Hydrotime model to evaluate the effects of a set of priming agents on seed germination of two leek cultivars under water stress

Water deficit is one of the main constraints of germination for many cultivated species. Among the techniques used to promote germination, seeds priming has been found to play a key role. In the present study, a set of different priming agents (KCl, KH2PO4, CaCl2 and PEG 8000) was tested on seeds of two leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.) cultivars ("Lungo della riviera" and "Monstrueux de Carentan") to assess the effects on germination performances both in optimal hydration condition (Ψw = 0 MPa) and under water deficit (–0.3 and –0.6 MPa). Germination percentage of "Lungo della riviera" was improved by PEG and KCl at –0.3 MPa and –0.6 MPa, respectively, whereas CaCl2 improved germination of "Monstrueux de Carentan" at –0.6 MPa. Osmopriming was beneficial in terms of germination rate although to different extent depending on genotype and priming agent. The hydrotime model showed that the effects of priming on germination rate was mostly due to a lowering of the predicted hydrotime constant (θH), whereas median base water potential Ψb (50) tended to increase following treatments albeit with some exception. In this study, hydrotime model proved to be a useful tool to test the effectiveness of different priming treatments on leek seeds and the intraspecific variability in germination capability and speed under water stress.