The effect of seed pretreatment by salicylhydroxamic acid on germination indices of safflower under salinity stress

Abstract

In order to study the effect of seed pretreatment by salicylhydroxamic acid on germination indices and enzymes activity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. var. Esfahan 14) under salinity stress in Iran. The experiment was laid out in a factorial design with four salicylhydroxamic acid levels of 0 (control), 50, 75, 100 ppm and four levels of salt stress condition with NaCl including 0 (control), 75, 140, 210 mg/lit in three replications. The variety of the selected seeds is Esfahan 14. Pre-sowing seed treatments were applied for eight hours duration with salicylhydroxamic acid. The results of this investigation showed that salinity stress caused a significant reduction in germination percentage of the safflower seeds. Concentration of NaCl by 210 mg/ lit caused to the most reduction in germination as compared to the control treatment. Seed salicylhydroxamic acid-priming treatments improved seed germination and early seedling growth included germination percentage, coleoptiles and radical length and seedling dry matter accumulation of both control and salt stress conditions. Furthermore, the results of this experiment showed a significant reduction in enzyme activities in salicylhydroxamic acid seed priming. These results have practical implications in that the pre-sowing seed treatment with salicylhydroxamic acid could enhance the seed germination and early seedling growth characteristics of safflower plant in salinity condition.