PJB-2018-607
SEED GERMINATION OF SWITCHGRASS (PANICUM VIRGATUM L.) UNDER SALT AND DROUGHT STRESS AFTER HYDROPRIMING TREATMENT
XUEQING HE
Abstract
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a model species for bioenergy feedstock production, but its germination is sensitive to abiotic stresses. Here, we investigate the effects of hydropriming on seed germination of switchgrass under salt and drought stress. Both hydroprimed and unprimed seed germination percentage declined with increasing salt and drought stress. However, seed germination percentage of the hydroprimed seeds was significantly higher than control. Both shoot and root growths were inhibited at osmotic potentials≤-0.2 MPa NaCl and PEG. Hydropriming improved both shoot and root lengths, especially under -0.4MPa osmitic potential. Higher total seed germination percentage, including the seeds germinated under stress and after recovery with distilled water, was found under salt stress than drought. It indicates that seed germination mainly inhibited by osmotic stress rather than ion toxicity under salt stress condition. Hydropriming is an effective method to reduce the inhibition of osmotic stress induced by salt and drought stresses on seed germination of switchgrass.
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