Effects of priming on seed germination of marigold (Calendula officinalis).

Abstract

This experiment include to evaluation of priming on seed germination of Marigold (Calendula officinalis). Experiment carried out in randomized complete block design with three replications in 2008 at the Research Laboratory of the University of Shahed, Iran. Treatments were (control, PEG: Polyethylene glycol 6000 at -3, -6 and -12 bar). Marigold seeds primed for 24 hour in treatments solution in room temperature and then transferred to Petri dish for germination. Analysis of variance for laboratory data showed that priming significantly improved germination percentage, radicle and shoot length, seedlings weight and germination rate, compared to control. Germination percentage, radicle and shoot length and germination rate for seeds primed with PEG (-3 bar) was higher than those for unprimed seeds but seedling weight was statistically similar. Thus, priming with PEG solution could be used as a simple method for improving seed germination of Marigold in the Laboratory.