The Partitioning trend of Resources and Alpha-Amylase Enzyme Activity by Zinc Priming in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) Seed

The percentage and rate of germination and proper establishment of seedlings are important factors in achieving higher yield per unit area. As an essential element for plant growth and development, Zinc plays a critical role in many metabolic processes, and also has a positive effect on seed germination. In order to determine the effects of seed priming with the concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 2 percent zinc sulfate on the partitioning of reserved materials in seed, starting autotrophic seedling growth and the activity of alpha amylase enzyme in wheat, a factorial experiment was conducted in a research farm of University of Maragheh, Iran in 2014 on the basis of a completely randomized design with four replications. Results showed that zinc priming had a significant effect on all the parameters under study. Mean comparisons showed that an increase in zinc concentration- up to one percent- had a positive effect on the studied parameters, and increasing its concentration more than one percent caused a negative effect on the mentioned parameters. The results of this study showed that the seed dry weight of the control and zinc sulfate (0.5%) treatment reached to a stable level in the days of 21 and 20, respectively. Also in the control and 0.5% zinc sulfate, the total dry weight reached to its initial weight (seed weight) at the days of 15 and 13, respectively. In addition, the growth of autotrophic plant began 10-12 days after of soaking. The seeds treated with 5.0 and 1 percent zinc sulfate had more leaf area than the other treatments; it might happen due to the earlier entrance of the seedlings produced by 5.0 and 1% zinc sulfate treatments to the autotrophic stage as compared to other treatments. The results of variance analysis of the finishing seed's reserved materials, initial kernel, root dry weight and shoot dry weight confirmed that 0.5 and 1% zinc sulfate treatments were better than other concentrations (levels). The treatments of 0.5 and 1% zinc sulfate reached to the autotrophic stage sooner than the control and 2% zinc sulfate treatment. According to the results of this study, 5.0 and 1% zinc sulfate treatments were selected for the field cultivation.