INTERACTION EFFECT OF HEAT SHOCK AND SEED PRIMING ON STORABILITY OF AGROPYRON ELONGATUM

Abstract

Priming improves germination rate and seed vigor but reduces longevity of seeds. We examined the possibilities of obatining primed seeds with maintaining high germination quality but with longevity much the same that seeds are not treated. In this study were used different priming treatments for Agropyron elongatum. Then primed seeds were placed at different levels of heat shock. And then all treatments and unprimed seeds were evaluated in standard germination and accelerated ageing test. We found that the desired longevity could be obtained by keeping the seeds under heat shock for four hours at 40o C, after a priming treatment. Decreasing germination and seedling vigour in hydro and hormonal priming did not happaen again due to such a treatment. In addition, following priming, heat shock affects the initial quality of primed seeds in some treatments. Optimal temperature was strongly duration dependent. The method was applied to obtain primed seeds without loss of storability is very similar to those used to induce desiccation tolerance in germinated seeds and acquired thermotolerance in plant vegetative tissues.