Cocks Comb ( Celosia cristata ) is a hot-season annual species which is grown from seeds. A study was carried out in the horticulture laboratory of Gorgan University of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources of February 2013 to evaluate the impact of salinity and potassium nitrate on the germination of cockscomb with five salinity levels (0, − 2, − 4, − 6, and − 8 bars) and three potassium nitrate levels (0%, 0.2%, and 0.4%) at 25 ° C on the basis of a Randomized Complete Block Design. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among salinity levels in germination percentage, radicle length, plumule length, and seed vigor at the 1% probability level. Mean comparison for germination percentage revealed that higher salinity reduced seed germination percentage so that it was decreased from 80% in no salinity to 15% in − 8 dS ⋅ m − 1 . The highest percentage of germination was related to zero percent salt and potassium nitrate 0.2%. Also, the highest radicle length of 2.48 cm was related to no salinity and the lowest one (0.61 cm) to − 6 dS salinity. The highest radicle length and seed vigor were also observed in no salinity. Potassium nitrate by itself had no impact on the measured traits. Among interactions between salinity and potassium nitrate, the highest germination percentage was observed under 0 salinity × 0.2% potassium nitrate.
Dole, J.M. and Wilkins, H.F. (1999) Floriculture: Principle and Species. Viacom Press, New Jersey, 613 p.
Khalighi, A. (1991) Floriculture and Ornamental Plants of Iran. Rozbahan Press, Tehran, 392 p.
Fenando, E.P., Boero, C., Gallardo, M. and Gonzalez, J. (2000) Effect of NaCl on Germination, Growth, and Soluble Sugar Content in Chenopodium quinona Seeds. Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica, 41, 27-34.
Khaleghi, E. and Ramin, A.A. (2005) Study of the Effects of Salinity on Growth and Development of Lawns (Lolium perenne L., Festuca arundinacean and Cynodon dactylon). Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 9, 57-68.
Mirmohammadi Meybodi, A.M. and Ghareriazi, B. (2002) Physiological Aspects and Breeding For Salinity Stress in Plants. Publication of Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran 288 p.
Grime, J.P. and Campbell, B.D. (1991) Growth Rate, Habitat Productivity, and Plant Strategy as Predicators of Stress Response. Academic Press, London, 422 p.
Rajabi, R. and Poustini, K. (2005) Effect of NaCl on Thirty Caltivars of Bread Wheat Seed Germination. Agriculture Science Journal, 27, 29-45.
Irma, T., Jolan, C., Gabriella, S., Ferenc, H., Attila, P., Gabriella, K., Agnes, S., Margit, S. and Lazlo, E. (2002) Acclimation of Tomato Plants to Salinity Stress after a Salicylic Acid Pre-Treatment. Acta Biologica Szegediensis, 46, 55-57.
Edward, A.K. and Bison, M.A. (1996) Plasma Membrane Na+ Transport in Salt Tolerant Halophytes. Plant Physiology, 111, 1191-1197.
Patade, V.Y., Bhargava, S. and Suprasanna, P. (2009) Halopriming Imparts Tolerance to Salt and PEG Induced Drought Stress in Sugarcane. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 134, 24-28.
Jafar, M.Z., Farooq, M., Cheema, M.A., Afzal, I., Basra, S.M.A., Wahid, M.A., Aziz, T. and Shahid, M. (2012) Improving the Performance of Wheat by Seed Priming under Saline Conditions. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 198, 38-45.
Demir, I. and Van De Venter, H.A. (1999) The Effect of Priming Treatments on the Performance of Watermelon Seeds under Temperature and Osmotic Stress. Seed Science and Technology, 27, 871-875.
Kaya, M.D., Okcu, G., Atak, M., Cikili, Y. and Kolsarici, O. (2006) Seed Treatments to Overcome Salt and Drought Stress during Germination in Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.). European Journal of Agronomy, 24, 291-295.
Afkari, A. (2010) The Effects of NaCl Priming on Salt Tolerance in Sunflower Germination and Seedling Grown under Salinity Conditions. African Journal of Biotechnology, 9, 1764-1770. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB10.1019
Sarmadnia, Gh.H. (1995) Principles of Seed Science and Technology. Jihad-Uni-versity Press, 288 p.
Khaleghi, A. and Moallemi, N. (2009) The Effect of Different Levels of Salinity and Temperature on Seed Germination of Cocks Comb. Journal of Plant Production Research, 16, 149-163.
Agrawal, R. (2003) Seed Technology. Oxford Press, New Delhi, India, 829 p.
Khoshkhoi, M. (2005) Plant Propagation: Principle and Practices. Shiraz University Press, Shiraz, 983 p.
Singh, K.N., Sharma, D.K. and Chillar, R.K. (1988) Growth, Yield and Chemical Composition of Different Oil Seed Crop as Influenced by Sodicity. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 3, 459-463. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600083635
Hardegree, S.P. and Emmerich, W.E. (1990) Partitioning Water Potential and Specific Salt Effect on Seed Germination of Four Grasses. Annuals of Botany, 65, 587-595. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a088068
Aameur, F. and Sipple-Michmer-Huizen, J. (2001) Germination and Seedling Survival of Argan (Argania spinosa) under Experimental Saline Condition. Journal of Arid Environments, 49, 533-540. https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.2001.0804
Ghoulam, C. and Fares, K. (2001) Effect of Salinity on Seed Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Seed Science and Technology, 29, 357-367.
Soleimani, F. and Ahmadvand, G. (2012) The Effect of Seed Priming on Germination of Cotton Seedling in Salinity Stress. Journal of Seed Science and Technology, 3, 31-43.
Wang, H.Y., Chen, C.L. and Sung, J.M. (2003) Both Warm Water Soaking and Solid Priming Treatments Enhance Anti-Oxidation of Bitter Gourd Seeds Germinated at Sub-Optimal Temperature. Seed Science and Technology, 31, 47-56. https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2003.31.1.06
Hopper, N.W., Overholt, J.R. and Martin, J.R. (1979) Effect of Cultivar, Temperature and Seed Size on the Germination and Emergence of Soy Beans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Annuls of Botany, 44, 301-308. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a085733
Ghana, S.G. and Schillinger, W.F. (2003) Seed Priming Winter Wheat for Germination, Emergence and Yield. Crop Science, 43, 2135-2141. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2003.2135
Bose, B. and Mishra, T. (1992) Response of Wheat Seed to Pre-Sowing Seed Treatments with Mg(NO3)2. Annals of Agricultural Research, 13, 132-136.
Taylor, A.G. and Harman, G.E. (1990) Concepts and Technologies of Selected Seed Treatments. Annual Review of Phytopathology, 28, 321-339. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.py.28.090190.001541
Jamil, M., Lee, C.C., Rehman, S.U., Lee, D.B., Ashraf, M. and Rha, E.S. (2005) Salinity (NaCl) Tolerance of Brassica Species at Germination and Early Seedling Growth. Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 4, 970-976.
Farooqh, M., Basra, S.M.A. and Rehman, H. (2006) Seed Priming Enhances Emergence, Yield, and Quality of Direct-Seeded Rice. International Rice Research Notes, 31, 42-46.
Murungu, F.S., Nyamugafata, P., Chiduza, C., Clark, L.J. and Whalley, W.R. (2003) Effects of Seed Priming, Aggregate Size and Matric Potential on Emergence of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and Maize (Zea mays L.). Soil and Tillage Research, 74, 161-168.
Yagmur, M. and Kaydan, D. (2008) Alleviation of Osmotic Stress of Water and Salt in Germination Lotus corniculatus L. Seed Science and Technology, 31, 455-463.
Kattimani, K.N., Reddy, Y.N. and Rao, B.R. (1999) Effect of Pre-Sowing Seed Treatment on Germination, Seedling Emergence, Seedling Vigor, and Root Yield of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Daunal.). Seed Science and Technology, 27, 483-488.
Artola, A., Carrillo-Castaneda, G. and Santos, G.D.L. (2003) Hydropriming: A Strategy to Increase and Seedling Growth of Triticale with Seed Priming Treatments. African Journal of Crop Science, 43, 2135-2141.