Effect of seed priming on growth and biochemical traits of wheat under saline conditions

Abstract

Effects of seed priming with 30 mM NaCl was determined on various growth and biochemical characters of 6 wheat varieties (Tatara-96, Ghaznavi-98, Fakhri Sarhad, Bakhtawar-92, Pirsabaq-2004 and Auqab- 2000) under 4 salinity levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 mM). Statistical analysis of the data revealed that varieties, salinity and seed priming had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected germination (%), days to emergence, tillers plant^-1, leaves plant^-1 and shoot chlorophyll-b contents (mg g^-1 fresh weight). However, the effects of varieties and salinity were significant (P ≤ 0.05) and of seed priming was non significant (P > 0.05) on plant height (cm), root length (cm) and shoot chlorophyll-a contents. Maximum germination percentage (88.75), tillers plant^-1 (3.63), leaves plant^-1 (16.01), plant height (27.86 cm), root length (18.57 cm), shoot chlorophyll-a contents (1.15 mg g^-1 fresh weight) and shoot chlorophyll-b contents (0.84 mg g^-1 fresh weight) were recorded for Bakhtawar-92. Maximum days to emergence (10.04) were recorded for Pirsabaq-2004.

Key words: Seed priming, growth, wheat varieties, salinity.