Effects of Seed Priming on Root Characteristics of Two Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Cultivars in Different Levels of Salinity Stress by using Gel Chamber Technique

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed priming on root growth of two barley cultivars (Hordeum vulgare L.) under salinity stress was performed in phytogel. The treatments included two cultivars of barely (Yusuf and Maquie), levels of seed priming (control, hydro-priming and priming with 4.35 g l-1 of urea) and four levels of NaCl salinity stress (0, 0.2, 0.3 M). The experiment was conducted in Factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The results indicated that salinity and seed priming were significantly effects on length, volume, density, fresh and dry weight and rate of root development of barley. Also, the effect of cultivar was significantly in volume, fresh weight and density. Salinity stress reduced length, volume, density, fresh and dry weight and rate of root development. However, the most of barely traits which were affected by seed priming were improved in 0, 0.1 and 0.2 salt Molar levels and priming with urea had the most positive impact on root traits. In the highest salinity level, none of seed priming treatments had not significant effect on root traits. The most effective of Hydro-priming was obtained in the absence of stress. In most of salinity treatments Yusuf cv. in compared with Maquie cv, had more fresh weight and volume root was higher fresh and In general, seed priming could be used as a solution to improve root development of barley seedlings until 0.2 Molar NaCl salinity stress.