Determination of germination performance of amaranth seeds to drought stress subjected to different aging tests

Amaranth has recently begun to attract consumers' attention due to high protein, carbohydrate and lipid content. In this study, seeds which were subjected to controlled deterioration at 40 ° C and humidity levels of 18% and 24% and for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of rapid aging tests at 40, 45 and 50 ° C, were carried out by germination under in vitro conditions. Daily germination counts of cultures and different morphological and physiological parameters were measured on day 21 to determine the most appropriate aging test and duration. Subsequently, aging and aging Amaranth seeds were cultured in vitro under controlled conditions, cultured in medium containing 10%, 20% and 30% PEG, and their responses against drought stress were determined. According to the results obtained, the fastest aging test at 45oC showed an increase of application time, 20% decrease in germination rate and 4 days increase in germination time, and a variable decrease in other measured parameters was evaluated as the most appropriate test for the purpose. According to drought stress results, germination of aging and aging seeds was only seen in 10% PEG environment. In non-aging seeds, viability was found to be 20% and in aging groups a reduction of approximately 50% was observed, whereas root length was increased in 10% PEG application in aged and aged groups at 40 C but decreased in the 45 C aged group.