Effect of saffron petal water extract to rye (Secale cereale L.) seedling growth.

In order to investigate the effect of saffron water extract on rye (Secale cereale L.) seedling growth, an experiment was carried out in 2008 in the Dryland Research Station of North Khorasan. Rye seeds were planted in plastic pots and irrigated by 5 levels of treatment (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) that was made from 5% concentration of saffron petals water extract. The experiment was conducted on the basis of a complete randomized design with four replications. The pots were kept at 25°C in a germinator and the seedlings height was recorded daily. Results showed that the highest seedlings were obtained from 25% level of concentration which had no significant difference with control (0% level). A high concentration level (100%) had significant effects on seedling height and the shortest seedlings were observed in this treatment. The highest and lowest weight of seedlings was observed in 25% and 100% level respectively. The growth rate graphs (basis of daily records) confirmed the suppressive effects of the high concentration level (100%) especially in the last days of the experiment. It seems that the low concentrations of saffron petals water extract promote and the high concentration inhibits the growth of rye seedlings.