Effects of salinity and growth hormone (gibberellic acid) on seed germination indices and seedling growth of chick pea [Cicer arietinum (L.)]

Seed germination and seedling development in chick pea at New halfa scheme in East of Sudan were affected by salinity stress limiting. A laboratory experiments (in Petri dishes) of randomized complete blocks design with three replicates were carried out during 2023/2024 winter season at Faculty of Agriculture, Kassala University during in the New Halfa, Sudan. to investigate the effect of application of gibberellic acid (GA3) on germination and seedling-characteristics of chick pea salinity stress conditions. Treatments consisted of four levels of GA3 G0, G100, G150 and G200 corresponding to (0,100,150 and 200 p.p.m) and three levels of salinity S0, S50 andS100 corresponding to (0, 50 and 100 milimose) prepared from equal equivalents of NaCl. Statistical analysis of data showed significant effects due to application of salinity and GA3 treatments and their interactions on final emergence percentage (FEP%), Emergence index (EI), Daily germination speed (DGS) and Seedling vigor index (SVI) except mean emergence time (MET) which affected by salinity. Application of (G100 and G150) resulted in high values of FEP%, EI, DGS and SVI as compared to G200 and G0 treatments. Increasing GA3 levels to saline treated seeds significantly reduced the negative effects of salinity on most of studied traits. In conclusion, to obtain high germination of chickpea seeds, the seeds should be treated with GA3 (gebralic acid) at rate of 100to 150 p.p.m.