Influence of hydro- and osmo-priming on sunflower seeds to break dormancy and improve crop performance under water stress.

This study explored the effects of two hydro- and osmo-priming durations (8 and 16 h) on growth and yield components of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) under water stress. The pot experiment, performed under a rain shelter, consisted of 9 treatments replicated five times: unprimed seeds as control (C), hydro-primed seeds (T0), osmo-primed seeds in 10, 20, and 30% PEG-6000 (T1, T2, and T3, respectively). Severe water stress was applied for 12 days to all treatments at the beginning of the flowering stage. Statistical analysis revealed a very highly significant positive effect (p < 0.01) by all treatments on sunflower seed germination compared with the control. Moreover, primed seeds improved significantly for all growth parameters and yield components, but no significant differences were observed according to either priming technique or duration. The highest value of germination capacity, for fresh and dry biomasses, was obtained with PEG-primed seeds at 10% for 16 h. The grain number per anthodium and grain yield per plant from primed seeds were higher than those in the control (1.9- to 2.5-fold and 2.8- to 3.3-fold respectively). Under conditions of water stress, the proline content in primed plants was significantly higher than that in unprimed ones, with the exception of T3 treatment primed for 8 h. Soluble sugars and chlorophyll contents increased significantly with all applied treatments compared with the control. The study showed that the applied priming treatments improved germination characteristics in particular and increased growth and yield components for sunflowers under drought stress conditions.