Osmopriming improves the emergence, growth, nutrient uptake and soluble sugar contents of wheat seedlings

This study was conducted to explore the role of different osmopriming techniques to improve germination, seedling emergence, membrane stability, early seedling establishment and nutrients uptake in wheat seedlings. Wheat seeds were soaked for 24 h in aerated solutions of CaCl2, NaCl and KCl (each at 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM); while seeds soaked in distilled water (hydroprimed) and dry seeds were taken as control. Wheat seeds osmoprimed with 25 and 50 mM CaCl2 and hydroprimed (control) exhibited higher germination and emergence rates, root and shoot lengths, number of secondary roots, seedling dry weight, root and shoot dry weights with respect to other treatments. Minimum mean germination and emergence time (MGT and MET) was recorded from seeds osmoprimed with 25 mM CaCl2. However maximum seedling potassium contents were recorded from 100 mM NaCl seed priming against the minimum seedling from 50 mM CaCl2 osmopriming. Maximum soluble sugars and phosphorus seedling contents were observed from seeds osmoprimed with 100 mM NaCl and KCl. All the seed priming treatments helped to improve membrane stability compared with dry seeds; and osmoprimed seeds with 25 mM KCl performed better. In conclusion, the wheat seeds osmoprimed with 25 mM CaCl2 solution may be used for wheat seed invigoration.