Effects of Seed Priming on Growth Parameters and Relative Water Content of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at Drought and Normal Conditions

The study was conducted to determine effects of seed priming to growth parameters and relative water content at drought and normal conditions on bread wheat at controlled climate chamber and physiology laboratory. Effects of seed priming on growth parameters and relative water content measured using “randomized plot design with three replications”, two bread wheat cultivars (Altay 2000, Kıraç 66), two conditions (drought and normal) five treatments (control, distilled water, 2% KCl, 0,5% KH2PO4, 0,1% NaCl) and two sampling times (7 th and 14 th days after emergence) were factors. Seeds were soaked for twelve hours, than dried till back to untreated moisture level at room conditions, sowed normal and drought condition pots. Seventh and fourteenth days after emergence, growing parameters (fresh and dry weight, seedling height) and relative water content were determined. Growth parameters and relative water content values of seedlings at normal conditions higher than drought. At the research highest fresh weight was determined at KH2PO4 treatment (32,4083 mg), similar results were determined dry weight (9,6206 mg) and seedling length (10, 3793 cm) at the same treatment also. According to results, priming is an alternative approach can trigger resistance at drought conditions.