Physiological quality improvement of salt imbibed maize (Zea mays L.) seeds by priming with smoke water

Potential of smoke water to alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress on germination and growth of maize seedlings was tested. Maize seeds primed with smoke water (1:300 dilution) for 12 hours and non-primed seeds were allowed to germinate in media containing differently concentrated salt solutions (0, 60 and 120 mM NaCl) for one week. Results showed that increasing salinity stress caused a reduction in rate and total percentage of seed germination. Similarly, seedling growth was also reduced due to salt inhibiting effect. However, priming with smoke water partially alleviated the adverse effects of salt stress on both germination and growth of maize seedlings. Seed priming with smoke water did not change Na+ or K+ contents in leaves or roots of maize plants. The data suggested that growth stimulation under salt imbibition conditions due to priming with smoke water was associated with some physiological processes other than related to ion homeostasis.