PRIMING OF SEEDS WITH NACL INDUCES PHYSIOLOGICAL-CHANGES IN TOMATO PLANTS GROWN UNDER SALT STRESS

The effects of seed priming with 6 M NaCl solution have been investiga ted with respect to growth and physiological responses of tomato plant s (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Pera) exposed to 70 and 140 mM Na Cl nutrient solutions from 11 to 60 days after sowing. Tomato seedling s from primed seeds emerged earlier than from non-primed seeds. At 70 mM, a lower shoot and root dry weight reduction was found in plants fr om primed seeds at the different harvests (30, 45 and 60 days after so wing), while at 140 mM the positive effect of seed priming was only sh own in roots. Significant changes in Na+ and Cl- accumulation with see d priming were only found in roots at 60 days after sowing, with ion a ccumulation in roots being higher in plants grown at 70 and 140 mM fro m primed seeds. In leaves of salt-treated plants, significant increase s in sugars and organic acids with seed priming were found from 30 day s after sowing, and these increases were higher at longer treatment ti mes. In roots, however, only the organic acids tended to increase in p lants from primed seeds, although they increased less than in leaves, especially at 60 days after sowing. These results support the hypothes is that priming of seeds with NaCl induces physiological changes in th e plants, changes which are shown more clearly at advanced growth stag es.