Effects of Different Drought Stress Levels on The Germination and Early Seedling Growth in Durum Wheat

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different drought stress levels on the germination and early seedling growth of Maestrale, Meram, Levante durum wheat varieties in seed laboratory of Uludag University Agricultural Faculty in 2018. Distillate water was used as a control with 4 different drought stress levels (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 bar) in this study. Polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) was used to create drought stress. The study was carried out using two factors completely randomized design with three replication in climate cabinet 45 petri dish. 10 ml of test solution was added to each petri dish. The seeds were allowed for 250C 16 hours light, 8 hours dark the environment 8 day germination, 12 day early seedling growth. In the study germination percentage, vigour index, root length, seedling length, root wet weight, root dry weight, seedling wet weight, and seedling dry weight was investigated in the study. As a result; the increasing effect of drought stress levels has affected all varieties negatively. Especially in varieties, all properties examined after the 5.0 bar drought stress level show a significant decrease. At the level of drought stress of 7.5 bar and 10.0 bar no seedling growth was observed. In this study the variety of Maestrale is more resistant than other varieties to drought stress