The effect of halo-priming on germination indices of wheat under salinity stress

Low seed germination and seedling emergence is one of the main problems in saline areas. Seed priming technique has been known as a challenge to improve germination and seedling emergence under different environmental stress conditions. To evaluate the effects of halo-priming on germination indices of wheat under salinity stress, a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications was conducted in 2015. Treatments consisted of priming with potassium nitrate, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium sulfate 1% and control without priming and salinity levels 0, 50, 100 and 150 mM sodium chloride. Among pretreatments, potassium nitrate and calcium sulfate reduced the effects of salinity stress on germination and other indices. Priming with potassium nitrate had the most effects on germination percentage, dry plumule and seedlings weight. Also, priming with calcium sulfate had the most effect on root fresh weight. Primed wheat seeds had better growth. On the whole, with increasing salinity levels, germination and related parameters decreased and that potassium nitrate and calcium sulfate decreased negative effects of salinity. According to result, priming with potassium nitrate and calcium sulfate is recommended for the improvement of germination and initial growth of wheat seedling under salinity stress.