The Boron Application Effects on Germination and Seedling Parameters of Sorghum Cultivars [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in Drought

Abstract

The aim of study was to investigate the effects of boron on germination and seedling parameters of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] under drought stress conditions. The experiment was conducted in a factorial trial in a randomized plot design with four replication in a growth chamber. In this study, three different sorghum cultivars were used. Drought conditions were performed at three different levels using PEG (0.-0.4 MPa and -0.8 MPa). Four boron doses (0-5-10-15 mM B) solutions are formed as boric acid (H3BO3). Parameters measured in Gözde 80 were superior to other cultivars under drought stress conditions. The maximum mean germination time, seedling viability index, shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, and total biomass, were detected as 4 days, 74%, 10 cm, 13 cm, 63 mg, 21 mg, and 80 mg, respectively. Differences were noted in the response of different sorghum cultivars to drought stress, and significant decreases were observed as the drought level increased. Low boron applications generally increased germination and seedling parameters compared to control under drought conditions. The boron effects applied to alleviate the drought stress effects have been noticeably positive. Compared to control conditions, the best results were also generally observed in the application of 5 mM B at a drought stress dose of -0.4 MPa. It was concluded that high doses of boron applications caused double stress with drought and were even lower than drought applications alone. It was recorded that due to the reasons listed above, careful attention should be paid to the boron doses to be applied.