Growth Performance and Chemical Composition of Corn Seedlings (Zea mays L.) Under Salt Stress and Priming Conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Soil Salinity Research Department; Soils, Water & Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Alexandria, (Egypt).

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the potential effects of salt stress and priming seeds in saline solution, on the growth index and plant chemical composition of the newely selected single corn (Zea mays L.) hybrid namely, SC. 166. For this purpose, the seeds were primed in 5 g/L NaCl solution for 12 hours .The seedlings were subjected to various levels of NaCl (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/L), and analysis of the parameters related to germination, growth, and chemical composition was analyzed The results indicated that increasing salinity concentration significantly decreased germination percentage and vigor index of both primed and unprimed seeds. This reduction was higher for unprimed seeds compared to primed seeds. Also, the salinity stress exhibited significant inhibitory effects on radicle and plumule length, total dry weight and salt tolerance index (SI) for both primed and un-primed seeds. The results detected on plumule sodium content (PSC) showed successive Na accumulation, as the salinity stress increased. The opposite trend was observed for K+ accumulation when exposed to salinity. In general, total chlorophyll content was significantly decreased with increase of salinity levels from 0 to 8 g/L NaCl in primed and unprimed seeds. Similarly, the proline content in plants derived from primed seeds was much higher than that of unprimed seeds. In conclusion, seed priming with NaCl is might be considered an effective way to meet the demands of farmers during the installation of the cultivation in conditions under salt stress to  improve growth performance and chemical composition of corn

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