Effect of Priming and its Duration on Quality of In-pod Seeds Germination and Seedling Vigour of Sainfoin Eski under Laboratory Conditions

To study the effects of priming on seed germination traits of sainfoin ''Eski''، a factorial in randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the laboratory of agricultural research center of Sari in 2011. Treatments consisted of polyethylene glycol (PEG6000) at 5 and 10%، potassium nitrate (KNO3) at 5 and 10% and potassium chloride (KCl) at 5 and 10% levels and 6، 12 and 24 hours of treatment duration. The most significant interaction of time × priming vigor، root length and germination rate was achieved by priming solution containing PEG 10% for 12 hours. The highest germination percentage and total number of seedlings was achieved by 5 and 10% PEG for 6 and 12 hours and the least with a solution of KCl 10% for 6 hours، respectively. The highest shoot length and seedling length was obtained at PEG 10% for 12 hours and the least at KCl 10% for 24 hours. The highest and lowest number of normal seedlings، were observed by a solution of PEG 10% for 12 hours and KCl 10% for 24 hours، respectively. The highest R/S ratio was obtained in a solution of PEG 5% for 6 hours and the lowest ratio was observed in the solution of KNO3 10%. The lowest weight ratio of R/S was obtained in a solution of KNO3 and KCl 10% for 6 and 24 hours and the highest dry weight of R/S in priming with PEG 10% for 12 hours.