effect of methanol on germination characteristics of bean (phaseolus vulgaris l. cv. sadry) under drought stress condition

in order to evaluate the effects of methanol on germination percentage, germination speed index, plumule and radicle length, plumule and radicle dry weigh, vigor index and consumed endosperm of bean in condition of water deficit, a factorial experiment done based on completely randomized design with three replications. the first factor was different levels of methanol included 0 (control), 5, 10 and 15 volumetric percentage, and second factor was negative water deficit in four levels of 0, -3, -6 and -9 bar. results of this study showed that there was a significant difference among different methanol concentrations regarding germination percentage, germination speed index, plumule and radicle length, plumule and radicle dry weight, vigor index and consumed endosperm (p 0.01). different levels of methanol caused significant decrease on germination characteristics compared with control. drought stress at -9 bar level significantly decreased germination percentage, germination speed index, radicle length, radicle dry weigh and consumed endosperm compared with other levels. results showed that in non-stress condition, methanol levels led to significant decrease on germination characteristics compared with control. in drought stress condition, methanol levels caused significant decrease on germination percentage, plumule dry weigh, radicle length and radicle dry weight compared with control.