M. Reza Morshedloo

In order to evaluate the effect of priming on germination and growth of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) under drought stress condition and to determine the best priming treatment under stress condition, an experiment was carried out as completely randomized design with three replications in University of Maragheh. Treatments were priming at three levels (non priming and priming with folic asid, 50 μm and 25 μm) and drought stress at seven levels (0, -0.5, -1 and -1.5 Mpa). Results showed that with increasing drought stress from 0 to -1.5 bar, germination properties such as germination percent, germination rate and weight of seedling, length of radicle and plumule, ratio of root to shoot length and seedling vigour index decreased. But, this decrease in non control treatment was more than priming treatment. The results showed that priming increased germination percentage. Results indicated that length of stem, root, and weight of seedling indices were affected by priming treatment and drought stress but in -1.5 bar were not significant This treatment enhanced germination ratio under stress (drought) and non-stress conditions. While, priming is simple, cheap and sophistcated equipments. Therefore, could be used to improved seed performance of purslane under drought stress.