Abstract

For studying the effects of seed priming with ethanol, methanol, Zn, B and Mn on seed mineral concentration and water deficit stress tolerance in canola (Brassica napus L.), two separate laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted. Laboratory experiment was performed as a completely randomized design with six priming treatments: Non-primed, 2% ethanol, 2% methanol and 0.5% each ZnSo4, H3BO3 and MnSO4.H2O solutions in three replicates. Greenhouse experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment form by completely randomized design with four levels of irrigation: 100, 75, 50 and 25% FC with three replications. The analysis of variance showed significant effect of seed priming on the final germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), mean daily germination (MDG), daily germination speed (DGS) and germination rate index (GI). Furthermore, the analysis of variance showed a significant difference of seed priming and water deficit stress on the number of seeds per pod and 100-grain weight. The detailed results of the study showed that priming seeds with ethanol increased GP by 15%, MGT by 43%, MDG by 15% and GI by 67% over the untreated control. Besides, the results also proved that ethanol seed priming increased the number of seeds per pod and 100-grain weight.