Polyamines are low molecular weight organic compounds involved in diverse range of biological processes in all living
organisms. Seed priming is a technique that improves seed performance by rapid and uniform germination with normal
and vigorous seedlings. A laboratory study was performed to explore the benefits of seed priming with polyamines on seed
germination and seedling growth of hot pepper (
Capsicum annuum
L.) Hot pepper seeds were primed in aerated solution
of putrescine, spermine, or spermidine (25, 50, 75, and 100 mM) for 48 h at 25 ± 2 °C. Significant results (P < 0.05) were
observed for different attributes of seed germination and early seedling growth. Polyamines priming resulted in earlier
and synchronized germination via improving final germination percentage, time to 50% germination, mean germination
time, germination energy, germination speed and germination index compared with control. Improvement in shoot and
root length, seedling fresh and dry weight, seedling growth rate and seedling vigor index was clearly indicative of positive
effects of seed priming with polyamines. Out of all polyamines, putrescine proved to be better at low concentrations (i.e. 25
and 50 mM) for most of the traits related to seed emergence and seedling growth.
