Study on the Alleviative Effect of Diethyl Aminoethyl Hexanoate (DA-6) on Pepper Seed Germination under Salt Stress

ABSTRACT: Diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6) is a broad-spectrum high-energy plant growth regulator with multiple functions similar to auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin. Research on crops such as corn, rice, peanuts, flowers, and vegetables has shown that it can increase the activity of plant peroxidase (POD) and nitrate reductase, promote plant cell division and elongation, and facilitate seed germination and seedling growth. This experiment used the seeds of the chili variety “Changxian Tianxia” as research materials. The experiment was conducted by designing DA-6 soaking experiments with different concentration gradients to determine physiological indicators of pepper growth, screen a suitable DA-6 concentration for pepper seed germination, and study the alleviating effect of DA-6 on pepper seed growth under salt stress. The aim is to provide a scientific basis for high-yield cultivation of chili in saline alkali soil. In the seed germination experiment, five DA-6 concentration treatment groups were set up, namely 0, 0.1 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L, 1 mmol/L, and 5 mmol/L. Three biological replicates were set up for each treatment group to screen for the most suitable DA-6 concentration for pepper seed germination. The germination and growth effects of pepper seeds under salt stress were then studied using this concentration. The growth physiological indicators were measured to investigate the alleviating effect of aminobutyric acid on pepper seed germination under salt stress. The experimental results showed that the appropriate concentration of aminobutyric acid ester (DA-6) promoted the germination of pepper seeds under salt stress. Under the treatment of soaking seeds in DA-6 at a concentration of 1 mmol/L, the activities of catalase (CAT) and POD increased by 8.6% and 14.6%, respectively, while inhibiting the accumulation of MDA (reducing it by 11.4%), improving the antioxidant effect of plant cell membranes, and enhancing the salt tolerance of pepper seeds. This experiment shows that soaking pepper seeds in 1 mmol/L DA-6 can effectively improve the antioxidant capacity of pepper seeds under salt stress environment, enhance seed germination rate and growth effect, and alleviate the damage caused by salt stress to pepper seedling growth to a certain extent.