Priming treatments for improvement of germination and emergence of cotton seeds at low temperature

Abstract

Early sowing in cotton is important for obtaining a high and qualiy yield. Since cotton prefers high temperatures to have a good stand establisment, this work is important to determine better performing genotypes or to promote germination and emergence at low temperatures (<20°C). This research aimed to increase seed germination rate and seed vigour under cold stress conditions. Two cotton genotypes belonging toG. hirsutumL. species (Aydin-110 and Paymaster-2379) were primed with PEG-6000 (200, 300, 400 g/L), KNO3(2, 3, 4%), KH2PO4(0.3, 0.4, 0.5 M), NaCl (2, 3, 4%) or Mannitol (2, 4, 6%) to determine the best priming medium and its best amount. After priming, seeds were germinated in germination cabin at cold (18°C) and warm (30°C) temperatures and some characteristics (germination rates, radicle length, hypocotyl length and seedling length) were analyzed. Priming with KNO3(4% or 2%) was found to result in the highest germination rates in both cotton genotypes. The seeds of the genotypes were also primed with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) (1, 10, 25 mg/L), gibberellic acid (GA3) (100, 250, 500 μM), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) (1, 3, 5 μM), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (1, 10, 100 μM) or kinetin (1, 5, 10 mg/L) added to KNO3(4%) medium to choose the most effective plant growth regulator (PGR) application and its dose. PGRs were observed to have reverse effects on germination rate. Finally, emergence test was conducted with KNO3(4%) and KNO3(2%) using metabolic chill test, and some traits (radicle length, radicle weight, hypocotyl length, hypocotyl weight, seedling length, seedling fresh weight and seedling dry weight) were examined. Our results suggested that priming with KNO3(2%) might be an effecient way to have vigourous cotton plants under the cold stress.

Potassium: A Vital Regulator of Plant Responses and Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses

“…The most common forms of K salts used in seed priming are potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ), potassium chloride (KCl) and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K 2 HPO 4 ) [40,41]. By using KNO 3 as a priming agent, a good germination rate was obtained in cotton genotypes [42]. Osmopriming with KNO 3 in rice suggested that KNO 3 performed best for the maximum germination percentage and germination rate as well as other morphological attributes [43].…”

Normal ve Düşük Sıcaklıklarda Pamuğun Çimlenme ve Fide Gelişimine Tuzluluğun Etkisi

“…Maas (1986) reported that cotton yield decreased around 50% at the level of 17 dS m -1 . However, cotton plant is sensitive to low temperature during germination and low soil temperature delays germination and emergence, increases the risk of seedling diseases, and causes weak seedling development (Çokkizgin and Bölek, 2015). It was determined that root development and seedling growth of cotton were inhibited when the soil temperature drops below 14.5°C by Jackson (2012), but still farmers prefer earlier sowing to obtain higher yield and to avoid the lack of rainfall after planting.…”