Effect of nutri-priming on germination indices and photosynthetic pigments of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) seedling under drought stress

Recently the use of plant products instead of chemical materials is one of the most important needs of the modern civilization in terms of human health. On the other hand, drought is one of the abiotic environmental stresses that reduce the performance of the products. The objective in this study was to assess the effect of nutri-priming with (control, Fe, Zn, Fe + Zn, nano- Fe, nano- Zn, and nano- Fe + nano- Zn) on quinoa seed germination indices and physiological characteristics in PEG 6000 (polyethylene glycol), drought condition (0, -3, -6, -9 and -12 atm). Results indicated that the effect of drought in nutri-priming were significant on germination percentage, germination rate, mean of germination time, germination uniformity, seedling length, seedling length index, seedling weight, seedling weight index and photosynthetic pigments. Drought stress decreased the percentage and rate of germination and seedling indexes, however, nutri-priming reduces the adverse effects of drought stress. Drough also reduced the amount of photosynthetic pigments, in spite of all that this decrease was very low in terms of nutri-priming with Fe, Zn, Fe + Zn, nano- Fe, nano- Zn, and nano- Fe + nano- Zn) in high drought level (-12 atm). drought stress increased, mean of germination time, germination uniformity, that nutri-priming especially with the control more increased. The finding of this study leads to the conclusion that nutri-priming with nutrients, especially nano- Fe + nano- Zn increased the germination indices of the plant to improve germination and seedlings growth of quinoa under drought stress.