Effect of NaCl Stress on Seedling Parameters of Various Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Genotypes and Its Mitigation through Hormonal Priming

Salinity is a major environmental challenge that leads to agricultural land degradation and reduced crop yields worldwide. In chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), high salinity conditions can significantly inhibit seed germination and seedling growth. This study aimed to achieve two main objectives: first, to evaluate the effects of NaCl stress on seedling parameters across various chilli genotypes, and second, to explore the potential of hormonal priming in mitigating salt stress. The experiment was conducted in the Seed Testing Laboratory of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding at SHUATS, Prayagraj, using 14 chilli genotypes exposed to varying salt concentrations (0 mM, 75 mM, 100 mM, and 150 mM). The results revealed that higher salt concentrations negatively impacted seedling parameters across all genotypes, with EC-492576 displaying superior salt tolerance. The second part of the study focused on alleviating salt stress through hormonal priming, an approach that enhances seedling quality by improving germination and growth under adverse conditions. Under 150 mM salt stress, 12 treatments were applied, including GA3, salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, and IAA at varying concentrations, with unprimed seeds serving as the control. Among these treatments, salicylic acid at 100 ppm yielded the best results improving key parameters such as germination rate, seedling length, and overall vigour. These findings highlight the potential of salicylic acid priming to improve salt tolerance in chilli. These findings highlight the potential of salicylic acid priming to improve salt tolerance in chilli, paving the way for future research in developing salt-tolerant varieties and informing breeding programs aimed at enhancing agricultural resilience in salt-affected regions.