تشجيع إنبات حبوب القمح الصلب طويلة التخزين باستخدام تركيزات مختلفة من بولي إيثيلين جليكول 6000

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000) on the germination and seedling growth of long-stored durum wheat seeds under specific salinity stress conditions. Seeds of the “Marjawi” variety, stored since 2012, were subjected to four PEG-6000 concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 mol/L) in a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment. Physiological traits measured included germination percentage, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight, and callus size.Results indicated that 0.5 mol/L PEG-6000 produced the highest shoot length, while the control had the lowest, demonstrating PEG’s ability to enhance shoot growth at low concentrations. Root length increased significantly with PEG concentration, reaching the highest value at 1.5 mol/L (1.42 cm), reflecting its role in promoting root growth and water uptake. Furthermore, shoot and root fresh weight were highest at 1.5 mol/L, while the control recorded the lowest values, indicating PEG’s capacity to mitigate salinity stress and maintain cellular water balance. Callus size also increased significantly at 1 and 1.5 mol/L compared to the control, highlighting PEG’s effectiveness in supporting seedling growth under osmotic stress.These findings suggest that low to moderate concentrations of PEG-6000 can enhance germination and growth of long-stored durum wheat seedlings and alleviate salinity effects, whereas high concentrations may partially inhibit growth due to excessive osmotic pressure. Keywords: Durum wheat, PEG-6000, seed germination, water stress, seedling growth.