Full Title: Effects of Seed Priming on Germination and Seedling Growth under Salinity Stress in Fenugreek

ABSTRACT: A laboratory experiment was carried out to assess the effects of seed priming with water and salicylic acid (SA) on germination characteristics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum). The seeds were treated with H2O (control) and different concentrations of SA (5, 10, 15 and 20 µM) before germination and then primed seeds were germinated under salinity stress conditions using different concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM). Germination percentage, germination rate, seed stamina index, hypocotyl length, radicle length, hypocotyl dry weight, radicle dry weight, relative water content and ion leakage as germination characteristics were measured after imposing salinity stress for 7 days. Salinity stress caused a significant reduction in germination and seedling growth of Fenugreek. Seeds primed with various concentrations of salicylic acid proved to be effective in salinity tolerance at the germination stage of Fenugreek. In general, hormonal priming with 10 µM salicylic acid was more effective than the other concentrations.