Seed Priming Effect on Germination, Seedling Growth and Salt Tolerance of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.).

The improvement of loquat seed germination, seedling growth was investigated using seed priming technique. The experiment was conducted in completely random design with 3 replications and 24 seeds in each replication. Treatments were different solutions of sodium chloride and potassium nitrate with electrical conductivity of 0, 4, 8, 12 and dS m-1. The results showed that the highest germination percentage (83%) gained in 8 dS m-1 NaCl solution. The NaCl primed seeds showed higher stem length, root and shoot dry weight than control. The primid seedlings were transferred into a closed hydro culture system containing different level of salinity to assisset their salt tolerance. The activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbite peroxidase were enhanced in salt-stressed condition. Pre-treated seedlings had also higher proline content than control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]