effect of priming and its duration on quality of in-pod seeds germination and seedling vigour of sainfoin 'eski' under laboratory conditions

to study the effects of priming on seed germination traits of sainfoin 'eski', a factorial in randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the laboratory of agricultural research center of sari in 2011. treatments consisted of polyethylene glycol (peg6000) at 5 and 10%, potassium nitrate (kno3) at 5 and 10% and potassium chloride (kcl) at 5 and 10% levels and 6, 12 and 24 hours of treatment duration. the most significant interaction of time × priming vigor, root length and germination rate was achieved by priming solution containing peg 10% for 12 hours. the highest germination percentage and total number of seedlings was achieved by 5 and 10% peg for 6 and 12 hours and the least with a solution of kcl 10% for 6 hours, respectively. the highest shoot length and seedling length was obtained at peg 10% for 12 hours and the least at kcl 10% for 24 hours. the highest and lowest number of normal seedlings, were observed by a solution of peg 10% for 12 hours and kcl 10% for 24 hours, respectively. the highest r/s ratio was obtained in a solution of peg 5% for 6 hours and the lowest ratio was observed in the solution of kno3 10%. the lowest weight ratio of r/s was obtained in a solution of kno3 and kcl 10% for 6 and 24 hours and the highest dry weight of r/s in priming with peg 10% for 12 hours.