Preliminary determination of early growth response of wheat to potassium iodate priming

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of iodine priming in combination with water availability levels on the physiological attributes of wheat <italic>(Triticum aestivum</italic>) as determined at stage Z14.7/22 of plant growth. Two levels of potassium iodate halopriming (100 mg l^{− 1} and 200 mg l^{− 1} ) were compared with distilled for priming seeds before planting to grow seedlings under conditions of controlled water availability determined by field capacity (FC). Adequate water availability (100% FC) throughout seedling growth was compared with declining water availability from planting to 25% FC before harvesting plants to determine biomass in terms of root: shoot ratio (RSR). Crop physiological response was determined using membrane stability index (MSI) and leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Results confirmed the positive role of halopriming wheat seeds to improve resistance to water stress at the early stage of crop development. The use of potassium iodate negligibly improved plant biomass accumulation, but leaf membrane stability index was significantly improved. These changes were associated with enhancement of chlorophyll (a, b) and carotenoid contents. This study provides insight into the potential effect of seed treatment on wheat response to soil water availability at the early stages of development.