Seed priming Enhanced Seed germination traits of Wheat under water, salt and heat stress

Abstract

Abiotic or physicochemical stresses affect plant’s internal mechanisms as well as external morphology. Seed priming can be an effective tool to minimize effects of the abiotic stress on plant growth and wheat seed priming used as stress tolerance mechanism. The study was conducted to evaluate effects of seed priming on germination of two wheat varieties under drought, high salt levels and high temperature stress. Hydro priming (distilled water), Osmopriming (5milli molar KNO3, 10 mM KNO3) and halo priming (5 mM NaCl, 10 mM NaCl) were used. Under drought and heat stress, hydro priming resulted in the highest germination index to increase up to 70 and 65 percent as compared to stressed seeds while under salt stress, 5 mM KNO3 priming showed highest germination index up to 75 percent. Under salt stress, 5mM KNO3 priming resulted in highest seedling vigor index with 86% increase as compared to stressed seeds. Under water and heat stress, hydro primed seeds showed highest percentage i.e. 50% and 45% increase in germination stress tolerance index as compared to stressed seeds. Under salinity stress, 5mM KNO3 primed showed 51% increase in germination tolerance index as compared to stressed seeds. Seed priming was proved as an effective technique to increase abiotic stress tolerance. Keywords: Wheat seed priming; Abiotic stress; Germination http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2015.44025