Germination performance of grain sorghum hybrid seeds treated with bioregulator under water deficit

Abstract

Water stress can reduce the speed and percentage of germination, damaging the development of seedlings. Thus it is necessary to find alternatives they can mitigate these effects. The plant growth regulators has been heavily used in agricultural production and can proporcionarum increase in the growth and development of plants. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the germination performance of seeds of two hybrids of sorghum under simulated water stress, treated with plant growth regulator. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 2 x 4, establishing itself as factors, two seed treatments (with and without plant growth regulator) and four water potential (0, -0.4, -0.8, -1.2 MPa) with four replications, separately for single hybrid grain sorghum: 1G100 and 1G233. Germination, the first count of germination, shoot and root length and dry matter of shoot and root were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared by Tukey test at 5% probability and regression analysis. The osmotic potential reduction to the level of -1.2 MPa reduced seed quality, however the application of plant growth regulator did not improve seed quality before the water stress. The plant growth regulator increased root length, dry weight of shoot and root of sorghum seedlings grow 1G233, in the absence of water deficit.Water stress can reduce seed germination speed and percentage, harming the development of seedlings. Thus, it is necessary to find alternatives that can mitigate these effects. Bioregulators have been intensively used in agricultural production and can provide increase in plant growth and development. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the germination performance of seeds of two grain sorghum hybrids under simulated water deficit treated with bioregulator. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme, with the following factors: two seed treatments (with and without bioregulator) and four osmotic potentials (0; -0.4; -0.8 and -1.2 MPa), with four replicates, separately for the following grain sorghum hybrids: 1G100 and 1G233. Germination, first germination count, shoot and root length and shoot and root dry matter were evaluated. Data obtained were submitted to analysis of variance and means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability and regression analysis. The reduction of the osmotic potential to the level of -1.2 MPa reduced the physiological quality of seeds; however, bioregulator application did not result in better seed quality under water stress. Bioregulator Stimulate® increased root length and shoot dry matter of seedlings of grain sorghum cultivar 1G233 in the absence of water deficit