Effects of cycocel priming on growth and early development of rapeseed under drought stress

Abstract

An experiment was concluded to evaluate the effects of priming on germination characteristics and establishment of rapeseed seedlings during three stages. In the first and second stages of experiment, the effects at three factors vis: cultivars (RVS, Hayola), waterdeficit stress (Control,-6 and -12 bar) and cycocel treatment (dry seeds, 300, 600, 900, 1200 and 1500 μM) on germination and seedling growth of plant were assayed. The results showed that priming had positive effects on germination percentage, germination rate index, germination index, and radicle length under water-deficit conditions. RVS had greater efficiency than other cultivars. The third section of experiment revealed that the priming of RVS seeds improved the stem, root and dry weight, total dry weight as well as leaf number and area of seedlings.