Comprehensive seed priming assessment of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. in germination and seedling growth stage under salt stress

Abstract

<p class="042abstractstekst">This study was performed to<strong> </strong>appraise the effects of several seed pretreatment solutions and priming time on seed germination indices and growth characteristics of <em>Hibiscus sabdariffa</em> L. in various salt stress levels. Seed priming was accomplished by KCl (1 and 2 %), Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>3</sub> (0.5 and 1 %), KNO<sub>3</sub> (0.5 and 1 %), and Ca<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> (1 and 2 %) as halopriming and distilled water as hydropriming at 12 and 24 h priming durations and control (non-primed), then primed seeds exposed to four levels (0, 50, 100, 200 mM) of NaCl solutions. The highest germination percentage was observed in 12 and 24 h hydropriming (63.3 and 53.3 %) and non-primed (56.6 %) under normal condition, respectively. Besides, there was no germinated seed at 24 h priming by 0.5 and 1 percentage of KNO<sub>3</sub>. Under saline condition, 24 h 2 % Ca<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> had the highest germination percentage (43.3 %) in 50 mM, while 12 h treatment with 0.5 % Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>3</sub> (33.3 %) had high germination percentage in 100 mM levels of saline conditions. Also, the highest germination rate index was observed in 0.5 % Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>3</sub> with 12 h treatment time (4.05 and 3.95 respectively) in 50 and 100 mM levels of saline conditions. Overall, salt stress considerably reduced germination and growth traits of <em>Hibiscus sabdariffa </em>L. seedlings. Considering the effect of various seeds priming of <em>Hibiscus sabdariffa </em>L. on germination indices like germination percentage and mean germination time, the importance of priming duration and type of priming solutions could be concluded.</p>