Field Treatment Effects on Seed Germination and Early Growth Traits of Berseem Clover under Salinity Stress Conditions

Abstract

Developing seeds with a high level of tolerance against salinity and water shortage scan guarantee best seedling establishment in arid and semi-arid agricultural lands. This three-year field, laboratory and greenhouse study proposes the surfactant application to effectively prevent the detrimental impacts of severe environmental conditions on the development of parental plants. The germination rate of six parental seeds of berseem clovers (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) from I 100 (100% irrigation water)/I 100 +s (irrigation water with surfactant, s), I 75 /I 75 +s and I 50 /I 50 +s treatments are studied under seven osmotic salinity potentials (0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8, -1, and -1.2MPa). Plants from seeds developed by surfactant in full and moderate limited irrigation (I 100 and I 75 ) show a favorable germination percentage when under saline stress treatments of -0.4 and -0.8MPa. The highest seedling lengths of 10.2 and 10.3cm were achieved for the seeds produced from I 75 and I 100 +s treatments, respectively. Utilizing the surfactant across all field treatments had a positive effect on the weighted germination index compared to the counterpart treatment. In addition, Seedlings from seeds treated by surfactant in the germination tests have higher shoot/root ratios, which show the efficiency of surfactant application in promoting a better root and shoot development under saline/drought stresses. Core ideasa) Surfactant application enhanced parental seeds tolerance against salinity conditions. b) Seeds developed by severely limited irrigation (I 50 ) had a higher G% (75%). c) Highest seedling lengths (10.2cm) obtained from plants treated by I 75 + surfactant treatment. d) Shoot/root ratio enhanced by surfactant application under salinity stress.