Env Exp Biol (2014) 12: 39–42

A laboratory and glasshouse evaluation of ascorbic and salicylic acid effect on germination traits and grain yield of safflower cultivars

Abstract

Information regarding the evaluation of ascorbic and salicylic acid on safflower cultivars germination traits is not available. The study, consisting of two experiments (laboratory and glasshouse), was conducted as a factorial experiment with randomized design and three replications. Factor A included six priming treatments (50 mg L^–1 salicylic acid [SA], 100 mg L^–1 SA, 50 mg L^–1 ascorbic acid [ASA], 100 mg L^–1 ASA, hydro-priming and control) and factor B included three safflower cultivars (‘Faraman’, ‘Sina’ and ‘IL 111’). Results showed that the highest shoot length (4.71 cm) was observed in the 50 mg L^–1 SA treatment and the lowest length was 1.24 cm, in the control treatment. The longest (3.71 cm) and shortest (1.06 cm) radicles were observed in hydroprimed ‘Faraman’ and ‘IL111’ ASA100 treatments, respectively. Also, the highest (8.32 mg) and lowest (1.96 mg) radicle weights were observed in ‘Faraman’ SA50 and ‘IL111’ AsA100 treatments, respectively. For all cultivars, as SA and ASA concentration increased, the emergence rate index decreased. The highest grain yield (16.2 g per plant) was observed for the ‘Faraman’ cultivar.