Seed priming is a useful technique which improves seed
germination parameters. The present investigation was
conducted to evaluate some of the most important germination
parameters such as total germination, germination rate, mean
germination time, average speed, germination percentage
(GP), germination vigor index (GVI), relative frequency,
plumule fresh and dry weight, radical fresh and dry weight,
plumule and radical length, leaf and root proline content of
six
indica rice (
Oryza sativa
L.) varieties, including MR219,
MR219-4, MR219-9, MR220, MR159, and MR 211 under
hydro-, hormonal- and polyethylen glycol (PEG)- priming
conditions. The highest germination parameters were
achieved under the hydro-priming treatment, at 18 h (100%),
6 h (100%), 18 h (90.3%), 12 h (91.6%), 18 h (86.6%), and
18 h (78.3%) for the genotypes MR219, MR219-4, MR219-
9, MR220, MR159, and MR211, respectively. The best
germination feedback of the rice varieties under the hormonal
priming were observed in 50 mg L
-1 abscisic acid (ABA), 10
mg L
-1 gibberellic acid-3 (GA
3), 50 mg L
-1 indole-3-acetic
acid (IAA), 50 mg L
-1 G
3, 100 mg L
-1 ABA, and 10 mg L
-1
GA
3 for the genotypes MR219, MR219-4, MR219-9, MR220,
MR159 and MR211, respectively. The rice varieties showed
different responses to various levels of PEG in which MR219,
MR219-4 and MR219-9 responded positively to higher PEG
levels, while MR220, MR159 and MR211 showed better
feedback under lower PEG concentrations. These outcomes
comply with the higher tolerance of MR219, MR219-9 and
MR219-4 varieties to drought stress.