Abstract
Effects of seed priming with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on seed germination and seedling growth under osmotic stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) were investigated. Seed priming treatments were hydropriming, soaking seeds in aerated distilled water for 8 h and SNP priming, soaking seeds in an aerated solution of 75, 100 and 125 µM SNP for 8 h. Seeds were germinated in petri plates under osmotic stress induced by 15 % PEG- 6000. Final germination percentage (FGP) significantly increased by SNP priming treatments. SNP priming also reduced the mean germination time (h) (MGT) of the seeds. The germination energy, vigor index and germination index significantly increased by SNP priming. All SNP priming treatments effectively improved the germination rate, shoot length and root length. Hydropriming of seeds reduced the MGT and improved the germination rate as compared with nonprimed seeds. However, hydropriming was unable to improve the FGP, germination energy, germination index, vigor index, root and shoot lengths. This means observed enhancements in the seed germination and seeding growth were due to SNP priming not because of only seed soaking. We concluded that SNP seed priming can accelerate the seed germination and seedling growth under osmotic stress resulting in improved tolerance.
