Application of Chitosan on Soybean (Glycine max L.) Seed Germination under Salt Stress

In order to investigate the effect of pretreatment chitosan biological compounds on seeds of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Williams) under salt stress conditions, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications was conducted at Shahed University in 2015. Factors examined include the combination of chitosan in three levels (0, 0.25 and 0.5 the weight-volume) and salinity at 4 levels (0, 5, 5.7 and 10 dS/m). The results showed that the interaction of chitosan and salinity were significant on seed germination characteristics such as germination percentage, germination rate, mean germination time, normal seedling and physiological characteristics such as proline and soluble sugars of shoots. Pretreatment of chitosan 0.25 percent in contrast to salt stress by increasing 30 percent in the germination rate and increase, 24 and 35 percent proline and soluble sugars of shoot respectively improves seedling germination characteristics of soybeans. Due to the effects of the treatments of chitosan on seed germination and seedling growth of soybean chitosan can be used as a 0.25 percent W/V chitosan treatment in soybeans introduced to faced with conditions that salinity.