Physiological Quality of Common Bean Seeds Subjected to Different Concentrations of Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid acts on several plant physiological processes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if salicylic acid interferes on the physiological quality of common bean seeds soaked with different concentrations by testing two seed imbibition methodologies. Common bean seeds of the cultivars Fepagro 26 and Predileto were utilized. The seeds were soaked in solutions of salicylic acid with concentrations of zero, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, 3,000 and 5,000 μM. Seed imbibition occurred in two ways- (1) germination paper moistened with salicylic acid solutions, and (2) seed imbibition in salicylic acid solutions in plastic boxes for 24 hours and subsequent sowing on germination paper moistened with distilled water. The experiment was maintained in a germination incubator under 25 °C temperature and with constant light. The number of normal seedlings (first count), length, fresh and dry matter of seedlings were determined on the fifth day after sowing. Germination percentage was assessed nine days after sowing. The study was performed in a completely randomized design with four replicates and 50 seeds were used for each treatment. Regression analysis was performed for salicylic acid concentrations, with no comparison of cultivars and seed imbibition methods. Salicylic acid in concentrations up to 1,000 μM does not negatively affect the common bean seed germination of the cultivars Fepagro 26 and Predileto, using seed soaking for 24 hours and imbibition in the germination paper. Concentrations of salicylic acid up to 1,000 μM and seed imbibition for 24 hours do not affect the vigor (first count) of the two common bean cultivars.