the effect of seed priming on grain yield and its components of spotted bean cultivars under water deficit stress

in order to investigate the effects of water stress and seed priming on seed yield and its components of spotted bean cultivars this study was conducted. the experimental design was implemented in a factorial–split plot based on rcbd with three replications at research field of zanjan university in summer of 2006. main factor was allocated to interaction between two cultivars (tallash and c.o.s-16) and water stress at flowering stage. sub factors were four seed treatments including kno3, kcl, chlorocholine chloride (ccc) 0.5 molar and polyethylene glycol (peg6000,-24bar). analysis of variance showed that grain per pod in c.o.s-16 cultivar with kcl treatment at irrigation conditions significantly increased in comparison to control (no- priming). in tallash cultivar, kcl and kno3 treatments under water stress condition reduced 100-seed weight significantly compared to control (no-priming). in tallash cultivar under irrigation, all treatments including grain yield significantly reduced in comparison to control (no-priming). overall, effects of priming was mostly on the seedling growth and establishment and no increase on seed yields was detected.