Growth of maize (Zea mays L.) under salt stress after priming withdifferent salt solutions

In this study, germination and seedling growth of maize primed with different salt (NaCl) solutions (0, 150, 175 and 200 mM) were investigated under normal conditions (pure water) and salt stress (175 mM). Unprimed seeds were used as control. The study was carried out with two corn varieties (ADA-9510 and Simpatico) separately in petri dishes and pots. The effects of salt stress, cultivar and priming treatments on germination and seedling characteristics of maize were significant (p<0.01) in both petri dishes and pot conditions. While salt stress caused a general decrease in the examined properties, it caused an increase in the average root dry weight, shoot dry weight and crude protein ratio. ADA-9510 variety showed higher values in both saline and normal conditions in terms of the properties examined. Considering the effect of priming application in petri dish; The germination rate of Simpatico cultivar increased under normal conditions and germination rate was increased in salty conditions. There were also differences in the pot environment with priming applications. In conditions containing pure water; Higher values were recorded in leaf length, ADF, NDF and crude protein content of ADA-9510, whereas higher values were recorded in emergence speed, stem thickness, ADF and NDF contents of Simpatico variety. Under salt stress, it was determined that crude protein content, root dry weight, and emergence speed in ADA-9510 cultivar, and root dry weight, emergence rate and speed in Simpatico cultivar were better than control with priming applications. Accordingly, as a result of this study, it was observed that salt stress negatively affected the germination and seedling growth of corn, ADA-9510 variety was more resistant to salt than Simpatico variety, and salt resistance of maize could be improved by priming in salty solutions, even in normal water. Keywords: Maize, Salt Stress, Priming, Germination, Seedling