Seed Priming with Vegetal Protein Hydrolysate

Summary of Seed Priming with Vegetal Protein Hydrolysate:

Boosting Cucumber Growth with Vegetal Protein Hydrolysate Seed Priming

Cucumber is one of the most widely grown vegetables in the world, taking up a significant portion of agricultural land. Farmers are constantly looking for ways to improve seed germination and early seedling growth, especially under challenging conditions like salt stress. This study explored the potential of Vegetal Protein Hydrolysate (VPH) as a natural seed priming treatment to enhance cucumber growth.

Researchers tested two concentrations of VPH (2 mL/L and 4 mL/L) under both normal and salt stress conditions, using water as a control treatment. The seeds were soaked for 4, 8, and 12 hours, and several important factors were observed, including germination rate, germination percentage, seedling vigor, and early growth traits.

The results were promising. VPH treatments at lower concentrations significantly improved seed germination and early seedling development. The cucumber seeds primed with VPH showed faster germination, stronger seedlings, and higher chlorophyll content, even under salt stress conditions, compared to those treated with just water. However, the duration of seed priming played a crucial role. Priming for 4 to 8 hours yielded the best results, while extending the soaking time to 12 hours had the opposite effect, causing stress and slowing down the germination process.

This research highlights the potential of VPH as a natural biostimulant to enhance cucumber seed germination and early growth. By optimizing seed priming conditions, farmers can improve cucumber production, particularly in greenhouses and plastic tunnels, where controlled environments make precision techniques even more effective. These findings offer a sustainable and practical approach to boosting vegetable cultivation using plant-based compounds instead of synthetic chemicals.