Abstract- Effects of seed soaking with plant growth regulators
(IAA, GA3, kinetin or prostart) on wheat
(Triticum aestivum cv. Auqab-2000) emergence and seedling growth
under normal (4 dS/cm) and saline (15
dS/cm) conditions were studied to determine their usefulness in
increasing relative salt-tolerance. During
emergence test, emergence percentage and mean emergence time
(MET) were significantly affected by most of
priming treatments, however, root and shoot length, fresh and
dry weight of seedlings were significantly
increased by 25 ppm kinetin followed by 1% prostart for 2 h
treatments under both normal and saline
conditions. All pre-sowing seed treatments decreased the
electrolyte leakage of steep water as compared to that
of non-primed seeds even after 12 h of soaking. Seed soaking
with 25 ppm kinetin induced maximum decrease
in electrolyte leakage while an increase in electrolyte leakage
was observed by 25, 50 or 100 ppm IAA
treatments. It is concluded that priming has reduced the
severity of the effect of salinity but the amelioration
was better due to 25 ppm kinetin and 1% prostart (2 h)
treatments as these showed best results on seedling
growth, fresh and dry weights under non-saline and saline
conditions whereas seed soaking with IAA and GA3
were not effective in inducing salt tolerance under present
experimental material and conditions
