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\hypersetup{pdftitle={Seed Priming Improves Emergence and Yield of Wheat},pdfauthor={Hamed Mahdavi, Ali Reza Safahani Langeroudi, Behnam Kamkar},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2010: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Germination, priming, wheat, yield},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 14-16, 2010, Zurich}}\\[1ex] \Large{``World Food System  ---\\A Contribution from Europe''\\[2ex]}}
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\Large{\textbf{Seed Priming Improves Emergence and Yield of Wheat\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Hamed Mahdavi, Islamic Azad University,  Ghaemshar Branch, Dept. of Agronomy, No. 15 Edalat 35 Shalikobi Street, 4917898618~Gorgan, Iran, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{tm10_ali@yahoo.com}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Hamed Mahdavi$^{1}$, Ali Reza Safahani Langeroudi$^{1}$, Behnam Kamkar$^{2}$}}
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\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{1}$Islamic Azad University,  Ghaemshar Branch, Dept. of Agronomy, Iran}}}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{2}$Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Dept. of Agronomy, Iran}}}
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\index[author]{Mahdavi, Hamed}
\index[author]{Safahani Langeroudi, Ali Reza}
\index[author]{Kamkar, Behnam}
\begin{center}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
Poor germination and low seed viability are among the serious problems in the production of wheat in the dryland region of the Golestan province Northeast, Iran. The use of high quality seed with appropriate seed rate is essential to establish a suitable plant population in a wheat field for better returns. Vigorous seeds germinate rapidly, uniformly and are able to withstand environmental adversity after sowing. Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of seed priming on emergence and yield of wheat (\textit{Triticum aestivum}) cv. N8118 at Agricultural University, Gorgan, during 2007 and 2008. The seed was primed using 0 (deionized water), -0.2, -0.5, -1.1 and -1.8 MPa Polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions for 6, 12 and 18 h using dry seed (non primed) as a control. Thereafter, the seed was washed and dried back to its original moisture content at room temperature and sown in the first week of December during both years. The experiment was laid out in randomised complete block (RCB) design having four replications. The plot size was 2\,m\,$\times$\,3 with \mbox{20\,cm} apart rows and plant to plant distance of \mbox{5\,cm} was used. Seed primed at different osmotic potentials differed significantly for days to emergence, emergence m$^{-2}$ and grain yield. Seed primed at osmotic potential of -1.1 MPa had quicker and improved emergence per unit area and resulted in higher grain yield of wheat. Likewise, seed priming duration of 6 h resulted in faster and improved emergence and higher grain yield of wheat. It is concluded that seed priming hastens and improves emergence and enhances grain yield of wheat.



}

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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Germination, priming, wheat, yield
\index[key]{Germination}
\index[key]{Priming}
\index[key]{Wheat}
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