SEED GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING GROWTH OF PEA (Pisum sativum L.) IN RESPONSE TO SEED PRIMING

The early growth ability of plants strongly influences their growth and yields. Seed priming is widely used for better germination and emergence of plants both under stressful and non-stressful conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of seed priming on some growth parameters of Pisum sativum seedlings and to identify the most suitable priming techniques. For this reason, a laboratory experiment was carried out in randomized blocks with three repetitions, in which pea seeds were primed for 6 hours with distilled water and with two concentrations and combinations of salicylic acid and calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The treatment non-priming was used as a control. The results showed that the priming treatments had significant effects on all studied parameters (p<0.05). Seed priming with both concentrations of calcium carbonate (1 g/l and 2 g/l) and hydro-priming (with water) showed the best priming effects on root and shoot length, root and shoot fresh weight, and seedling vigour index. Therefore, these priming techniques, which are cheap and ecological, can be used by farmers for the successful establishment of pea crops.