Influence of boron on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A laboratory experiment was conducted at Department of Plant Science, Ambo University, Ethiopia, to study the effect of boron availability on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var Danda’a). Seeds were sown in petri dishes with varying concentrations of boron (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 mg/L) at room temperature (24 ± 2°C) in complete randomized design (CRD) with four replications. Germination percentage and rate, shoot and root lengths, shoot and root fresh and dry weights, root number, root - shoot ratio and seedling vigor index were found to decrease beyond 0.25 mg/L, and phytotoxicity increased significantly (except on shoot at 0.25 mg/L) with increase in the concentration of boron in the germinating medium. Key words: Boron, germination, phytotoxicity, seedling growth, tolerance, vigor, wheat.