Effect of hydro-priming and hormonal priming on germination traits of chickpea cultivars

Priming of seeds in osmoticums such as ascorbic acid, salicylic acid and in water is a simple and safe technique for enhancing seed germination. Therefore, the laboratory assay was conducted in seed Laboratory of Islamic Azad University of Sanandaj. The experiment was conducted as a factorial design based on completely randomized design with three replications. Factor A included six priming treatments of: 50 ppm Salicylic acid (SA) , 100 ppm SA, 50 ppm Ascorbic acid (AsA), 100 ppm AsA, hydro-priming and control (no priming) and factor B included the four chickpea cultivars (Kaka, Jam, Piruz and ILC462). Results showed that the maximum rate of shoot length, root length, shoot and root dry weight and shoot and root fresh weight in all chickpea cultivars was recorded by 100 AsA priming treatment. Application of higher dose (100 ppm) of SA and AsA resulted in the highest rate of germination in all chickpea cultivars. Germination percentage was significantly increased in all priming treatments in comparison with no priming or control.