Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of hydro-priming and irrigation with NaCl solution on the germination of henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) seeds. Three intervals of hydro-priming (12, 24, and 36 hours) were used, with the distilled water being changed every 12 hours, along with a control treatment (no-priming).  Three concentrations of sodium chloride NaCl (0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 M/L) were also tested, compared to a control treatment (irrigated with distilled water). Various germination parameters were measured, and the experiment was designed using a split plots design with three replications. The results showed significant differences among the hydro-priming treatments and salinity levels for the traits of days to first germination, days to 50% germination, germination rate, mean germination time, peak germination, and percentage of germination, while no significant differences were observed for uniformity and vigor of germination. The interaction effects between hydro-priming and salinity levels were not significant for any of the studied traits.

The results indicated that the number of days to first germination and the number of days to 50% germination decreased with increasing of hydro-priming time 36 hours, followed by the 24 hours and 12 hours treatments, compared to the control. Meanwhile, germination speed increased as hydropriming increased. In addition, the 36 hour hydro-priming treatment was significantly superior to the other treatment in terms of germination percentage.

The results indicated that the percentage of first germination, days to 50% germination, and germination rate decreased with increasing of hydro-priming time (36 hours), followed by the 24 hours and 12 hours treatments, compared to the control. Conversely, the 36 hours soaking treatment resulted in the highest percentage of germination.