Effect of silicon priming on germination and growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in drought condition

Drought in some agricultural areas due to global climate change is an obstacle in rice cultivation. ‘IR 64’ is one of the commonly grown rice cultivars but this cultivar is very susceptible to drought. Seed priming treatment with silicon is one way to increase rice resistance to drought stress.
This study aimed to determine the effect of seed priming using calcium silicate on germination and growth responses of rice under drought condition. This study used two types of treatments. Silicon priming concentration and drought stress in a completely randomized experimental design. The concentration of calcium silicate (0, 1, 2 and 3 mM). Drought treatment with different field capacity (100%, 80%, 60% and 40%). The observed parameters were percentage and rate of germination, plant height, number of leaves and tillers, chlorophyll, and carotenoid levels. On the fifth
day, the percentage of germination in the control, 1, 2 and 3 mM of silicon priming was 78.67%, 80%, 96% and 97.33%, respectively. Along with decreasing field capacity, rice plant growth decreases. Seed priming with calcium silicate showed a trend of increasing in percentage and rate of
germination, plant height, number of leaves and number of tillers, chlorophyll dan carotenoid levels.