Germination and seedling growth response on sunflower seeds to priming and temperature stress

Abstract

The present paper shows results obtained on effects of priming of sunflower seeds, subjected to accelerated ageing and the cold test, on seed vigour. Seeds were primed with distilled water, the potassium nitrate solution (0.2%) and the gibberellic acid solution (0.04%). The following parameters were tested: energy of germination, germination, proportion of abnormal seedlings, lengths of roots and shoots of normal seedlings. Accelerated ageing in the course of 3 and 5 days resulted in a statistically significant reduction in energy of germination and germination; it adversely affected the length of roots and shoots and it increased the proportion of abnormal seedlings. Seed priming with all three solutions mitigated adverse effects of 3-day accelerated ageing on energy of germination. Furthermore, seed priming with gibberellic acid prior to 3-day accelerated ageing positively affected seed germination and neutralized a negative effect of accelerated ageing on the number of abnormal seedlings, as well as on lengths of shoots and roots of normal seedlings. The cold test (at 5°C for 7 days) negatively affected energy of germination and the root length, increased the proportion of abnormal seedlings and did not affect seed germination. Priming of seeds with distilled water prior to the cold test completely neutralized the adverse effect of low temperatures on energy of germination. Finally, priming of seeds with all three solutions completely neutralized the adverse effect of cold test on the root length.