## 3 Results
### Seed Priming Promotes Morphological Indices of Eggplant
On the other hand, a higher concentration of AGE (300 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\)) significantly inhibited the fresh weights compared to the control (from 12.7 mg in control to 10.2 mg) and roots (from 4.02 mg in control to 2.86 mg). The influence on fresh weights of the aerial parts and roots on treatment with MeJA (12.8 mg for aerial parts and 4.25 mg for root) and SA (12.4 mg for aerial parts and 4.09 mg for root) was almost similar to that observed in the control plants. Similar effects were observed in the root dry weights and the maximum concentration of AGE 300 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\) significantly inhibited the dry weights to 0.19 mg when compared to the control (0.28 mg). The highest values (0.56 mg) were recorded for the seeds primed with 200 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\) AGE. Furthermore, the same concentration resulted in the highest shoot and root length, whereas the maximum concentration (300 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\)) negatively influenced these growth parameters indicating the inhibitory effects of AGE at maximum concentration (Figure 3). Seed Priming Alters the Antioxidant Enzymes and Indicates a Stress Like Response in the Resulted Eggplant Seedlings  
Results for the antioxidant enzymes and the lipid peroxidation levels observed in the eggplant seedlings are presented in Figure 4. Data analysis revealed that seed priming had a significant influence on these enzymes activity and the effect relates to the concentration and duration of priming. Among the applied treatments, AGE with 200 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\) for 12 h had the maximum results for the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Similar effects were observed in the seeds primed with 100 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\) for the same duration. Seed priming with MeJA for 8 h yielded maximum results for SOD activity. Interestingly, SA priming for 4 h resulted in maximum SOD activity compared to the rest of the treatments. On the other hand, when the concentration of AGE increased to 300 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\), the activity of CAT and POD significantly reduced in comparison to the control treatment, indicating inhibition of antioxidant enzymes activity due to prolonged exposure to higher concentrations of AGE. To indicate stress levels, we observed the lipid peroxidation by measuring the malondialdehydedehyde (MDA) concentrations in the treated eggplant seedlings. As shown, seed priming  
Figure 3: Seedlings growth after germination of the seeds primed with AGE, MeJA, SA, and distilled water. Control (distilled water), AGE (100, 200, and 300 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\)), MeJA (Methyl) Jasmonate 0.05 mM), and SA (Salicylic acid 0.5 mM) whereas 4, 8-, and 12-h are the priming durations (Bar = 10 mm). with 300 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\) of AGE for 12 h significantly increased the MDA content, followed by seeds primed with MeJA and SA for the same durations, indicating that prolonged priming with these chemicals imposed a stress situation on the seeds. Effect of Seed Priming on the Reactive Oxygen Species Observed in Eggplant Seedlings after Germination  
Figure 5 depicts the concentrations of reactive oxygen species observed in the eggplant seedlings after germination. Data analysis revealed that seed priming may influence the production of superoxide radicals and the effect may relate to the concentration of the chemicals and priming duration. As shown, a seed primed with 300 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\) AGE for 12 h had the highest superoxide radical's concentration followed by 8 h priming, indicating the negative or stress-like influence of AGE on the resulted seedlings. Evidently higher concentrations were also observed in the seedlings after priming with 100 and 200 \(\upmu\)g mL\({}^{-1}\) AGE for 8 and 12 h. Seeds primed with either MeJA or SA for 8 h also resulted in elevated levels of superoxide radicals compared to the control seedlings. It is important to notice that seed priming for 4 h did not influence the superoxide concentrations when compared with the control.