Salt stress mitigation by seed priming with UV-C in lettuce plants: Growth, antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds

Seeds of Lactuca sativa L. ‘Romaine’ were subjected to priming treatments with UV-C radiation at 0.85 or 3.42 kJ m−2. Seedlings obtained from both primed (Pr) and non-primed (NPr) seeds were grown in an hydroponic culture system supplemented with 0 (control) or 100 mM NaCl. After 21 days of NaCl treatment, root and leaf biomass, root lengths, leaf numbers, and leaf surface area were measured. Ions (Na+ and K+) accumulation was determined in roots and leaves. Total phenolic compound and flavonoid concentrations, as well as antioxidant and antiradical activities were measured in L. sativa leaves. Salt stress resulted in a lower increase in fresh weight of roots and leaves, which was more pronounced in roots than in leaves, due to reduced root elongation, leaf number and leaf expansion, as well as leaf thickness. The lower increase in fresh weight was accompanied by a restriction in tissue hydration and K+ ion uptake, as well as an increase in Na+ ion concentrations in all organs. These effects were mitigated in plants from the UV-C primed seeds. The mitigating effect of UV-C was more pronounced at 0.85 than at 3.42 kJ m−2. Salt stress also resulted in an increase in total phenolic compounds and flavonoid concentrations and in the total antioxidant capacity in leaves. The highest diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activity was found in the leaves of plants from both Pr seeds. Our results suggest that plants grown from seed primed by exposure to moderate UV-C radiation exhibited a higher tolerance to salinity stress. •Seeds of Lactuca sativa were subjected to priming treatments with UV-C radiation.•Seedlings obtained from primed seeds were grown with 0 or 100 mM NaCl.•Salt stress resulted in a restriction in tissue hydration and K+ ion uptake.•Salt stress resulted in an increase in phenolic compound and antioxidant activity.•Plants grown from seed primed exhibited a higher tolerance to salinity stress.