Abstract
As agriculture in Iraq faces the challenges of climate change, particularly given the preference for consuming local vegetables, determining the drought tolerance of indigenous varieties and developing strategies to mitigate its impact have become a top research priority. The aim of this study was to mitigate the impact of water potential during the germination stage of a local variety of onion (Allium cepa L. var. local white) that is cultivated and consumed widely in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Ascorbic acid (Asc) with two concentrations (1.5 and 2.5 mM) as a priming compound and polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG8000) with concentrations (50 and 100 g/L) as a water potential inducer were implemented for different durations (12 and 24 h). Onion seed germination and growth characteristics were recorded. Germination energy at four days (GE4) and germination capacity (GC) were improved when seeds were treated with 1.5 mM Asc for 12 hours. The highest germination rate index (GRI) of 9% and the shortest mean germination time (MGT) were recorded when seeds were treated with 3 mM Asc, while direct sowing had the lowest GRI of 6.5%. The values of radicle and hypocotyl growth were recorded the highest when seeds were primed with 1.5 mM Asc for 12h and exposed to 50 g/L PEG8000. These results indicate the important role of Asc priming under moderate water potential in improving onion seedling growth and resilience. We recommend that farmers in Kurdistan and Iraq adopt Asc priming techniques to enhance drought resistance in onion crops. Future research should focus on optimising Asc concentrations and exploring additional stress-mitigation strategies for other key crops in the region.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Priming seeds with 1.5 mM ascorbic acid for 12 h improved germination energy at four days and germination capacity in onion.
- Taxon
- onion
Allium cepae1 - Material
- local whitee1
- Organ / stage
- seedse2
- Treatment
- 1.5 mM Asc for 12 hourse2
- Outcome
- Germination energy at four days (GE4) and germination capacity (GC)e2
- Direction
- improvede2
Not reportedComparatorValue
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“a local variety of onion (Allium cepa L. var. local white)”
e2“Germination energy at four days (GE4) and germination capacity (GC) were improved when seeds were treated with 1.5 mM Asc for 12 hours”
Claim · model-written summary
Priming with 3 mM ascorbic acid gave the highest germination rate index (GRI) of 9% in onion.
- Taxon
- onionAllium cepae1
- Treatment
- 3 mM Asce3
- Outcome
- germination rate index (GRI)e3
- Direction
- higheste3
- Value
- 9%e3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“a local variety of onion (Allium cepa L. var. local white)”
e3“The highest germination rate index (GRI) of 9% and the shortest mean germination time (MGT) were recorded when seeds were treated with 3 mM Asc”
Claim · model-written summary
Priming with 3 mM ascorbic acid gave the shortest mean germination time (MGT) in onion.
- Taxon
- onionAllium cepae1
- Treatment
- 3 mM Asce3
- Outcome
- mean germination time (MGT)e3
- Direction
- shorteste3
Not reportedComparatorValue
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“a local variety of onion (Allium cepa L. var. local white)”
e3“The highest germination rate index (GRI) of 9% and the shortest mean germination time (MGT) were recorded when seeds were treated with 3 mM Asc”
Claim · model-written summary
Direct sowing without priming had the lowest germination rate index (GRI) of 6.5% in onion.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“a local variety of onion (Allium cepa L. var. local white)”
e4“while direct sowing had the lowest GRI of 6.5%”
Claim · model-written summary
Priming with 1.5 mM ascorbic acid for 12 h followed by 50 g/L PEG8000 gave the highest radicle and hypocotyl growth in onion.
- Taxon
- onionAllium cepae1
- Organ / stage
- radicle and hypocotyle5
- Treatment
- 1.5 mM Asc for 12h and exposed to 50 g/L PEG8000e5
- Outcome
- radicle and hypocotyl growthe5
- Direction
- higheste5
Not reportedComparatorValue
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“a local variety of onion (Allium cepa L. var. local white)”
e5“The values of radicle and hypocotyl growth were recorded the highest when seeds were primed with 1.5 mM Asc for 12h and exposed to 50 g/L PEG8000”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend that farmers in Kurdistan and Iraq adopt ascorbic acid priming to enhance drought resistance in onion crops.
- Taxon
- onionAllium cepae6
- Outcome
- adopt Asc priming techniquese6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“We recommend that farmers in Kurdistan and Iraq adopt Asc priming techniques to enhance drought resistance in onion crops”
The same questions in other papers
poly(ethylene glycol) · growth · Allium cepa (onion)Positive and negative results
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- negative
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- positive
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See all 28 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.