Seed invigoration techniques to improve germination and early growth of inbred line of maize under salinity and drought stress.

摘要

Poor seed germination and crop stand are major problems in saline areas. However, seed vigour enhancement treatments might be able to alleviate the negative effects of salinity. The impact of pre-sowing treatments (control, osmopriming at -1.2 MPa of urea for 96 h and hydropriming for 36 h) on germination and early growth of maize ( Zea mays L.) inbred line (Mo17) was evaluated under four levels of osmotic potential (0.0, -0.4, -0.8 and -1.2 MPa) induced by NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000), as salinity and drought stress, respectively. Germination and early growth were affected by both stresses, while at the same osmotic potentials the depressive effect of PEG was more severe than NaCl. Hydropriming significantly improved germination and seedling growth presented as final germination percentage, germination index, seedling vigour index and length of seedling under both stress and non-stress conditions. Hydropriming could alleviate the effects of salinity and drought stress on germination and seedling early growth. This study indicated that hydropriming could be suitable seed invigoration treatment under saline and drought-prone environments. CT Proceedings of the International Conference on the 'Responses of Plants to Environmental Stresses', Elena, Bulgaria, 12-18 May 2008.