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Thai Science and Technology Journal, 31, 1, 40-49

Background. Chufa is one of the most promising rare oilseed crops. The issues of preserving and obtaining highquality seed material are very important. The development of long-term genebank storage techniques for chufa nodules is a pressing task.Materials and methods. We studied 18 chufa germplasm accessions of various origin. The field study was conducted in 2010–2012 under the environmental conditions of Krasnodar Territory, Russia. Protein and oil content was analyzed according to the guidelines on the methods of quality control and safety of bioactive food additives (R 4.1.1672-03…, 2004); vitamin E according to the guidelines on the methods of analyzing the quality and safety of food products (Skurikhin, Tutelyan, 1987); fatty acid composition in line with IUPAC (1979) and GOST R 512677-2006, using an IIRGCS chromatograph.Results and conclusions. The study of valuable agronomic characters in chufa accessions showed that the height of plants varied from 49 to 69 cm; the number of nodules per plant from 80 to 110 pcs; the weight of nodules per plant from 18 to 49 g; the weight of nodules per plot (1 m2 ) from 101 to 393 g. Their oil content varied from 13.1 to 21.06 g/100 g, and protein content from 6 to 10%. Chufa accessions contained large amount of vitamin E: 19.23 to 35.23 mg/100 g. The content of saturated fatty acids in chufa oil was 17.75 to 20.99%, monounsaturated fatty acids from 68.21 to 71.55%, and polyunsaturated fatty acids from 9.94 to 12.17%. A technique of preparing chufa nodules for long-term storage was developed. The optimal time to assess germination energy is four days, with 11 days for germination percentage. Storage of chufa nodules for three years at a temperature of +20°C causes a decrease in their germination by 15–16%. When stored under low positive (+4°C) or negative temperatures (–18°C and –196°C), their germination percentage remained unchanged.

Langusei (Ficus minahassae (Teysm.et.Vr.) Miq) is one of the endemic flora of Sulawesi which existence is increasingly threatened. Attempts to maintain the existence of Ficus minahassae species by understanding the cultivation techniques of the Langusei species, especially regarding the appropriate germination techniques, need to be addressed. This study aims to determine the level of fruit maturity and the appropriate extraction treatment for the germination of Langusei seeds. The experimental design used in this study was a complete randomization design which is arranged in a factorial pattern. The first factor is the classification of the level of seed maturity based on fruit color categories: 1) Orange-brown fruit, 2) Orange-reddish fruit, 3) Red fruit, and 4) Red-black fruit, while the second factor is the fruit extraction treatment which consists of: 1) Extraction with dry wind treatment for 24 hours, 2) Extraction with drying treatment for 12 hours, and 3) Extraction with water treatment for 24 hours. The results showed that the fruit maturity level and the appropriate extraction treatment to produce optimal Langusei seed germination were in the (orange-brown and orange-reddish fruit) (mature fruits prior to ripening) which was soaked in water for 24 hours.

This study investigated the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on the germination and early seedling growth of Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L., Fabaceae). Pigeon pea were sown in soils containing 5 mg/l, 10 mg/l, 20 mg/l, 30 mg/l and 50 mg/l SA and a control (0 mg/l). The treatment was applied to the plant for 6 weeks from the day of planting. It was observed that the leaflet area increased more in plants that received SA treatment in low concentration (0 mg/l, 5 mg/l, 10 mg/l and 20 mg/l) than in those with higher concentration (30 mg/l and 50 mg/l). The same result was obtained in the total chlorophyll content of the leaves and in average height of the plant (p

DOR: 98.1000/2383-1251.1398.6.151.12.2.1575.41 Extended abstract Introduction: Due to their aggressive and competitive habits, weeds inhibit the growth of valuable plants. Interference in plants includes environmental competition and allelopathy (Autotoxicity and hetrotoxicity). In hetrotoxicity, chemical compounds released from plants are able to effect the neighboring plants. Proper management of weeds and the exploitation of their hetrotoxicity potential can reduce losses caused by weeds. This could also represent an effective step towards the reduction of the use of herbicides. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hetrotoxicity potential of aqueous extract of various organs of Malva sylvestris L. weed on traits of germination and photosynthetic pigments of Echinochloa crus-galli L. Material and Methods: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of hetrotoxicity potential of aqueous extract of Malva sylvestris L. weed including the stem, leaf and flower as well as their mixture on traits of germination and photosynthetic pigments of Echinochloa crus-galli L. as a completely randomized design in three replications in Weeds Science Laboratory of Gonbad Kavous University in 2017. For this experiment, aerial parts of M. sylvestris were first collected at the flowering stage from Ramian field. They were subsequently separated with great care and were powdered. Then from them, 5% suspensions (weight/volume) were prepared, using distilled water. Finally, the extract of each organ of M. sylvestris was added to Petri dishes containing E. crus-galli seeds. After the 7th day, traits such as rate and percentage of germination, radical and shoot elongation, vigor index, total content of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids were measured. Results: The results showed that various organs of M. sylvestris and their mixture had different inhibitory effects on traits of germination and seedling length of E. crus-galli weed. The highest inhibition effects on rate and germination percentage and elongation of radical and shoot of E. crus-galli were obtained using leaf extract of M. sylvestris about 64.04, 64.37, 87.69, 62.81%. In this study, radical length is more affected under hetrotoxic compounds of various organs of M. sylvestris, as compared with shoot length. Based on the results, various organs of M. sylvestris and their mixture also have different inhibitory effects on chlorophyll and carotenoid content of E. crus-galli weed. It seems that the differential effects among different organs of M. sylvestris are a function of the threshold concentration of allelochemicals to hetrotoxic compounds of the organs, which causes various response by E. crus-galli. Conclusion: Given the evidence for the effect of hetrotoxicity potential of various organs of M. sylvestris on traits of germination and pigments of chlorophyll and carotenoid of E. crus-galli and huge biomass generated, it is advisable to exploit allelochemical compounds of this plant as bio-herbicides. Highlights: 1- Study of the the effect of hetrotoxic potential of Malva sylvestris weed on germination characteristics and photosynthetic pigments of Echinochloa crus-galli in Ramian field. 2- E. crus-galli weed exhibits great sensitivity to hetrotoxic compounds of various organs of M. sylvestris, especially the leaves. 3- Allelopathic characteristics of M. sylvestris weed have huge potentials for the production of bio-herbicides.

The caper is a shrub that adapts to harsh environments when it is established, but it presents serious difficulties in its propagation, both by cuttings and by seeds. Its seeds have low germination percentages, and germination is a very slow process. Significant increases in germination have been obtained with scarification and with the addition of gibberellic acid (GA3) to the substrate, leading to the hypothesis that they have possible physical and physiological dormancy. However, the only way to examine the water-impermeability of the cover is through imbibition analysis. This study analyzes the imbibition, viability, and germination of two seed lots, obtained in different years and evaluated immediately after their collection (FS) and after being stored (7 °C) for one month (DS) and one year (SS). The seed moisture content stabilizes from the fourth day, exceeding in all cases 31% in all three seed states tested (FS, DS and SS). This allows the germination of all viable seeds, only with the addition of GA3 to the germination substrate, without the need for scarification, so that caper seeds exclusively appear to present a physiological latency. Germination decreased in storage, even with just one month. With the GA3 addition, high germination values were obtained (up to 95% in FS).

Many studies have focused on how leaf litter depth affects seed germination and seedling growth because the seedling stage is the most vulnerable portion of a plant’s life cycle. Invasive plants with the most severe ecological consequences are those that modify ecosystems, and this can occur through the formation of thick litter layers which can suppress the emergence, survival, and recruitment of native plant seedlings; in addition, in some cases, these litter layers can suppress invasive plant seedling recruitment. Prosopis juliflora is a thorny shrub that is native to arid and semi-arid portions of North America, parts of South America, and the Caribbean. It has invaded millions of hectares around the world, including Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether P. juliflora leaf litter reduces the recruitment of its own seedlings under greenhouse and field conditions in Saudi Arabia. In both the greenhouse and the field, the number of days to first emergence increased and germination percentage decreased with increasing litter depth. With the 1, 2, and 4 cm litter depth treatments, the number of viable seeds generally decreased, with no emergence, germination, or viable seeds detected for the 8 cm litter depth treatment. Results of this study reveal that increasing the depth of P. juliflora leaf litter suppresses the survival and recruitment of its own seedlings. Future search should assess the actual mechanisms through which P. juliflora seeds are suppressed, the role of allelopathic compounds in this process, and whether viable seeds are dormant and will persist in the soil seed bank.

The phenotypic characteristics of forest seeds are the basis of germplasm innovation, genetic improvement, and biological research, and they also are the reference for the development of seed orchards. In this study, we analyzed seed quantity characteristics, phenotypic differentiation, and variation patterns in three seed-bearing clones from different crown layers of the Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) orchard located in Fujian Province, China. We divided the clones into six layers according to crown height and the sunny and shady sides, 14 phenotypic characteristics, and five quality indexes, and we measured the germination rate of seeds. The rate of seeds filled with tannin-like substance in the upper sunny layer was low, but it was high in the lower shady layer. The germination rate was highest in the upper sunny layer and lower in the middle and lower shady sides. Values of most of the 14 phenotypic traits tested differed significantly among clones and layers. The average value of the phenotypic differentiation coefficient was 81.16%, indicating that variation among clones explained most of the total phenotypic variation. The repeatability of the 14 phenotypic traits was high (R > 0.80), indicating that these traits are highly heritable. The phenotypic characteristics of cones and seeds varied from 6.86% to 129.51%. The 14 phenotypic traits exhibited different degrees of correlation, and seed weight, seed circumference, seed width, and seed area can be used to predict other seed traits. However, the correlations between cone traits were not strong. Our results show that when establishing a dwarfing Chinese fir seed orchard, the distribution and variation of seeds in different crown layers of clones should be considered, and clones with more cones in the lower crown layer should be selected as parents.

Seed germination is a key stage in the life history of plants, which has a crucial effect on plant community structure. Climate change has substantially altered the surface soil temperature and light availability, which can affect seed germination. However, whether the seed germination of different functional groups is affected by the interactions of light and temperature remains unclear. Under laboratory conditions, we examined the effects of low temperature and darkness, as well as their interaction, on the seed germination of 16 species belonging to three plant functional groups (annual and biennials, perennial grasses, and perennial forbs) in a typical steppe, Northern China. We found that low temperature had a significant negative effect on seed germination of all species. Low temperature significantly decreased the final germination percentage and germinative force of the three plant functional groups, and the germination duration of perennial grasses. Darkness significantly decreased the germinative force of perennial forbs and total seeds, and the germination duration of perennial grasses. The interactive effects of light and temperature on the seed final germination percentage and germinative force of perennial grass indicated that darkness strengthened the inhibitory effect of low temperature on the seed germination of the grass functional group. Our study indicate that the seed germination of different plant functional groups varied greatly in response to changing environmental conditions. Our results suggest that future climate change could alter the regeneration and species composition of plant communities through changing seed germination.

Background. Studying the effect of phytohormones and light on the germination of apple pollen with reduced viability on an artificial nutrient medium is of importance, because it may facilitate an increase in the germination percentage among plant samples promising for breeding after their long-term preservation under low temperatures.Materials and methods. Pollen viability of the apple-tree cultivar ‘Krasnolistnaya’ was measured by germinating it on an artificial nutrient medium containing 10% sucrose solution and 0.8% agar. Drops of a distilled water suspension of pollen with added phytohormones were applied to the surface of the nutrient medium. Pollen was germinated in the dark (24 hours in a thermostat at 21°C) and under light (in an artificial light chamber at 21°C with a photoperiod of 16 hours of light / 8 hours of darkness). Results. Pollen of cv. ‘Krasnolistnaya’ with reduced viability most effectively germinated with the use of gibberellin at a concentration of 1 mg/l and 10 mg/l: the germination percentage was 22.3±0.8% and 21.8±1.3% respectively (сf. 10.9±1.5% in the reference). The most effective combination of phytohormones was gibberellin 10 mg/l + kinetin 10 mg/l – the percentage of germination was 22.8±6.3%; kinetin 1 mg/l + indolylbutyric acid 1 mg/l – the percentage of germination was 17.5±5.9% vs. 10.9±1.5% in the reference.Conclusion. Phytohormones were observed to have a significant effect on the germination of apple pollen with reduced viability. Effective concentrations and combinations of phytohormones that promote the germination of pollen with reduced viability have been identified. Light does not affect the germination of pollen with reduced viability.

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are multifunctional flowering plants belonging to the Asteraceae family, well-known and widespread for their ornamental value and many other uses. In this study, morphological differences and genetic relationships among 21 cultivars of three species of marigold (Tagetes patula, T. erecta and T. tenuifolia) were analysed. Results have revealed obvious differences among genotypes, starting from the morphological characteristics of the seeds and their capacity to germinate to adult plant morphological characteristics, both between cultivars and species. The genotypic differences were manifested in considerable variation in the development of phenological stages and the main morphological traits of plants and flowers. PCA and hierarchical clustering analyses of morphological traits revealed a homogeneous grouping of cultivars within each species, except for Orion, belonging to T. patula, which was closer to T. erecta cultivars. A subset of 13 cultivars from the three species was subjected to SSR analysis, revealing considerable genetic diversity and good separation between T. patula on the one side and T. erecta and T. tenuifolia on the other. The observed heterozygosity was much lower than the expected heterozygosity, revealing a high degree of fixation. The results reveal that the three species evaluated have considerable morphological and genetic diversity, which has important implications for assessing genetic diversity, conserving germplasm and selecting parents for new breeding works in marigolds.

Extended abstract Introduction: Drought stress is one of the major problems in sugar beet production in Iran, and is the most important limiting factor for germination and establishment of sugar beet in the early stages of growth. Seed priming with chemical, nutrient elements or pre-chilling techniques are the most effective methods to improve germination percentage and speed, leading to uniform and tolerant seedlings in adverse environmental conditions. Material and Methods: In order toassess the effect of cold stratification and HCl treatments on the germination of sugar beet seed, cv. Ekbatan, under drought stress conditions, a RCBD factorial experiment with three replications was conducted in Seed Science and Technology Lab of Shahrekord University. The first factor was stratificationintwo levels; the second factor was seven levels of pretreatments including 2,4and6hours’ soaking in water and 0.03 HCL accompanied with control, and the third factor was four drought levels (control, -2, -4, -6 bar). Result: Compared with the control, seed germination percentage and germination rate increased by at least 5-fold, relative germination by 50% and root and shoot length by 10%, due to stratification and duration of exposure to HCl treatments. With no stratification, germination traits increased with increases in exposure time in acid, and the highest values were obtained for the seeds exposed to HCl 0.03 normal for 6 hours. Although under optimal conditions, the effect of HCl was compensated for by stratification, in drought conditions, the highest values ​​were observed in stratified seeds and those placed in acid. Conclusions: Since successful establishment of sugar beet seedlings at drought stress conditions is critical to achieving optimum density and yield, application of stratification treatments for one week and seed exposure to HCl increased the seed performance under stress conditions. This trend continued to increase with drought stress intensity, and placement of seeds in acid doubled seed germination in -2 bar drought conditions, which continued by 4 times in -6 bar, compared with stratified control seeds. Compared to separate application of the treatments, application of stratification and HCl treatments had synergistic effects on sugar beet seed performance, especially under drought stress conditions. Highlights: Cold stratification and hydrochloric acid treatments increase the efficiency of sugar beet seeds under drought stress conditions. Cold stratification and Hydrochloric acid treatment have a synergistic effect on sugar beet seeds.

Extended abstract Introduction: Generally speaking, plants contain various organic compounds which could influence the behavior of plant communities. These compounds are basically secondary metabolites which are found in various parts of plants such as rhizomes, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. The objective of the present study was to investigate the hetrotoxicity potential of different organs of Euphorbia maculata weed on traits of germination, chlorophyll and carotenoids pigments of wheat cultivars. Material and Methods: In this experiment Euphorbia maculate weed was collected at full maturity stage from the Moghan region, located in Ardebil Province. Then various organs of Euphorbia maculate such as stems, leaves, and fruits were separated from each other. Another treatment namely, a mixture of different organs, was also made. This experiment was carried out as a factorial, adopting a completely randomized design with three replications in Weeds Science Laboratory of Gonbad–e- Kavous University in 2017. The first factor was wheat cultivar at two levels, consisting of Morvarid and Gonbad and organs in 5 levels (control, stem, leaf, fruit and their mixture, with equal amount of each) were the second factor. For the bioassay experiment, from each organ and their mixture, 5% suspension (w/v) was prepared, using distilled water. 10 ml of concentrated extract of each organ was applied on 50 sterilized seeds of cultivars of interest in a petri dish containing filter paper. After 7 days, traits such as rate and percentage of germination, radical length, shoot length, seed length vigor index, chlorophyll a, b and total content and carotenoids content were measured. Results: The results showed that unlike the Morvarid cultivar, germination rate and germination percentage of the Gonbad cultivar significantly decreased, using aqueous extract of various organs of Euphorbia maculata and their mixture. The results also showed that the inhibition effect of fruit and leaf organs on the rate and germination percentage of the Gonbad cultivar were higher than that of other organs and their mixture. According to the results, stem, leaf and fruit extracts had a higher toxic effect on the radical length, compared with the shoot length of the Gonbad cultivar. The results of mean comparison also showed that seed length vigor index of the Morvarid and Gonbad cultivars decreased, due to hetrotoxic compounds of all organs of Euphorbia maculate. In terms of this trait, the highest significant decrease was found in the Gonbad cultivar, which was about 84.13%, compared with the control. In this study, the decreases in the photosynthesis pigments of total chlorophyll and carotenoids in both cultivars with aqueous extract of stem, leaf and fruit organs of Euphorbia maculata were different. The highest decrease of pigments was found in the fruit organ of the Morvarid cultivar. However, aqueous extract of mixed organs had a significant decrease and increase on the content of these pigments in the Morvarid and the Gonbad cultivars, respectively, as compared with the control. This may be due to differences in the quantity and quality of some allelochemicals as well as different reactions of the cultivars. Conclusions: Given the evidence of the hetrotoxicity potential of various organs of Euphorbia maculata weed on traits of germination as well as the chlorophyll and carotenoids content of wheat cultivars, it is advisable to exploit huge biomass generated by these luxuriantly growing weeds as bio-compounds in sustainable agriculture. Highlights: 1- Study of allelopathic effect of Euphorbia maculate on various wheat cultivars in farms of the Moghan plain. 2- Aqeous extract of Euphorbia maculate organs significantly reduces germination as well as seedling growth of the Gonbad cultivar.

Extended abstract Introduction: Niger with the scientific name of Guizotia abyssinica (L.F.) Cass. belongs to the Asteraceae family. Niger seed contains 50-75 percentage of oil which is used in the treatment of rheumatism and burns, and as a substitute for olive oil. Its meal is also used for animal feeding. Environmental crises sustained by living systems are considered as stress. Drought stress is one of the non-biological stresses. Yield reduction due to this type of stress is reported to be higher than that related to other stresses. Since plant development starts from germination and for survival, the seeds should germinate to adapt themselves to the environmental conditions and establish themselves in the soil, the success of passing the germination stage will play an important role in other stages of plant establishment. Different studies have shown the positive effect of magnetic field on increasing germination characteristics. In this regard, applying a magnetic field before planting is a safe and inexpensive method for increasing germination and seedling growth. Seed priming is useful for a faster and more powerful response to drought stress and among different types of priming, physical priming is of particular importance for ecological reasons and for not having a negative impact on the environment. Materials and Methods: In order to study the effect of seed physical pre-treatment and drought stress on seed germination characteristics of Niger, an experiment was conducted as factorial in a completely randomized design with three replications at the Research Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology at Shahrekord University. Different magnetic field intensities at five levels including (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mT (at 5 minutes period)) as the first factor and drought stress at five levels (0, -4, -5, -6 and -7 bar Polyethylene Glycol6000) as the second factor were considered. Results: The results of variance analysis showed that the effect of drought stress, magnetic field intensity and their interaction were significant on all of the evaluated characteristics. The maximum germination percentage and rate and the minimum of T10 and T50 were observed in 50 mT field intensity under normal conditions. The minimum germination index under normal conditions and the maximum length and shoot dry weight under non-treatment conditions and the maximum root and shoot fresh weight in 200 mT field intensity under normal conditions were obtained. The maximum root length and dry weight were observed in 50 and 100 mT field intensity under normal conditions, respectively. Conclusions: Seeds which cross through a magnetic field, become swollen and probably as a result, the activity of auxin hormone in these seeds increases. In addition, the respiration level also increases in them and they have higher levels of energy and activity, which results in faster and more uniform germination and the creation of stress-resistant plants. In this study, although by increasing drought stress intensity, negative effects were observed on germination characteristics, the magnetic field under these conditions improved some germination characteristics. In general, for the purpose of improving germination and alleviating drought stress conditions, for 0, -5 and -7 bar potentials, the field intensity of 50 mT and for -4 and -6 bar potentials, the field intensity of 150 mT are recommended. Highlights: The effect of magnetic field on germination of multipurpose seed of Niger plant. The effect of drought stress on germination of multipurpose seed of Niger plant, given Iran’s being located in dry belt. The positive effect of magnetic field on germination of Niger seed to improve the negative effects of drought stress.

Given the medicinal and ornamental properties of Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), and given that there are some problems in its propagation, which is due to the hard cover of the seeds and immature embryo, working out techniques that can facilitate the process of seeds’ germination is of great import. Thus, the present study sought to identify the best method for the purpose of breaking the seed dormancy of 8 species of native hawthorn of Iran. The study was carried out as factorial with a completely randomized design and had three replications. The first, second and third factors were, respectively species of Hawthorn in eight levels, sulfuric acid in three levels (half and an hour versus non-treated (control) and chilling treatment in three levels (90, 105 and 120 days, respectively). The results showed that the highest percentage of germination (32%) and germination rate (9.1 day-1) were obtained under the interaction of sulfuric acid treatment for one hour, followed by a 120-day chilling period in C.turkestanica, which had a significant difference with other treatments. It is concluded that hawthorn seeds have deep endocarp and physiological dormancy. The interaction of Sulfuric acid treatment and moist chilling play an important role in increasing the percentage and speed of germination of Hawthorn seeds. Highlights: Achieving the best way to break the dormancy of Hawthorn seeds in different species and genotypes. Shortening the seeds’ germination time.

Seed germination is the critical stage for species survival. Salinity affects germination and seedling growth and yield of several crop species, such as broad bean. That is why this study was carried to evaluate the effects of NaCl on seed germination and influence of salicylic acid on seed in order to improving salt tolerant on broad bean. Vicia faba L. is an important pulse crop in the Mediterranean region. In many cases broad bean is grown on saline soils where growth and yield are limited by salinity. The results showed that Irrigation with saline water significantly reduced all seed germination parameters in comparison with the respective control. Alleviation of growth arrest was observed with exogenous applications of salicylic acid (SA) under salt stress conditions. Overall, the positive effect of SA towards resistance to the salinity of V. faba L. will provide some practical basis for V. faba L cultivation.

Efficient management of ‘active’ seed banks – specifically aimed at the short-term storage at room temperature of seeds to be used locally in conservation/regeneration programmes of endemic or endangered plant species – requires establishing the optimal storage time to maintain high seed viability, for each stored species. In this work, germination of seeds of the halophytes Thalictrum maritimum, Centaurea dracunculifolia and Linum maritimum has been investigated. The seeds had been stored for different periods of time in the seed bank of ‘La Albufera’ Natural Park (Valencia, SE Spain) after collection in salt marshes of the Park, where small populations of the three species are present. Seeds of T. maritimum and C. dracunculifolia have a relatively short period of viability at room temperature, and should not be stored for more than three years. On the other hand, L. maritimum seeds maintain a high germination percentage and can be kept at room temperature for up to 10 years. T. maritimum seeds, in contrast to those of the other two species, did not germinate in in vitro tests nor when sown directly on a standard substrate, unless a pre-treatment of the seeds was applied, mechanical scarification being the most effective. These results will help to improve the management of the seed bank, to generate more efficiently new plants for reintroduction and reinforcement of populations of these species in their natural ecosystems within the Natural Park.

Micronutrients play a great role in the production of high quality seeds, especially in terms of germination. Therefore, providing seeds with sufficient amounts of these is an important consideration in seed production. The present study was conducted as two separate experiments in the Seed Laboratory of Yasouj University in 2015. In the first experiment, the sesame seeds (cv. Darab 1) obtained from a previous split plot experiment based on RCBD, consisting of three irrigation levels (after 75, 110 and 145 mm evaporation from class A pan) and four foliar applications comprising water, zinc sulfate, boric acid and mixture of zinc sulfate and boric acid, were investigated in germination experiments in the minimum temperature (i.e., 15°C). The second experiment was a factorial based on RCD with three replications. The first factor in the eight levels included seeds soaked in water, ZnSo4, H3Bo3 and ZnSo4 + H3Bo3 and seeds with high contents of Zn (159 m Kg-1), B (15.3 m Kg-1) and Zn (139.5 m Kg-1)+ B (14 m Kg-1) and dry see as the control. The second factor was accelerated aging periods at three levels (0, 2 and 4 days) at 45°c and RH = 100%. The results showed that with a delay in irrigation time, compared with water foliar application, foliar application of micronutrients (Zn, B, Zn+B), and significantly increased germination traits. The results also suggested that, compared with seeds soaked in nutrients, seeds with high Zn and B contents significantly increased germination indices and antioxidant (catalase and peroxidase) activities, especially under accelerated seed aging. Highlights: The role of maternal sesame plant (cv. Darab 1) foliar application by zinc and boron elements in germination, vigour and storage capability of seeds was studied. The effect of seeds soaked in solutions enriched with zinc and boron elements on germination, vigour and storage capability of seeds was examined.

We tested the influence of a synthetically-produced brassinosteroid compound (2α,3α,17βtrihydroxy-5α-androstan-6-one) on seed germination in Norway spruce, Scots pine, Douglas fir and English oak. Before germination, 400 seeds of each species were steeped in a brassinosteroid solution and then placed for germination in a growth chamber under (i) optimal humidity and (ii) temporary drought stress (except for oak). Drought stress significantly reduced the germination capacity and germination rate in the control treatments of Norway spruce, Scots pine and Douglas fir. Nonetheless, the application of brassinosteroid significantly reduced the drought-stress effects in seeds of Norway spruce and Scots pine. The drought-stressed Douglas fir did not respond positively to the brassinosteroid application. English oak was germinated only under the optimal humidity regime and no differences in germination were detected between the control and brassinosteroid-treated acorns.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T16:19:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-01-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2019-10-09T18:25:51Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0102-33062016000100147.pdf: 893646 bytes, checksum: b82406cfd7934b674afbf2bb1c34d6d1 (MD5) Fire plays an important role in several grassland ecosystems in the world. Fire can trigger germination in several species, by breaking the physical dormancy of their seeds. Thus, we hypothesized that exposure to high temperatures during fire would break seed dormancy and enhance germination. We tested the effect of high temperatures on the germination of six species of legumes from Brazilian subtropical grasslands. We used heat shock experiments with the following treatments: 60, 90, 120 and 150 degrees C for one minute. Seeds were then placed to germinate for 60 days in 12/12 hours light/dark and 20/30 degrees C. Germination was generally low for all study species. Most species was not affected by heat shock treatments. However, Stylosanthes montevidensis was the only species that had its physical dormancy broken when exposed to 120 degrees C. The seeds of all the other species were neither stimulated nor killed by high temperatures. Although the exposure to high temperatures did not affect the germination of the study species (except for one), it also did not kill seeds, thereby showing that seeds are resistant to fire. Therefore, the rapid passage of fire in these grasslands is not sufficient to break the dormancy of most of the studied species of legumes. Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Bot, Av 24A,1515, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol & Zootecnia, Passeio Moncao 226, BR-15385000 Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Bot, Av 24A,1515, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol & Zootecnia, Passeio Moncao 226, BR-15385000 Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T16:19:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-01-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2019-10-09T18:25:51Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0102-33062016000100131.pdf: 899512 bytes, checksum: 65bf9b6a5414f2e19e976c2ed28c2582 (MD5) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) programme FORESTERRA ERA-Net (Medwildfirelab) programme PROMETEO II (Desestres) The Cerrado is threatened by wildfires and invasive species. We aimed to evaluate in laboratory conditions whether temperature fluctuation at the soil surface, resulting from the absence of vegetation due to fire, can affect the germination of Urochloa decumbens and U. brizantha, two invasive African grasses. Seeds of both species were submitted to simulations: 1) temperature during fire at 1cm belowground (F); 2) temperature fluctuation at 1cm belowground without vegetation cover for a month (TF); 3) (F) + (TF); 4) control at 25 degrees C. After treatments, seeds were put to germinate at 25 degrees C for 40 days. We had four replicates per treatment and three temporal replicates. We compared germination percentage and the mean germination time among treatments using ANOVA. The treatments TF and F+TF had the highest germination values for both species. The results showed that fire per se could not stimulate seed germination, however, they suggest that a disturbance that produces a pattern of temperature fluctuation is able to break dormancy and enhance seed germination and, consequently, increase the invasiveness of the study species. Vegetation gaps resulting from disturbance may become new sites of invasion. This information is important for making management decisions regarding the control of these species. Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Bot, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Fdn Ctr Estudios Ambientales Mediterraneo CEAM, Valencia 46980, Spain Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Bot, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil CAPES: CAPES/DGU 227/2010 programme FORESTERRA ERA-Net (Medwildfirelab): PCIN-2013-140-C04-03 programme PROMETEO II (Desestres): es/2014/038

Helichrysum amorginum is a perennial shrub, endemic on the Greek island of Amorgos and used for medicinal, cosmetic and ornamental purposes. Information concerning germination behavior and seedling survival is considered essential for the establishment and cultivation of wild species. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature and light on germination of Helichrysum amorginum seeds. A set of experiments was conducted under completely randomized design with four replications of 200 seeds at three different suboptimal germination temperatures (15, 20 and 25°C) in light and dark conditions for 10 days. Seed material was collected from two different fields of the island (Aegiali and Katapola). The germination performance was evaluated by final germination percentage and mean germination time. The effect of temperature on seed germination percentage and mean germination time was significant in all cases. The presence of light enhanced germination, especially at the optimum temperature of 20°C. In most cases the mean germination time increased at the lower temperature of 15°C. Seeds from Aegiali exhibited higher germination ability than the seed lot from Katapola. Knowledge of seed germination behaviour is of major importance in order to establish effective protocols for seed propagation in Helichrysum amorginum.

The effect of cadmium ions (from 10–6 to 10–3 M) on seed germination and early development of seedlings was studied in Karelian birch B. pendula Roth var. carelica (Mercklin) Hämet-Ahti and silver birch Betula pendula Roth. It has been shown that even low concentrations of cadmium reduce the germination energy, germination percentage, hypocotyl and germinal root sizes. The most toxic concentration of cadmium was 10–3 M, and the suppression of seed germination was less pronounced when the exposure lasted for 3 days vs. 7 days. A longer impact (15 days) of cadmium ions completely inhibited embryo development, and the highest concentration (10–3 M) proved to be lethal to the seeds. Certain quantitative differences were revealed in the reaction of Karelian birch and silver birch plants to the action of cadmium ions, which obviously reflect the biological distinctions between these forms of birch.

La quinua es un cultivo con alto potencial, por sus propiedades nutricionales, adaptación a diferentes condiciones edafoclimáticas y diversidad genética. La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar la viabilidad y el porcentaje de germinación de semillas de quinua (Chenopodium quinoa), en cuatro accesiones, procedentes de cultivos tradicionales, posterior a un almacenamiento en condiciones de frío. Las temperaturas de almacenamiento fueron 4-20 y -80°C, durante un tiempo de diez meses, con periodos de evaluación cada dos meses. La viabilidad inicial de las semillas estuvo inferior al 71% para todas las accesiones y con humedad en semilla, cercana al 10%. Posterior al almacenamiento, los resultados indicaron un incremento en el porcentaje de germinación, presentando una mejor respuesta el cultivar Nariño, caracterizada con un menor nivel de humedad (10,66%), previo a los tratamientos. La semilla de quinua presenta dormancia secundaria frente a condiciones adversas en su almacenamiento, ya que, posterior al uso de frío, se presentó mejor respuesta en germinación. De otro lado, bajo almacenamiento en condiciones ambientales, la quinua pierde su potencial germinativo en cortos periodos de tiempos, por lo tanto, se recomienda su almacenamiento en condiciones de frío y con un contenido de humedad de la semilla cercana al 10%. Quinoa is a crop with high potential due to its nutritional properties, wide adaptation to edaphoclimatic conditions and genetic diversity. This research aimed at evaluating four accessions of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) seeds, as well as their viability and germination percentage after cold storage. Storage temperatures and time were 4-20, -80°C and 10 months, with evaluation every two months. Initial seed viability was lower than 71% for all accessions and moisture content 10%. After storage, all accessions showed an increase in germination percentage. The accession with the greatest increase in terms of germination and the lowest moisture level (10,66%) before treatments, was the Nariño cultivar. Quinoa seed showed a secondary dormancy because of adverse storage conditions, this was inferred from the better response in germination after cold storage treatment. On the other hand, quinoa loses its germinative potential in short periods of time when stored under environmental conditions, therefore, regarding its storage, cool conditions and seed moisture content near 10% are recommended. Incluye referencias bibliográficas

Storing moringa seeds soon after harvesting at a specific storage temperature and for specific storage duration may affect the seed quality and germination percentages of the seed. Thus, an experiment was carried out to determine the storage temperature conditions and storage duration that may be used by small holder farmers when storing moringa seed to achieve optimum germination percentages. The results of the study indicated that management of storage temperature and storage duration of seed has potential to improve the seed quality and germination percentage of moringa seed. Across all the treatments, the results suggest that the quality of the seed improves with prolonged storage period up until three months, thereafter the quality of seed decrease with storage time unless stored under low temperatures (100C). Good germination results were achieved after storing the seeds at a storage temperature of 250C (ambient temperature) for a duration of 60 days.

Bu çalışmada,Derici Sumağına (Rhus coriaria L.) ekimdenönce uygulanabilecek katlama şekli ve süresinin tohumların çimlenmesiüzerindeki etkileri araştırılmıştır. Deneme Eğirdir Orman Fidanlığı’ndakurulmuştur. Bu kapsamda Bucak-Burdur orijinli tohumlar 2 farklı ortamda (açıkhava koşullarında ve +4°C de) 30, 60 ve 90 günlük sürelerle katlamayaalındıktan sonra açık alan koşulları altında polietilen tüplere ekilmiştir.Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, en yüksek çimlenme (%34) 5 nolu işlemde (açık havakoşullarında 90 gün katlama), en düşük çimlenme ise (%17.5) 6 nolu işlemde(+4°C de 90 gün katlama) elde edilmiştir. Bu nedenle, erken ekim koşullarınınmümkün olmadığı dönemlerde yeni ve daha güvenilir sonuçlar elde edilinceyekadar Eğirdir Orman Fidanlığında yürütülen sumak fidanı üretim çalışmalarında 5nolu işlem önerilebilir., In this study, the effects of stratification treatments andperiods could be applied before sowing and their periods on the germination ofTanner's sumac’s (Rhus coriaria L.) seed were investigated. The experiment wasestablished in Eğirdir Forest Nursery. Seeds from Bucak-Burdur were sown inpolyethylene tubes after stratification for 30, 60 and 90 days at 2 differentenvironments (open field conditions and +4°C in a refrigerator) under openfield conditions in Eğirdir Forest Nursery. According to the results, thehighest germination (34%), 5th process (stratification at open field conditionsfor 90 days), the lowest germination (17.5%, 6th process (stratification at+4°C for 90 days) were obtained. Therefore, until new and more reliable resultsare obtained during the periods when early sowing conditions are impossible, itcan be suggested 5th process for seedling production studies of Rhus coriariain in Eğirdir forest nursery

The allelopathic effects of the invasive Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. was studied on seed germination and seedling growth of Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del., Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne, Cenchrus ciliaris L. and Enteropogon rupestris (J.A. Schmidt) A. Chev. Vegetation sampling in different habitat types in the area was made to identify the target plant species. Comparison of canopy characteristics among P. juliflora, A. nilotica and A. tortilis was also made to observe differences if any in canopy closure. P. juliflora was recorded in all habitat types in highest density and observed affecting the plant diversity there in. Its growth characteristics and dense thicket formation restrict light to the ground flora and hence diminishes plant diversity. Leaf, bark and root aqueous extract of P. juliflora at 0, 0.5, 0.8, 1, 2 and 6% were prepared and their effect studied on germination percentage and seedling growth of the study plant species. Germination of A. nilotica and A. tortilis was not affected by all aqueous extracts of different organ parts of P. juliflora while leaf and root extracts at higher concentrations inhibited germination of C. ciliaris and E. rupestris. Shoot and root growth of the study species were inhibited by leaf and root at higher concentrations. Seed germination of all species except A. nilotica was inhibited by soil amended with decaying plant parts and under canopy soil. The effect is species specific and annuals (grasses and herbs) were affected more than perennials. Leaf seems to contain greater number/ amount of inhibitors than does root and bark. Bark seems to contain the least. Heavy accumulation of toxic substances at under canopy soil of P. juliflora may be one of the reasons for its invasiveness and low plant diversity.

Seed dispersal plays an important role in the persistence, regeneration and maintenance of plant communities. It is therefore not surprising that much attention has been paid to the germination potential of seeds ingested by frugivorous animals. Consequently the aim of this study was to determine what effect ingestion of seeds by Knysna Turacos (Tauraco corythaix) has on the germination rate and germination percentage of indigenous South African tree species. Fruits from twelve tree species were fed to the Turacos in separate trials and seed retention times were determined as it has been suggested that a longer seed retention time may increase germination rates. At the end of each trial, seeds were extracted from excreta of individual birds and planted in trays containing potting soil. Germination was recorded daily until 14 days of no germination. Knysna Turacos seed retention times were in the range of those obtained by other studies, with Ficus sur seeds having the fastest retention times (12.4 ± 0.8 min) and Celtis africana the slowest (34.6 ± 5.6 min). Seed ingestion by Knysna Turacos did not influence the rate at which seeds germinated in 83% of the tree species, but ingested Ficus lutea and Ficus natalensis seeds germinated significantly sooner than whole fruit seeds. Future studies relating the composition of indigenous forest fruits to food preferences of Knysna Turacos may give insight into their role as potential seed dispersers of indigenous fruiting tree species.

Background Seed dormancy is an adaptive trait employed by flowering plants to avoid harsh environmental conditions for the continuity of their next generations. In cereal crops, moderate seed dormancy could help prevent pre-harvest sprouting and improve grain yield and quality. We performed a genome wide association study (GWAS) for dormancy, based on seed germination percentage (GP) in freshly harvested seeds (FHS) and after-ripened seeds (ARS) in 350 worldwide accessions that were characterized with strong population structure of indica, japonica and Aus subpopulations. Results The germination tests revealed that Aus and indica rice had stronger seed dormancy than japonica rice in FHS. Association analysis revealed 16 loci significantly associated with GP in FHS and 38 in ARS. Three out of the 38 loci detected in ARS were also detected in FHS and 13 of the ARS loci were detected near previously mapped dormancy QTL. In FHS, three of the association loci were located within 100 kb around previously cloned GA/IAA inactivation genes such as GA2ox3, EUI1 and GH3-2 and one near dormancy gene, Sdr4. In ARS, an association signal was detected near ABA signaling gene ABI5. No association peaks were commonly detected among the sub-populations in FHS and only one association peak was detected in both indica and japonica populations in ARS. Sdr4 and GA2OX3 haplotype analysis showed that Aus and indica II (IndII) varieties had stronger dormancy alleles whereas indica I (IndI) and japonica had weak or non-dormancy alleles. Conclusion The association study and haplotype analysis together, indicate an involvement of independent genes and alleles contributing towards regulation and natural variation of seed dormancy among the rice sub-populations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-016-0340-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility to predict by mathematical models seed germination percentage and days to germination on the basis of temperature. Seed from legumes and cereals were used: faba bean (Vicia faba L.), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.) and some cereals; bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), durum wheat (Triticum durum L.), Barleys (Hordeum vulgare conv. distichon and Hordeum vulgare conv. hexastichon), oat (Avena sativa L.), Triticale (Triticale withmack), Rice (Oryza sativa L.), rye (Secale cereale L.), pop corn (Zea mays everta Sturt.), maize (Zea mays indentata Sturt.) and Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense L.) was investigated by mathematical models based on temperature. For this reason a model D = a-(bxT)+(cxT2) produced earlier for predicting the time to emergence in relation to temperature for some vegetable crops was utilized. The final structure of the model did not change for predicting the days to germination of the tried grain legumes while it changed to GP = a+(bxT)-(cxT2) for predicting Germination Percentage (GP) of the crops tried. It was found that the new mathematical models obtained after adapting the present data to the above mentioned model could be applied in terms of the studied parameters. In addition, optimum temperature for seed germination was calculated by using the coefficients T0 = [-b/(2xc)] obtained from the regression models of the days to germination. © 2007 Academic Journals Inc.

Sengon (Albizia falcataria ) is the most potential species that develop in community forest with agroforestry system. The problem of sengon plantation was the attack of pest and diseases, that influence the decrease of productivity of sengon. To increase the productivity of sengon can be start from the seed for example through increase the viability and vigor of seed. In seed crops, technique irradiation of gamma rays have been used as seed treatment to increase vigor and quality of seeds, but on forest seeds is still limited information. The purpose of this research is to analyze the effectiveness of the irradiation of gamma rays to increase viability of sengon seed. The research design was factorials in randomized completely design , which consist of 2 factors, first factor was the origin of seeds and second factor was the dosage of radiation. The results show that the origin of seed and dosage of gamma rays gave a significant responses to germination percentage(DB) and speed of germination (KCT). In general the irradiation of gamma rays can increase the germination percentage (DB) and speed of germination (KCT).. The increasing of DB and KCT start at dosage 5 Gy, and continue increase until 90 Gy. The viability of seed raise from 13.5 % - 50,9 % from control. The technique of gamma rays irradiation in low dosage can be used to increase viability and vigor of sengon seed.Sengon (Albizia falcataria) merupakan salah satu jenis andalan di hutan rakyat, pada umumnya jenis ini ditanam menggunakan system agroforestry. Permasalahan pada tanaman sengon saat ini adalah banyaknya hama dan penyakit yang menyerang tegakan sengon, sehingga mengakibatkan menurunnya produktivitas. Peningkatan produktivitas dapat diupayakan sejak dari tingkat benih yaitu melalui peningkatan viabilitas dan vigor benih. Pemanfaatan teknik irradiasi sinar gamma digunakan sebagai seed treatment untuk meningkatkan vigor dan kualitas benih sudah banyak dilakukan pada benih tanaman pertanian, namun pada benih tanaman hutan masih terbatas. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengetahui efektivitas penerapan teknik irradiasi sinar gamma untuk meningkatkan viabilitas benih sengon. Rancangan penelitian yang digunakan adalah Rancangan Faktorial dalam Acak Lengkap, terdiri dari 2 faktor, yaitu asal benih dan faktor lainnya adalah dosis radiasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa asal benih dan dosis sinar gamma berpengaruh nyata terhadap daya berkecambah dan kecepatan berkecambah benih sengon. Secara umum menunjukkan adanya peningkatan dalam perkecambahan yaitu daya berkecambah (DB) dan kecepatan berkecambah (KCT) akibat pemberian perlakuan irradiasi dengan sinar gamma. Peningkatan DB dan KCT mulai terlhat pada dosis 5 Gy, dan terus meningkat hingga dosis 90 Gy. Daya Berkecambah benih meningkat antara 13,5 % – 50,9 % dari kontrol. Hal ini berarti teknik irradiasi sinar gamma pada dosis rendah dapat digunakan utnuk meningkatkan viabilitas dan vigor benih sengon.

Chilli, Caps/Cum annum L. cultlvatien has existed for several hundred years as a sustainable form of agriculture in Malaysia and in many other countries. It is an annual herbaceous vegetable and spice grown in both tropical and sub-tropical regions and belongs to family Solanaceae. The sustainability of chilli-based agriculture is threatened by a number of factors. Main biotic stresses such as bacterial wilt, anthracnose, viruses andseveral insect pests have been reported to impair the crop productivity. The fungal disease is both seed and air borne and affects seed germination and plant vigour to a. greater extent. Biological control by antagonistic microorganisms i~·Jvidely recognized as a promising method for control plant diseases. This study reports the effectiveness of using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) cultures or their supernatant as. a biological control against anthracnose disease in chilli caused by fungus Colleto[richum gloeosporioides. From 30 lactic acid bacteria isolated from different sources, seven isolates showed good int1Jbition activity against c. gloeosporioides by dual overlay method. The supernatant from LAB-CS showed strong inhibition to fungal growth evaluated using microtlter plates. Seeds infected with C. gloeosporioides followed by treatment with LAB-CS cells showed better seed germination rate than seed treated with supernatant Fungi infected seeds were germinated but fail to grow. The results indicate that LA:B-C5 has potential to be used as biological control

The effect of several nitrogen compounds on the germination of the first seed of each spikelet ofAvena sterilis spp.macrocarpa Mo. was studied on Petri dishes placed in germination chamber. The compounds assayed were ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, urea and calcium nitrate, generally used as fertilizer for cereal crops, as well as a control supplied with water only The concentration of the assayed compounds were 100, 1000, 2500 and 5000 ppm either at a constant temperature of 15 ° C or at alternated temperatures 5°C and 15 °C, for 16 and 8 h, respectively Significant increase in the germination percentages occurred when nitrate compounds were used in relation to other compounds and no significant differences were found between the urea, and ammonium sulphate. This increase became significant at 1000 ppm, and therefrom until 5000 ppm germination stabilized. In the case of urea, very high abnormal germination percentages were obtained at 2500 ppm, while the effect turned noxious from 5000 ppm The use of alternating temperatures significantly increased the germination capacity of the wild oat seeds in the case of urea, ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate. It is found that nitrates are capable of breaking the dormancy ofAvena sterilis spp.macrocarpa Mo. seeds, which according to various authors, is due to an increase of the respiratory activity of the seeds