The Effect of Drought Stress on Germination and Early Growth of Sesamum indicum Seedling’s Varieties under Laboratory Conditions

Environmental stresses specially drought, play an importantrole in decreasing plant growth, particularly during germinationin dry and semi dry area. To considering the effect of droughtstress caused by polyethylene glycol on germination and characteristicsof 2 spices of Sesamum indicum, we had done factorialand complete accidental plot with 4 treatments and 3 timesrepetition. Experimental treatments included osmotic potentialin 4 levels (0, -4, -6, -10 bar) which was produced by polyethyleneglycol 6000 and 2 sesame species (Safi Abadi and Dezfol). Alldata had been analyzed by SAS software and comparison ofmeans had been done by Duncan test at 5% probable level. Theresults showed that, percentage and speed of all spices' germinationdecline by osmotic potential enhancement. Other measured parameterssuch as radicle and coleoptile length, dry and wetweight declined by increasing osmotic potential as well.