University of Guilan Iranian Journal of Seed Sciences and Research 2476-3780 6 1 2019 05 22 Black cumin seed germination enhancement by calcium and zinc under salinity stress Black cumin seed germination enhancement by calcium and zinc under salinity stress 93 105 3590 10.22124/jms.2019.3590 FA Saeid Khomari University of Mohaghegh Ardabili Moslem Madadi University of Mohaghegh Ardabili Ahmad Javadi University of Mohaghegh Ardabili Journal Article 2017 11 21 Seed priming has been used to improve germination and to enhance seedling vigour of field crops especially under environmental stresses. The present research was designed in order to evaluate the advantage of seed priming with calcium and zinc on seed germination indices and seedling growth of black cumin under salt stress. For this purpose, a factorial experiment was carried out based on RCB design with four replicates. Experimental factors included five priming methods (non-priming control, priming with calcium nitrate, nano zinc oxide, calcium nitrate+nano zinc oxide and hydro-priming) and three salinity levels (0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl). In this experiment, seed germination indices, sodium, potassium and calcium content of seedlings and peroxidase activity of seedlings were measured. The results of the present research indicated that despite the inhibitory effect of salinity on black cumin seed germination and seedling growth characteristics, seed priming substantially alleviated the deleterious impacts of salt due to enhancement of prescribed parameters. When NaCl concentration increased, K and Ca contents of seedling was reduced and Na amount and guaiacol peroxidase activity was increased, while seed priming caused increase of K and Ca and decrease of Na under salinity. Among the applied priming methods, seed priming with calcium nitrate+nano zinc oxide had the highest efficacy and the best performance in ameliorating inhibition of measured parameters of black cumin induced by salt. Seed priming has been used to improve germination and to enhance seedling vigour of field crops especially under environmental stresses. The present research was designed in order to evaluate the advantage of seed priming with calcium and zinc on seed germination indices and seedling growth of black cumin under salt stress. For this purpose, a factorial experiment was carried out based on RCB design with four replicates. Experimental factors included five priming methods (non-priming control, priming with calcium nitrate, nano zinc oxide, calcium nitrate+nano zinc oxide and hydro-priming) and three salinity levels (0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl). In this experiment, seed germination indices, sodium, potassium and calcium content of seedlings and peroxidase activity of seedlings were measured. The results of the present research indicated that despite the inhibitory effect of salinity on black cumin seed germination and seedling growth characteristics, seed priming substantially alleviated the deleterious impacts of salt due to enhancement of prescribed parameters. When NaCl concentration increased, K and Ca contents of seedling was reduced and Na amount and guaiacol peroxidase activity was increased, while seed priming caused increase of K and Ca and decrease of Na under salinity. Among the applied priming methods, seed priming with calcium nitrate+nano zinc oxide had the highest efficacy and the best performance in ameliorating inhibition of measured parameters of black cumin induced by salt. https://jms.guilan.ac.ir/article_3590_769cd8dbbe64cf8b772c1fd85dba3f70.pdf