Effects of storage duration and temperature of hydro-primed wheat seeds on seed and seedling quality

Quality of seed as a propagating organ and the most valuable input to produce crops is highly important in agriculture. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the effects of storage temperature (15, 20 and 25 °C) and storage duration (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 days) of hydro-primed wheat seeds of Koohdasht dry land cultivar on germination and seedling characteristics. The seeds were hydro-primed then stored at each related treatment and cultivated in research farm of Lorestan University in October of 2014-2015 growing year based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that both storage temperature and duration had significant effects on seedling emergence characteristics such as speed and percentage of emergence, lateral root number, leaf number and length, seedling height, tiller number and fresh and dry weights of seedling; however, interaction of storage temperature and duration was only significant for seedling fresh and dry weights. Hydro-primed seeds stored at 15 or 20 °C had better quality in comparison to those stored at 25 °C. Extending the storage period resulted in reduced seedling quality. In overall, seeds stored at 20 °C for 2 days had better germination efficacy than those with other treatments.