Salinity Effects on Germination and Establishment of Sorghum Seedlings From Artificially Aged and Primed Seeds

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to assess the effect of salt stress on water uptake, germination and initial growth of seedlings from artificially aged and osmoconditioned sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) seeds. A randomized block design with four replications (a 2 × 2 × 4 factorial design) was used. Two lots of seeds (aged or nonaged); two types of seeds (osmoconditioned or not osmoconditioned), and four levels of salt stress (0, 100, 200, or 300 mM of NaCl) were the factorial treatments. The evaluated parameters were water-uptake rate by the seeds, first count, standard test and speed index of germination, shoot and root lengths, and dry mass. Salt stress had a negative effect on grain sorghum seed; reduced water uptake, seed germination, and initial seedling growth were observed. Priming mitigated the harmful effects of salinity on germination and initial seedling growth from nonaged seeds, but it is not recommended for germination of low vigor seeds under high salinity.