Effect of hydro-priming on germination properties and seedling growth of the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under drought stress

Priming is an effective method to improve seed viability that might be resulted to increase of seed germination percent and germination rate under stress conditions، such as drought stress. So، in this research the effect of seed priming on seed germination characteristics of safflower were evaluated under drought stress. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was carried out at faculty of Agriculture، Bu-Ali Sina University. Treatments were priming at two levels (non priming and hydro-priming) and drought stress at seven levels (0، -2، -4، -6، -8، -10 and -12 bar). Results showed that with increasing drought stress from 0 to -12 bar، germination properties such as germination percent، germination rate and weight of seedling decreased. But، this decrease in non seed priming treatment was more than priming treatment. Therefore، at all levels of drought stress، germination rate and seedling fresh weight of safflower in control treatment was less than hydro-priming treatment. This reduction for germination percent at control treatment in compare to hydro-priming treatment was 70%. In general، hydro-priming improved germination characteristics of safflower under drought stress conditions and increased the resistance of safflower to drought stress in germination phase.