Effect of Different Temperatures on Germination and Seedling Growth of Primed Seeds of Tomato.

In present work the effect of various temperatures on germination and seedling growth were determined, using primed seeds of hybrid variety of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. NUN 5024). The hydro (distilled water) and halo (using different concentrations of Mg(NO3)2 ranging from 5 to 10 mM) primed seeds of tomato were placed under different (ranging from 10 to 40°C) temperatures during germination in plant growth chamber and various parameters of seedling growth were studied. Maximum germination percentage, total seedling, and separately root and shoot lengths, fresh and dry weight of seedlings, studied up to 10 days were represented by 7.5 mM Mg(NO3)2-primed seeds at 40°C. While the study continued only with 40°C treated sets up to 25 days in net house under natural conditions, maximum plant height, number of branches and green leaves, leaf area/plant, plant fresh and dry weights, root number/plant, root length, root fresh and dry weight, super oxide dismutase activity (SOD) and protein content were noted in 7.5 mM Mg(NO3)2-primed seeds in respect to all other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]