Mitigation of the influence of PEG-6000 imposed water stress on germination of halo primed rice seeds

In the present investigation studies were made to see the effect of water stress, induced with the help of different concentrations (150 to 225 g/kg PEG-6000 equivalent to osmotic potential of-0.30 to-0.60MPa) of PEG-6000 in germinating rice varieties viz., HUR-3022 and Sahabhagi dhan. The results showed that osmotic potential from-0.30 to-0.49MPa, the inhibition in germination percentage was started as compared to control set but at-0.60MPa osmotic potential no germination was observed. When the Mg(NO₃)₂ and K₂SO₄ primed seeds were used with the osmotic potential of-0.30 to-0.49MPa the inhibitory effect of stress was found to overcome by the germinating seeds of rice. In the primed seeds the percentage of germination, vigor index, germination index and absolute water content (%) were increased in presence of imposed stress in respect to non primed seeds germinating under the same situation except mean time germination.

Highlights

• Water stress induced with PEG-6000 decreased germination percentage in rice varieties viz., HUR-3022 and Sahabhagi dhan and also delayed germination time at higher concentrations.