Abstract
In this study, the role of the signalling molecule nitric oxide (NO) in magnetopriming-mediated induction of salinity tolerance in soybean seeds is established. The cross-talk of NO with germination-related hormones gibberellic acid (GA), abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin (IAA) for their ability to reduce the Na+/K+ ratio in the seeds germinating under salinity is highlighted. Salt tolerance index was significantly high for seedlings emerging from magnetoprimed seeds and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, NO-donor) treatment. The NO and superoxide (O2•-) levels were also increased in both of these treatments under non-saline and saline conditions. NO generation through nitrate reductase (NR) and nitric oxide synthase-like (NOS-like) pathways indicated the major contribution of NO from the NR-catalysed reaction. The relative expression of genes involved in the NO biosynthetic pathways reiterated the indulgence of NR in NO in magnetoprimed seeds, as a 3.86-fold increase in expression was observed over unprimed seeds under salinity. A 23.26-fold increase in relative expression of NR genes by the NO donor (SNP) was observed under salinity, while the NR inhibitor (sodium tungstate, ST) caused maximum reduction in expression of NR genes as compared to other inhibitors [L-NAME (N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase-like enzyme) and DPI (diphenylene iodonium; NADPH oxidase inhibitor)]. The ratio of ABA/GA and IAA/GA decreased in magnetoprimed and NO donor-treated seeds, suggesting homeostasis amongst hormones during germination under salinity. The magnetoprimed seeds showed low Na+/K+ ratio in all treatments irrespective of NO inhibitors. Altogether, our results indicate that a balance of ABA, GA and IAA is maintained by the signalling molecule NO in magnetoprimed seeds which lowers the Na+/K+ ratio to offset the adverse effects of salinity in soybean seeds.