Jellyfish as a potential priming agent for enhancing seed germination and promoting seedling growth

A significant increase in nuisance jellyfish blooms has been reported worldwide, disrupting human activities in various ways. This study investigated the potential use of such jellyfish blooms as seed priming agents to enhance germination and seedling performance in seeds with delayed germination. Jellyfish-based seed priming agents were prepared from Chiropsoides buitendijki and Acromitus flagellatus, and their physicochemical properties were assessed using standard analytical methods. The effects of these priming agents on seed germination and seedling performance were evaluated by applying three concentrations to watermelon and bitter gourd seeds, while maize was used to assess any potential toxic or lethal effects. Jellyfish-based priming agents (Cb and Af) exhibited elevated levels of micronutrients Zn, Co, Mn, and B. Primed seeds demonstrated significant improvements in germination and seedling emergence compared to the control (p<0.05; ANOVA). The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed a strong correlation between the chemical constituents of priming agents and the germination indices of both seeds, with Cu and Zn notably influencing RSG. Primed seeds enhanced the breakdown of starch and proteins during germination. These findings confirm that priming agents derived from C. buitendijki and A. flagellatus can be effectively used to improve seed germination and seedling establishment, particularly in seeds exhibiting delayed germination, providing a value-added application for harmful jellyfish blooms.