AU - Ahmadpour, Raheleh AU - Salimi, Azam AU - Armand, Nezam AU - Hosseinzadeh, Saeed Reza TI - The effects of Ascophyllum nodosum extract on the stimulation of germination indices in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) under drought stress PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE TA - nbr JN - nbr VO - 6 VI - 2 IP - 2 4099 - http://nbr.khu.ac.ir/article-1-2942-en.html 4100 - http://nbr.khu.ac.ir/article-1-2942-en.pdf SO - nbr 2 ABĀ  - In this study, the effects of seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) on seed germination stimulation and growth indices in chickpea were studied. A factorial experiment was performed on the basis of a completely randomized design with 3 replications. Treatments consisted of seaweed extract at four levels (0, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5%) and drought stress at four levels (0, -0.3, -0.6 and -0.9 MP). Drought stress was induced by PEG 6000. Results showed that drought stress at -0.6 and -0.9 MP reduced the germination traits significantly compared with the controls. Seaweed extract at 2.5 and 3.5% resulted in a significant increase in the germination percentage (+18%, +24%), germination rate (+15%, +20%), seedling length (+13.3%, +15.7%), radicle area (+10.4%, +12.8%), radicle diameter (+14.2%, +25%), plumule length (+14%, +16.6%) and plumule dry weight (+10.3%, +12.6%). Under non-stress and -0.3 MP, seaweed extract levels at 2.5 and 3.5% could significantly increase the germination vigor, seed vigor index, consumed endosperm, radicle length and radicle dry weight. The application of seaweed extract at 3.5% improved the germination vigor, seed vigor index and radicle dry weight under -0.6 MP conditions. It also improved the consumed endosperm, length and radicle dry weight in samples affected by -0.9 MP conditions. According to the results, the use of seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) in the seed germination of beans is recommended for the reduction of the negative effects of drought stress. CP - IRAN IN - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran LG - eng PB - nbr PG - 206 PT - Original Article YR - 2019