Effect of Abiotic Stresses from Drought, Temperature, and Density on Germination and Seedling Growth of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

Seed germination and seedling growth are highly sensitive to deficit moisture and temperature stress. This study was designed to investigate barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds’ germination and seedling growth under conditions of abiotic stresses. Constant temperature levels of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C were used for the germination test. Drought and waterlogging stresses using 30 different water levels were examined using two methods: either based at 1 milliliter intervals or, on the other hand, as percentages of thousand kernel weight (TKW). Seedling density in a petri dish and antifungal application techniques were also investigated. Temperature significantly impacted germination time and seedling development with an ideal range of 15–20 °C, with a more comprehensive range to 10 °C. Higher temperatures reversely affected germination percentage, and the lower ones affected the germination and seedling growth rate. Germination commenced at 130% water of the TKW, and the ideal water range for seedling development was greater and more extensive than the range for germination, which means there is a difference between the starting point for germination and the seedling development. Seed size define germination water requirements and provides an objective and more precise basis suggesting an optimal range supply of 720% and 1080% of TKW for barley seedling development. A total of 10 seeds per 9 cm petri dish may be preferable over greater densities. The techniques of priming seeds with an antifungal solution (Bordóilé or Hypo) or antifungal application at even 5 ppm in the media significantly prevented fungal growth. This study is novel regarding the levels and types of abiotic stresses, the crop, the experimental and measurement techniques, and in comparison to the previous studies.