Influence of seed priming on germination and early growth of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench under salt stress

The beneficial effect of seed priming at germination and early growth stages has been accepted by plant physiologists in improving these critical stages in many important crop plants. The influence of seed priming with polyethylene glycol (PEG), NaCl and salicylic acid (SA) on germination percentage, germination rate, plumule, radicle and seedling length and dry weight and vigour index of sorghum seedlings under salt stress with 4 levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 mMNaCl) was investigated. The experiment arranged as a completely randomized design with three replications. Priming with SA significantly improved germination and seedling growth characteristics such as final germination percentage, germination rate, vigour index and length of plumule, radicle and seedling except plumule, radicle and seedling dry weight. Increasing salinity levels affected severely all the above-mentioned parameters. No interaction between salinity and priming was observed.