Changes in electrical conductance of leachates from wheat seeds pretreatedin water and sodium chloride

Wheat seeds of two different cultivars viz., Inqalab and Pasban, pretreated in water for 2, 6, 16 and 24 hours or 5, 10, 20, 30% concentration of NaCl solution for 2 days were used for studying the changes in electrical condu ctance of their leachates. Seeds pretreated in water fur upto 24 hours show ed 97-99 % germination with 35-75 % reduction in germination in NaCl pretre ated seeds. After one year storage, 2 and 6 hours pretreated seeds showed d ecreased germination and 16 and 24 hours pretreated seeds did not germinate . However, salt treatment at all its concentrations had little effect in fu rther loss in seed germination in one year old seeds. Electrical: conductan ce (E.C.) of leachates of the pretreated seeds during the initial six hours of start of imbibition did not prove a good method for the determination o f germinability of seeds before or after one year of storage. Instead of E. C, measurements, nature of electrolytes effluxed during imbibition might be indicator of the germinability status of wheat seeds.