Osmotic priming increases seed germination of Amaranthus caudatus L. at low temperature.

摘要

Seeds of Amaranthus caudatus were primed with four media at various concentrations (1, 2 or 3% (wv-1) KNO₃, NaCl or boric acid; or 100, 200 or 300 g polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000, for 4, 7 or 10 days) l-1 at 20 degrees C). Four replicates of 100 seeds were incubated in darkness at 15 degrees C. The priming treatments improved differently the final germination percentage, germination rate and uniformity of A. caudatus at low temperature. The highest final germination percentage was obtained from seeds primed with 3% NaCl for 4 days while seeds primed with 2% NaCl for either 7 or 10 days had the fastest germination. Priming seeds in 3% boric acid significantly improved the germination rate and uniformity of A. caudatus at 15 degrees C.