Optimal time of soybean seed priming and primer effect under salt stress conditions

The aim of this study was to examine optimal time of soybean seed priming and effect of primers under salt stress conditions. Testing was performed at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, on Galina seed variety. Optimal priming time was determined by immersing seed into: KNO3 (1%), H2O2 (0.1%), and H2O with the duration of 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, and 24 h. After drying until the initial moisture, the seed was placed for germination and after eight days germination was determined. In the second part of the experiment, the seed was immersed into: KNO3 (1%), H2O2 (0,1%), and H2O after which their effect on germination energy and seed germination under simulated salinity conditions was examined. Simulated salinity conditions represented substrate for germination to which NaCl in different concentrations was added (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mM). Results of the research showed that the six-hour priming of seed was the best with all primers. The percentage of seed germination linearly reduced with the increase of priming time. The research has shown that seed priming represents a favorable technique for the reduction of a negative effect of NaCl on germination energy and soybean seed germination, and the best effect is accomplished with the use of KNO3.