 mM, 0.75 mM, and 1.0 mM) for 24 hours, followed by drying under controlled conditions. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five trials and three replications per treatment. Key physiological parameters evaluated included germination percentage, seed vigour index (SVI), seedling length, speed of germination, and moisture content. Biochemical analyses focused on changes in electrical conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase, alpha-amylase activity, and protein content. Results demonstrated that a moderate concentration of SA (0.5 mM) significantly improved both physiological and biochemical seed quality. Higher concentrations showed inhibitory effects. These findings highlight the potential of SA priming to support robust early growth in aged tomato seeds.