Borage (Borago officinalis L.) response to salinity at early growth stages as influenced by seed pre-treatment

Knowledge of plant response to salinity, especially at early growth stages, is critical optimizing crop production in salt-affected soils. In this paper we explore quantitatively the effectiveness seed pre-treatment lessen effects salinity on Borage (Borago officinalis L.) germination and subsequent seedling growth. Two independent experiments were conducted with nine levels five pre-treatments using Lake Urmia saline water (LUsw), ascorbic acid (Asc), proline (Pro), potassium silicate (K2SiO3) spermidine (Spd). The first set was used obtain most effective for germination. second investigated combined concentration emergence process. Salinity found have considerable inhibitory growth, but pre-treating seeds alleviated some these effects. Seedling could be described well threshold-slope function Maas Hoffman (1977) S-shaped van Genuchten (1984). A means comparison (using Tukey’s test) showed that mean threshold all traits, EC*, increased markedly (P ≤ 0.001). For example, EC* 60% K2SiO3 as compared control, Spd Pro having less an effect than K2SiO3. EC value which various traits reduced by 50% (i.e., EC50) from 10.8 dS m−1 control 12.5, 12.5 12.1 Pro, pre-treatments, respectively. Statistically, K2SiO3, EC50 essentially same. Asc, LUsw not significant control. vigor seedlings obtained pre-treatment, particularly when should lead more salt-tolerant plants higher yield potentials environments.