Effect of Seed Priming on Proline Content of Germinating Seeds of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) under Water Stress

Seeds of AL-15 variety of pigeonpea were subjected to presowing soaking treatments in water and 150 ppm solution of ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate and succinic acid and germinated under water stress at 0, -3 and -5 atm using polyethylene glycol 6000. Proline content was estimated in the cotyledons and embryonic axis at 24, 72 and 120 hr of germination. Proline content in the cotyledons decreased with increasing water stress in most of the cases. In the embryonic axis at 24 and 72 hr of germination, the proline of seeds declined it declined in unsoaked, water, and sodium benzoate treated seeds whereas it increased at 120 hr of germination in all the treatments on increasing water stress.