Abstract :
In order to evaluate the effects of priming with polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) on drought stress tolerance of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), an experiment was conducted at laboratory of weed ecology of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, in 2012. The experiment was including four levels of seed priming (0, -7, -10 and -14 MPa osmotic potential) and four levels of drought stress (0, -3, -6 and -9 MPa osmotic potential) that were imposed by PEG 6000. Results showed that the germination and seedling growth of barley reduced by increasing the drought stress potential. At all drought stress potentials, the priming increased the seed germination rate and percentage; root length and shoot length and weight. At -9 MPa drought stress potential the primed seeds with -14 MPa, had the highest germination rate and percentage. Also at -3 MPa drought stress potential, the highest root and shoot length was observed when the seeds were primed with -14 MPa osmotic potential. The root and shoot length of the primed seeds with -7, -10 and -14 MPa were not significantly different at -9 MPa drought stress potential. Therefore, the priming can be used as a technique to increase the germination and early seedling growth of barley under drought stress condition.
