ABSTRACT Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that affect crop production in worldwide. Seed germination is the most sensitive stage affected by salinity. Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) is a widely cultivated minor-crop with huge economic importance in China. However, little is known about the effect of plant hormones during seed germination under salt stress. In this study, our results shown the germination rate decreased with increasing NaCl concentration. The effect of four different synthetic phytohormones (ethephon; gibberellin, GA3; 6-benzylaminopurine, 6-BA; and naphthalene acetic acid, NAA) at different concentrations on the germination of seeds under low (50 mmol L−1 NaCl) and high (100 mmol L−1 NaCl) concentration of salt stress have been investigated. Pretreatments with ethephon, GA3 and 6-BA have alleviated the adverse effects of salt stress during seed germination, whereas pretreatment with NAA has aggravated the adverse effects due to salt stress. The most effective treatments for alleviating the adverse effect of salt stress on common buckwheat seed germination were 100 mg L−1 of ethephon, 100 mg L−1 of GA3, and 200 ug L−1 of 6-BA. This study provides a new insight for cultivation of common buckwheat especially the seed germination of common buckwheat in saline environments.
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