Seed germination, seedling growth performance, genetic stability and biochemical responses of papaya (Carica papaya L.) upon pre-sowing seed treatments

GP	$GP = \frac{Ng}{Nt} \times 100$	Ng = germinated seeds Nt = total sown seeds
GRI	$GRI = \frac{G 1}{1} + \frac{G 2}{2} + \dots + \frac{G i}{i}$	Gi = the germination on each day after number of days from sowing i = alternate day after sowing
CV	$CV = \frac{Σ N i}{Σ N i \times T i} \times 100$	Ni = the number of germinated seeds Ti = the last day of germination
SVI	SVI = (PL + RL) × GP	PL = shoot length RL = root length GP = germination percentage

1 CV, coefficient of velocity; GP, germination percentage; GRI, germination rate; SVI, seed vigour index.

Effect of papaya seed pre-sowing treatments on seed GP. Data are means of two seasons (2022/2023 and 2023/2024) and three replicates (n = 3) each season. The mean values ± SE of each parameter followed by different alphabetical letters are significantly different according to Duncan’s multiple range test at p ≤ 0.05. Control, dry seeds; T.W, tap water; M.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); CH, chitosan (1.5%); GA₃, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); M.W + GA₃, magnetic water + gibberellic acid; M.W + CH, magnetic water + chitosan; GA₃ + CH, gibberellic acid + chitosan; M.W + GA₃ + CH, magnetic water + gibberellic acid + chitosan. GP, germination percentage.

Effect of papaya seed pre-sowing treatments on germination rate index (A), CV (B) and SVI (C). Data are means of two seasons (2022/2023 and 2023/2024) and three replicates (n = 3) each season. The mean values ± SE of each parameter followed by different alphabetical letters are significantly different according to Duncan’s multiple range test at p ≤ 0.05. Control, dry seeds; T.W, tap water; M.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); CH, chitosan (1.5%); GA₃, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); M.W + GA₃, magnetic water + gibberellic acid; M.W + CH, magnetic water + chitosan; GA₃ + CH, gibberellic acid + chitosan; M.W + GA₃ + CH, magnetic water + gibberellic acid + chitosan. CV, coefficient of velocity; GRI, germination rate index; SVI, seedling vigour index.

Effect of papaya seed pre-sowing treatments on seed antioxidant activity (DPPH%) (A), total phenolic content (mg · g⁻¹ DW) (B) and total flavonoid content (mg · g⁻¹ DW) (C). Data are means of two seasons (2022/2023 and 2023/2024) and three replicates (n = 3) each season. The mean values ± SE of each parameter followed by different alphabetical letters are significantly different according to Duncan’s multiple range test at p ≤ 0.05. Control, dry seeds; T.W, tap water; M.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); CH, chitosan (1.5%); GA₃, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); M.W + GA₃, magnetic water + gibberellic acid; M.W + CH, magnetic water + chitosan; GA₃ + CH, gibberellic acid + chitosan; M.W + GA₃ + CH, magnetic water + gibberellic acid + chitosan. DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl.

Effect of papaya seed pre-sowing treatments on α-amylase (μmol · min−1 · mL⁻¹) (A) and RS (mg · g⁻¹ DW) (B). Data are means of two seasons (2022/2023 and 2023/2024) and three replicates (n = 3) each season. The mean values ± SE of each parameter followed by different alphabetical letters are significantly different according to Duncan’s multiple range test at p ≤ 0.05. Control, dry seeds; T.W, tap water; M.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); CH, chitosan (1.5%); GA₃, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); M.W + GA₃, magnetic water + gibberellic acid; M.W + CH, magnetic water + chitosan; GA₃ + CH, gibberellic acid + chitosan; M.W + GA₃ + CH, magnetic water + gibberellic acid + chitosan. RS, Reducing sugar.

Effect of papaya seed pre-sowing treatments on proline content (mg · g⁻¹ DW) (A) and total phosphorus (%) (B). Data are means of two seasons (2022/2023 and 2023/2024) and three replicates (n = 3) each season. The mean values ± SE of each parameter followed by different alphabetical letters are significantly different according to Duncan’s multiple range test at p ≤ 0.05. Control, dry seeds; T.W, tap water; M.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); CH, chitosan (1.5%); GA₃, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); M.W + GA₃, magnetic water + gibberellic acid; M.W + CH, magnetic water + chitosan; GA₃ + CH, gibberellic acid + chitosan; M.W + GA₃ + CH, magnetic water + gibberellic acid + chitosan.

Effect of papaya seed pre-sowing treatments on seedling height (cm) (A), number of roots (B) and root length (cm) (C). Data are means of two seasons (2022/2023 and 2023/2024) and three replicates (n = 3) each season. The mean values ± SE of each parameter followed by different alphabetical letters are significantly different according to Duncan’s multiple range test at p ≤ 0.05. Control, dry seeds; T.W, tap water; M.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); CH, chitosan (1.5%); GA₃, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); M.W + GA₃, magnetic water + gibberellic acid; M.W + CH, magnetic water + chitosan; GA₃ + CH, gibberellic acid + chitosan; M.W + GA₃ + CH, magnetic water + gibberellic acid + chitosan.

Effect of papaya seed pre-sowing treatments on stem diameter (A), number of leaves (B) and leaf area (cm²) (C). Data are means of two seasons (2022/2023 and 2023/2024) and three replicates (n = 3) each season. The mean values ± SE of each parameter followed by different alphabetical letters are significantly different according to Duncan’s multiple range test at p ≤ 0.05. Control, dry seeds; T.W, tap water; M.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); CH, chitosan (1.5%); GA₃, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); M.W + GA₃, magnetic water + gibberellic acid; M.W + CH, magnetic water + chitosan; GA₃ + CH, gibberellic acid + chitosan; M.W + GA₃ + CH, magnetic water + gibberellic acid + chitosan.

Electrophotograph generated by SDS-PAGE analysis of protein-banding pattern of untreated and submerged papaya seeds in magnetic water (2000 Gauss), M.W; chitosan (1.5%), CH and gibberellic acid (1000 ppm), GA₃ separately or in combination. M, marker; Control, dry seeds; T.W, tap water; M.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); CH, chitosan (1.5%); GA₃, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); M.W + GA₃, magnetic water + gibberellic acid; M.W + CH, magnetic water + chitosan; GA₃ + CH, gibberellic acid + chitosan; M.W + GA₃ + CH, magnetic water + gibberellic acid + chitosan; K. Da, Kilo Dalton; SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Table 2.

SDS-PAGE analysis of protein-banding patterns of untreated and submerged papaya seeds in tap water; T.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); M.W, chitosan (1.5%); CH, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); GA₃ solutions separately or in combination; %P, % polymorphism.

No.	Molecular weight (kDa)	Control	Treatments								Band type
No.	Molecular weight (kDa)	Control	T.W	M.W	CH	GA₃	MW + ga₃	GA₃ + CH	MW + CH	MW + GA₃ + CH	Band type
1	200.20	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	P
2	178.12	1	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	P[NUM-2]
3	171.50	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	P[PUM-9]
4	151.72	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	M80
5	102.25	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	P[PUM-9]
6	65.42	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	P
7	56.02	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	P
8	50.85	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	P[PUM-5]
9	46.92	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	P[PUM-5]
10	43.73	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	P
11	38.87	0	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	P
12	36.64	0	1	1	1	1	0	1	0	0	P
13	35.60	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	P
14	33.42	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	P[PUM-3]
15	27.73	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	P
16	26.87	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	P[PUM-C]
17	25.20	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	P[PUM-C]
18	24.13	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	1	1	P[NUM-6]
19	23.22	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	P
20	19.46	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	P[PUM-5]
21	18.82	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	P
22	18.19	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	P
23	15.23	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	P
24	14.57	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	P[NUM-8]
25	14.16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	P[PUM-8]
26	13.65	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	P
27	11.54	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	1	1	P[NUM-6]
28	10.93	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	P[PUM-4]
29	10.58	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	P[PUM-4]
30	10.46	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	M
31	10.35	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	P[PUM-C]
32	10.24	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	P[PUM-9]
Total bands of each sample		14	11	9	12	11	12	9	10	13	Gel polymorphism % = 93.75%
P% in each sample		85.71	81.81	77.78	83.33	81.82	83.33	77.78	80.00	84.62

1 M, monomorphic band; NUM, negative unique marker; P, polymorphic band; PUM, positive unique marker; SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Dendrogram derived from separate evaluation of SDS-PAGE protein profiles of eight treated and untreated papaya seeds constructed data using UPGMA and similarity matrices computed according to Dice coefficient. T1 (C), Control (dry seeds); T2, tap water (T.W); T3, magnetic water (M.W, 2000 Gauss); T4, chitosan (CH, 1.5%); T5, gibberellic acid (GA₃, 1000 ppm); T6, M.W (2000 Gauss) + GA₃ (1000 ppm); T7, M.W (2000 Gauss) + CH (1.5%); T8, GA₃ (1000 ppm) + CH (1.5%); T9, M.W (2000 Gauss) + GA₃ (1000 ppm) + CH (1.5%). SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; UPGMA, unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages.

Table 3.

Number of DS and S bands recorded by separate evaluation of protein profiles of treated and untreated papaya seeds and their genetic similarity indices as computed according to Dice coefficient.

Treatments	Control	T.W	M.W	CH	GA₃	M.W + GA₃	GA₃ + CH	M.W + CH	M.W + GA₃ + CH
Control	100%^0DS,32S	80%^11DS,21S	80%^11DS,21S	77%^12DS,20S	75%^13DS,19S	72%^14DS,18S	84%^9DS,23S	77%^12DS,20S	84^9DS,23S
T.W		100%^0DS,32S	86^8DS,24S	79%^11DS,21S	81%^10DS,22S	75%^13DS,19S	90%^26DS,6S	84%^9DS,23S	75%^13DS,19S
M.W			100^0DS,32S	92%^5DS,27S	93%^4DS,22S	80%^11DS,21S	93%^4DS,28S	84%^9DS,23S	82%^10DS,22S
CH				100%^0DS,32S	88%^7DS,25S	77%^12DS,20S	88%^7DS,25S	77%^12DS,20S	79%^11DS,21S
GA₃					100%^0DS,32S	75%^13DS,19S	90%^6DS,26S	79%^11DS,21S	77%^12DS,20S
M.W + GA₃						100%^0DS,32S	84%^9DS,23S	86%^8DS,24S	79%^11DS,21S
GA₃ + CH							100%^0DS,32S	92%^5DS,27S	86%^8DS,24S
M.W + CH								100%^0DS,32S	80%^11DS,21S
M.W + GA₃ + CH									100%^0DS,32S

1 DS, dissimilar; S, similar; T.W. magnetic water (2000 Gauss); M.W, chitosan (1.5%); CH, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); GA₃, solutions separately or in combination.

GTS% based on changes in SDS-PAGE protein electrophoretic banding pattern of untreated and pre-sowed papaya seeds in magnetic water (2000 Gauss), M.W; chitosan (1.5%), CH and gibberellic acid (1000 ppm), GA₃ separately or in combination. Vertical bars represent GTS% ± standard error. Control, dry seeds; T.W, tap water; M.W, magnetic water (2000 Gauss); CH, chitosan (1.5%); GA₃, gibberellic acid (1000 ppm); M.W + GA₃, magnetic water + gibberellic acid; M.W + CH, magnetic water + chitosan; GA₃ + CH, gibberellic acid + chitosan; M.W + GA₃ + CH, magnetic water + gibberellic acid + chitosan. GTS%, genome template stability percentage. SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Table 4.

GTS% based on changes in SDS-PAGE protein electrophoretic banding pattern of untreated and submerged papaya seeds in magnetic water (2000 Gauss), M.W; chitosan (1.5%), CH; gibberellic acid (1000 ppm), GA₃; separately or in combination. a, number of newly developed bands; b, number of diminished bands; a + b, polymorphic bands

Control total bands		Treatments
Control total bands		T.W		M.W		CH		GA₃		M.W + GA₃		M.W + CH		GA₃ + CH		M.W + GA₃ + CH
		a	b	a	b	a	b	a	b	a	b	a	b	a	b	a	b
14		4	7	3	8	5	7	5	8	6	8	2	7	4	8	4	5
a + b		11		11		12		13		14		9		12		9
GTS%	100	21.43		21.43		14.29		7.14		0.00			35.71		14.29		35.71

1 GTS%, genome-template stability percentage; SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Table 5.

Genomic-DNA template stability (GTS) and correlated % growth parameters and phytochemical changes among untreated and submerged papaya seeds.

GTS-Growth parameters
GTS-Growth parameters	GTS%	Seedling height	SVI	Stem diameter	Number of leaves	Root length	Leaf area	Root number	% Germination	CV
GTS%	1.00	–0.17	–0.09	–0.16	–0.13	–0.10	–0.09	0.22	0.10	–0.05
GTS-Phytochemicals
	GTS	DPPH		α-Amylase	Proline	RSs	Total phenolics	Flavonoids	Phosphorous
GTS%	1.00	0.29		–0.15	0.29	–0.11	0.22	0.10	0.38*

1 CV, coefficient of velocity; DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; GTS%, genome template stability percentage; RSs, Reducing sugars; SVI, seedling vigour index.

References

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2024-0036 | Journal eISSN: 2083-5965 | Journal ISSN: 0867-1761

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Language: English

Page range: 533 - 558

Submitted on: Nov 21, 2024

Accepted on: Jan 21, 2025

Published on: Mar 27, 2025

Published by: Polish Society for Horticultural Sciences (PSHS)

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

Keywords:

antioxidant activity,

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© 2025 M. S. Aboryia, Aml M. Abo AL-Saoud, El-Sayed A. El-Boraie, Hany G. Abd El-Gawad, Shaimaa Ismail, Mohamed Alkafafy, Bandar S. Aljuaid, Lina M. Abu-Ziada, published by Polish Society for Horticultural Sciences (PSHS)
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Volume 36 (2024): Issue 4 (December 2024)

Seed germination, seedling growth performance, genetic stability and biochemical responses of papaya (Carica papaya L.) upon pre-sowing seed treatments

Figures & Tables

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Figure 8.

Table 2.

Figure 9.

Table 3.

Figure 10.

Table 4.

Table 5.

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