Effect of osmopriming with PEG 6000 on seed germination performance and early seedling establishment in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Effect of osmopriming with PEG 6000 on seed germination performance and early seedling establishment in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Effect of osmopriming with PEG 6000 on seed germination performance and early seedling establishment in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) Michaël Kenne Fomekong, Elise Fabiola Tchouake Tetang, Carine Nono Temegne, and 6 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6792474/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 15 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Enhancing plant production requires advancing seed germination processes despite environmental constraints. Dry soils often reduce okra yield by hindering seed germination and plant growth. Seed pre-treatment could alleviate water shortage problems. The main objective of this study was to identify water pretreatment conditions conducive to seedling development in okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). We used PEG 6000 solutions with increasing concentrations ( C: 0 MPa; T1: -0.3 MPa; T2: -0.6 MPa; T3: -0.9 MPa; and T4: -1.2 MPa ) to treat okra seeds for 1, 3, 7, and 9 hours. The experiment was conducted using a fully randomized setup with three simultaneous replications. The main findings of the analysis are that water stress has a repressive impact on germination and seedling development in both okra varieties ( Clemson spineless and Hire ). Osmotic pretreatments consistently enhanced germination parameters and seedling development, irrespective of the priming duration, particularly showing an improved response in the Clemson spineless variety. In comparison to the control group, seeds of the Clemson spineless variety that were pretreated exhibited the highest germination rate (95.83%), the highest seedling viability (93.94%), and the greatest seedling vigor (10.61). The highest seedling height (11.55 cm) was achieved in PEG 6000 at a pressure of -0.6 MPa for 9 hours. Under priming conditions, the seedlings of the Clemson Spineless variety exhibit an increase in various physiological parameters. The highest values are observed using seeds treated with PEG 6000 at -0.6 MPa for 9 hours (2.77 mg/g for chlorophyll a ; 1.62 mg/g for chlorophyll b ; 4.40 mg/g for total chlorophyll, and 6.09 mg/g for carotenoids) compared to the control. Despite the depressive impact of PEG 6000-induced water stress on germination and seedling development, the use of PEG 6000 as a priming promotes germination and seedling development in okra. To achieve optimal okra production in arid or semi-arid environments, it is recommended to utilize seeds of the Clemson Spineless variety that have been osmoprimed with PEG 6000. Abelmoschus esculentus Germination Osmopriming with PEG 6000 Seedlings Water stress Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 11 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 11 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 29 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 18 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 18 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 17 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 03 Jun, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 03 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 31 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6792474","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":487269587,"identity":"41376310-300b-4cbb-8c41-6647b6bff755","order_by":0,"name":"Michaël Kenne Fomekong","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé I","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Michaël","middleName":"Kenne","lastName":"Fomekong","suffix":""},{"id":487269588,"identity":"77d69ceb-0124-4772-adac-37f5411921f7","order_by":1,"name":"Elise Fabiola Tchouake Tetang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé I","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Elise","middleName":"Fabiola Tchouake","lastName":"Tetang","suffix":""},{"id":487269589,"identity":"8882eef3-8957-4836-a535-12809de4fc4e","order_by":2,"name":"Carine Nono Temegne","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé I","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Carine","middleName":"Nono","lastName":"Temegne","suffix":""},{"id":487269590,"identity":"8cd3e068-d646-4504-958b-61dd2cf044fe","order_by":3,"name":"Jordan Ulrich Engoulou Minlo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé I","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jordan","middleName":"Ulrich Engoulou","lastName":"Minlo","suffix":""},{"id":487269591,"identity":"51707f46-ba1d-4fda-8fa9-1c2e135eb232","order_by":4,"name":"Paul Agendia Atabong","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé I","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Paul","middleName":"Agendia","lastName":"Atabong","suffix":""},{"id":487269593,"identity":"63fee497-6e99-4494-8734-4a8dc9e54939","order_by":5,"name":"Alanis Cindy Noadje Kameni","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé I","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Alanis","middleName":"Cindy Noadje","lastName":"Kameni","suffix":""},{"id":487269595,"identity":"8eab0c00-a3d3-4c08-9ab1-daa63f8e8bb1","order_by":6,"name":"Bilal Ahmad Mir","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Kashmir","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bilal","middleName":"Ahmad","lastName":"Mir","suffix":""},{"id":487269597,"identity":"a06ca054-b455-4345-a9ba-32a5466bbdf9","order_by":7,"name":"Emmanuel Youmbi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé I","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Emmanuel","middleName":"","lastName":"Youmbi","suffix":""},{"id":487269599,"identity":"a9886f36-fa30-4757-b6bd-4df30657db60","order_by":8,"name":"Libert Brice Tonfack","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABYklEQVRIie3Qv0vDQBQH8HccJA6XZk2p0H+hJdA6hPZfeeHgplgKncSAJ0K79A/InyEIrqYctEvdCy4tASeHiEvEoaaxPxKxg5tIvss93t0H3juAMmX+YCqUZScC3XZ0mZaxsymJ3L8LD0TLCO4IArAQKAlEkZA8gR2BHKFMFIeheaIbk+gigV57RFdLkjg9pqvIdrBTr4/UddT3nS5YXiME/34/WIU35wiDU6XZDUAxYEzY3EPevJ27N3YwFa7MyPTpsEurKnHtBpRpFqByH8Cj6jyh2LDIsGZIhd1FSojMkfa7RNgQPdmQsflC1RleYT0gow9Drr8GK5AW2RINMmJ5lKcFwoIMqSHTx99JhVelgIFFNdtCIVLybDfHOMt2qbEpdyV77oe438U0Hyev0oGeZapVHDtOOhiPrAQv0x+brd6Y3+mCzu/i2N+RYvDHLsBJ4+jVsejLX4IyZcqU+Vf5BDlTfy8/qYZBAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé I","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Libert","middleName":"Brice","lastName":"Tonfack","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-31 18:23:09","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6792474/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6792474/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":87467012,"identity":"3a4bfcfe-8143-457c-bebe-984e266907a9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-07-24 07:40:10","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3054267,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Manuscript03062025.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6792474/v1_covered_2f8ae336-62cd-4025-97af-4a2ed8a8c8a4.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Effect of osmopriming with PEG 6000 on seed germination performance and early seedling establishment in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) 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Osmotic pretreatments consistently enhanced germination parameters and seedling development, irrespective of the priming duration, particularly showing an improved response in the \u003cem\u003eClemson spineless\u003c/em\u003e variety. In comparison to the control group, seeds of the \u003cem\u003eClemson spineless\u003c/em\u003e variety that were pretreated exhibited the highest germination rate (95.83%), the highest seedling viability (93.94%), and the greatest seedling vigor (10.61). The highest seedling height (11.55 cm) was achieved in PEG 6000 at a pressure of -0.6 MPa for 9 hours. Under priming conditions, the seedlings of the \u003cem\u003eClemson Spineless\u003c/em\u003e variety exhibit an increase in various physiological parameters. 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