The highest germination percentage was found in distilled water
(Control) in prime and unprimed seeds, followed by −0.4 Mpa and
−0.8 Mpa. Primed seeds of cumin performed significant higher germination
percentage in drought stress compared to UPS (Table 2).
The germination rate and uniformity of seeds were not significantly
affected by water stress (p < 0.05), while they were significantly
affected by interaction between prime and water stress in UPS
(T50 of 4.31 d and T10–90 of 4.41 d in primed seeds (PS2) compared
to 5.16 d and 6.08 d, respectively, in UPC seeds) (Table 2). Radicle
and plumule length of cumin seeds were significantly affected by
interaction between prime and drought stress. Radicle and plumule
length of cumin seedling were significantly decreased by increasing
drought stress in PS and UPS however, primed seed had significantly
greater radicle and plumule length. Vigor index was also
significantly affected by drought stress, priming and interaction
between prime and drought stress (p > 0.05) (Table 2). Drought
stress (−0.4 and
−0.8 Mpa) showed substantial reduction of vigor
index in PS and UPS although, unprimed seed was more susceptible
(Table 2). Results also indicated that vigor index were significantly
higher in PS1 and PS2, however there was no significant difference
between PS1 and UPS. No positive effect of seed priming in high
drought stress (−0.8 Mpa) was observed on seed vigor of cumin
compared to UPS.