Germination of three wheat varieties under equipotential levels of matric [vm] and osmotic [vs] stress

ABSTRACT

Choice of a crop plant to be suitable for cultivation in desert areas must be within some considerations. Desert areas are generally characterized by [I] lack of water, [2] climatic extremes, [3] several wide deficiencies in nutrient elements, [4] salinity and ion toxicity problems and [5] interaction between one or more of such previous factors. In this work, the response of three wheat varieties [Sids 1, Sakha 93 and Glza 168] to major environmental hazards existing in desert habitats is accounted for. Besides, the combined effects of temperature, matric or osmotic water potentials under different temperatures on different germination characteristics are studied. The study is concerned with both the germination stage and the early seedling stage to ensure success of the vegetative growth later. In most cases, temperature as a single factor had the dominant effect on germination characteristics