title: Selenium (Se) seed priming induced growth and biochemical changes in wheat under water deficit conditions.
abstract: Insufficient stand establishment at early growth stages in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) due to drought stress is a major problem that limits overall efficiency and yield of crop. Priming of seed is an effective method for raising seed performance and improving tolerance of crops to abiotic stresses especially drought. The seeds of two local wheat cultivars (Kohistan-97 and Pasban-90) were soaked in distilled water or sodium selenate solutions of 25, 50, 75, and 100 μM for 1/2 or 1 h at 25 °C and later re-dried to their original moisture levels before sowing. One-hour priming significantly increased root length stress tolerance index, dry matter stress tolerance index, and total biomass of seedlings; however, no significant effect of changing duration of Se seed priming was observed on plant height stress tolerance index and shoot/root ratio. Among cultivars, Kohistan-97 was found to be more responsive to Se seed treatment as 1 h priming at 100 μM significantly increased its total biomass by 43 % as compared to control treatment. Although biomass of seedlings was not affected with Se seed priming under normal conditions, but it increased significantly with increase in rates of Se under drought stress conditions. One-hour priming at 75 μM increased the total sugar content and total free amino acids in both wheat cultivars. A more significant decrease in soluble proteins of seedlings was observed by 1 h priming than 1/2 h priming under drought stress conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fahim
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.forename: M Yasin
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Ejaz Ahmad
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Waraich
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D055864:Droughts; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D064586:Selenic Acid; D012643:Selenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013997:Time Factors; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D014867:Water; D012643:Selenium; D064586:Selenic Acid