Effect of seed halopriming on improving salt tolerance in Raphanus sativus L

Abstract

In this paper, effect of halopriming on germination, initial growth and development of radish under salt stress conditions was investigated. The seeds were treated with different concentrations salts of calcium, potassium, and sodium chloride (CaCl2, KCl, NaCl, respectively) in the form of a standard germination method and priming method, which involves modification of the metabolic activity of seeds in the pregerminative phase. The obtained results showed that all applied salts had inhibitory effects on germination characteristics (GP, RG and U, except MTG) and development of radish seedlings (shoot and root elongation, weight and vigour). Halopriming contributed to the improvement of tolerance to stress conditions, because the obtained values of all germination and growth characteristics were significantly increased. The best effect being achieved by priming with CaCl2 for germination characteristics and vigour and with KCl for initial development.