Abstract

Effects of seed priming with 30 mM NaCl was determined on various growth and biochemical characters of 6 wheat varieties (Tatara-96, Ghaznavi-98, Fakhri Sarhad, Bakhtawar-92, Pirsabaq-2004 and Auqab-2000) under 4 salinity levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 mM). Statistical analysis of the data revealed that varieties, salinity and seed priming had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected germination (%), days to emergence, tillers plant^-1, leaves plant^-1 and shoot chlorophyll-b contents (mg g^-1 fresh weight). However, the effects of varieties and salinity were significant (P ≤ 0.05) and of seed priming was non significant (P > 0.05) on plant height (cm), root length (cm) and shoot chlorophyll-a contents. Maximum germination percentage (88.75), tillers plant^-1(3.63), leaves plant^-1 (16.01), plant height (27.86 cm), root length (18.57 cm), shoot chlorophyll-a contents (1.15 mg g^-1 fresh weight) and shoot chlorophyll-b contents (0.84 mg g^-1 fresh weight) were recorded for Bakhtawar-92. Maximum days to emergence (10.04) were recorded for Pirsabaq-2004.

Key words: Seed priming, growth, wheat varieties, salinity.