The effect of temperature treatments during ‘Wielkopolski’ sunflower seed imbibition and storage on plant tolerance to chilling

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of short-term high or low temperature treatments applied during seed imbibition on plant tolerance to chilling. Chilling tolerance was also investigated on seedlings obtained from dry seeds stored at low temperatures. Sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus L. ‘Wielkopolski’) were stored at 5°C or 25°C and then subjected to low (2.5°C and 5°C) or high (35°C and 45°C) temperatures for two hours during imbibition. They were subsequently exposed to chilling (2.5°C) for three weeks. Afterwards, the seeds were transferred to 25°C for chilling injury evaluation or sown in pots and grown in the field for further growth investigation.

Keywords

• helianthus annuus l.
• high temperature
• low temperature
• stress