From seed to harvest: Salinity priming improves pea growth and yield under rainfed conditions

Aim of study: The aim of this research was to examine the effects of salinity-based seed priming on the growth, reproduction, and yield of pea (Pisum sativum L.) to determine its potential for enhancing drought resilience. Area of study: The field experiments were conducted over two vegetative seasons in Idvor, South Banat, Republic of Serbia. Material and methods: Pea seeds were subjected to pre-sowing salinity priming treatments using two concentrations of NaCl (40 mM and 80 mM), alongside a non-primed control group. The study assessed plant height, biomass, root growth, pod formation, and final yield. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the influence of salinity levels and seasonal variations. Main results: Moderate salinity priming (40 mM NaCl) significantly enhanced plant height, biomass, and pod formation, suggesting that mild stress-induced adaptive mechanisms can improve performance. Conversely, high salinity (80 mM NaCl) inhibited germination and root development, leading to a complete loss of yield due to ion toxicity. ANOVA revealed that salinity concentration was the dominant factor influencing all examined traits, while seasonal variations had a significantly lesser impact. Research highlights: Optimizing salinity concentrations in seed priming is crucial for balancing stress adaptation; while 40 mM NaCl improves pea growth traits, concentrations as high as 80 mM are detrimental and lead to total reproductive failure.