Seed priming with sodium silicate enhances seed germination and seedling growth in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under water deficit stress induced by polyethylene glycol

Silicon has the potential for improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants. effects of sodium silicate (ss) seed priming on seed germination and seedling growth under water-deficit stress induced by polyethylene glycol (peg) were investigated. seed priming treatmentsincluded hydropriming i.e. soaking of seeds for 8 h in aerated distilled water and sodium silicate priming i.e. soaking of seeds for 8 h in aerated solutions of 20 mm,40 mm and 60 mm sodium silicate. seeds were germinated in petri plates under water-deficit stress induced by 15 % peg- 6000. final germination percentage (fgp) was significantly increased by sodium silicate priming treatments. priming with 40 mm sodium silicate induced highest increase in fgp (97 %). sodium silicate priming also reduced the mean germination time (h) (mgt) of the seeds. shortest mgt with most rapid germination was observed after 60 mm sodium silicate priming. the germination energy,vigor index,germination index,germination rate,shoot length and root length were efficiently improved by sodium silicate priming. hydropriming of seeds reduced the mgt andimproved the germination rate as compared with non-primed seeds. hydropriming could not improve the fgp,germination energy,vigor index,germination index,root and shoot lengths. therefore,enhancement in the seed germination and seeding growth was due to sodium silicate priming. in conclusion,sodium silicate seed priming improved the wheat seed germination and seedling growth under water-deficit stress that indicated the improved stress tolerance of seeds after priming.