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Water stress can adversely affect seed germination and plant growth. Seed osmopriming is a pre-sowing treatment in which seeds are soaked in osmotic solutions to undergo the first stage of germination prior to radicle protrusion. Seed osmopriming enhances germination performance under stressful environmental conditions, making it an effective method to improve plant resistance and yield. This study analyzed the effect of seed osmopriming with polyethylene glycol (PEG) on seed germination and physiological parameters of Coronilla varia L. Priming treatments using 10% to 30% PEG enhanced germination percentage, germination vigor, germination index, vitality index, and seedling mass and reduced the time to reach 50% germination (T50). The PEG concentration that led to better results was 10%. The content of soluble proteins (SP), proline (Pro), soluble sugars (SS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in Coronilla varia L. seedlings increased with the severity of water stress. In addition, under water stress, electrolyte leakage rose, and peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities intensified, while catalase (CAT) activity increased at mild-to-moderate water stress but declined with more severe deficiency. The 10% PEG priming significantly improved germination percentage, germination vigor, germination index, vitality index, and time to 50% germination (T50) under water stress. Across the water stress gradient here tested (8 to 12% PEG), seed priming enhanced SP content, Pro content, and SOD activity in Coronilla varia L. seedlings compared to the unprimed treatments. Under 10% PEG-induced water stress, primed seedlings displayed a significantly lower MDA content and electrolyte leakage than their unprimed counterparts and exhibited significantly higher CAT and POD activities. However, under 12% PEG-induced water stress, differences in electrolyte leakage, CAT activity, and POD activity between primed and unprimed treatments were not significant. These findings suggest that PEG priming enhances the osmotic regulation and antioxidant capacity of Coronilla varia seedlings, facilitating seed germination and seedling growth and alleviating drought stress damage, albeit with reduced efficacy under severe water deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducted an activation experiment on tap water using a self‐designed dielectric barrier discharge plasma field. Aged pepper seeds and seedlings were chosen as the investigation's subjects to assess plasma‐activated water (PAW's) effects on aged seed germination, seedling growth, and their respective qualities. PAW cultivation led to notable improvements in pepper seeds' germination potential and rate, with increases of 18.0% and 28.3%, respectively. Moreover, the vitality index exhibited a remarkable rise of 250.0%. Concurrently, seedlings treated with PAW exhibited significant growth enhancements, with root length, root number, stem length, and leaf area increasing by 138.6%, 69.2%, 47.9%, and 28.4 cm², respectively. Additionally, PAW treatment induces changes in endogenous substances and enzyme activities in seeds and seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the biochemical compounds by GCMS and did bioassay of leaf extracts of five tree species viz., Aegle marmellos (L.) Correa, Annona squamosa L., Mangifera indica L., Morinda tinctoria Roxb and Moringa oleifera Lam. on germination and associated characteristics of kodomillet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L) and prosomillet (Panicum miliaceum L.). Response Index was used for comparison, and by GCMS, the compounds found in the leaves were determined and studied their effects on germination and seedling growth. The 5 % Moringa oleifera leaf extract, followed by extracts from A. squamosa and Mangifera indica, improved millets' seed germination. Perhaps because the extracts contained the dominant compounds 2- Piperidinone and 2-Pyrrolidinone. Tree leaf extracts from the above-donor species had a synergistic effects in prosomillet, stimulating germination by 14-18 %, than kodomillet. However, Morinda tinctoria and Aegle marmellos leaf extracts inhibited the germination of both millets than control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress causes deleterious impacts on the germination, growth, and productivity of various crop plants. Screening new cultivars regarding salt stress tolerance could enhance the growth and productivity of sorghum. In this regard, an experiment was conducted at the laboratory of the Department of Agronomy, Hajee Mohamad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Bangladesh, in October 2018 to find out salt tolerance based on seed germination and seedling growth traits. The experiment consisted of seven sorghum varieties, viz. Adan Gab, Karmici, Debuday, ESP/S01, Green Jambuplus, Jambo, and Elmi Jama, and three levels of salt stress, viz. 0, 100, and 200 mM NaClinduced salt stress, laid out completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The seeds of the seven sorghum varieties were placed in plastic trays (20 cm x 10 cm) on a sand bed irrigated with tap water (control) and NaCl (100 and 200 mM salinity levels) solutions. Data were collected on germination character and seedling growth at parameters. The collected data were analyzed statistically and means were adjudged by DMRT at 1 and 5% level of probability. The results of the experiment revealed that salinity stress significantly reduced the germination percentage (GP) and germination rate (GR) of sorghum in all sorghum varieties, and the variety Debuday showed the highest values of GP and GR, while Karmici showed the lowest values under 100 and 200 NaCl stress. Moreover, the root and shoot lengths, fresh weights, and dry weights gradually decreased with salinity levels, and the minimum reduction was recorded in Debuday, whereas the maximum reduction was in the Karmici variety. Higher Na and lower K accumulation of the Debuday genotype can be treated as salt tolerant. Contrary, the salt tolerance index (STI) based on the root and shoot dry weight in the Debuday variety exhibited the highest values, and the Karmici variety exhibited the minimum values under salt stresses. The inhibition of GP and GR, and lengths and biomass weight of root and shoot, were at the minimum level, while, on the contrary, the values declined superficially in the Karmici variety. Therefore, it can be concluded that the variety Debuday is indorsed as a salt-tolerant sorghum variety, and Karmici is a more susceptible one, based on the seed germination and seedling growth properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allelopathy is the chemical interactions between plants that might lead to either stimulation or inhibition of growth, community structure, and plant invasions. Lantana camara L. is a noxious invasive weed that negatively affects seed germination, seedling growth, and increases the mortality of the crop plant. The objective of this work was to assess allelopathic effect of L. camara leaf aqueous extract on germination and seedling growth of Capsicum annuum (pepper) and Daucus carota (carrot). The aqueous extract of Lantana leaf samples was used as a source of allelopathic effects. Data were collected for germination and seedling growth parameters. The result indicated that the highest concentration of the allelopathic extract (20 mg/L) has demonstrated significantly the highest germination inhibition rate GIR (60.00%), germination speed V (2.54 U/day) for D. carota as GIR (70.00%), mean germination time MGT (0.36 days), and GI (0.67%) for C. annuum seeds. The highest concentration of the allelopathic extract (20 mg/L) has recorded the highest plumule inhibition rate PIR (59.63%) and radical inhibition rate RIR (48.95%) for D. carota seeds, as well as PIR (27.47%) and RLR (79.49%) for C. annuum. The largest negative allelopathic index (−60.00% or allelopathic intensity of 60.00%) was recorded for D. carota seeds, whilst (−63.43% or allelopathic intensity of 63.43%) was recorded for C. annuum seed germination. For D. carota seed germination, the first principal component (PC1) has got high positive loads from GI (0.36), RLR (0.31), GR (0.34), allelopathic index AI (0.34), relative length of plumule RLP (0.24), and V (0.30). By contrast, PC1 for D. carota seed germination has got the highest negative component loads recorded by GIR (−0.34), PIR (−0.24), MGT (−0.35), and RIR (−0.31). In allelopathic effect on C. annum seed germination, the first principal component (PC1) has got high positive scores from relative length of radical RLR (0.31), RLP (0.33), germination rate GR (0.33), V (0.33), and AI (0.33). Likewise, the high negative component loads were recorded by GIR (−0.33), PIR (−0.33), RIR (−0.31), and MGT (−0.32). The result of the present study demonstrated that GIR, PIR, and RIR were directly related to negative allelopathic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed germination is an important development process in plant growth. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a critical role during seed germination. However, the mechanism of rapeseed in response to ABA is still elusive. In order to understand changes of rapeseed under exogenous ABA treatment, we explored differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between mock- and ABA-treated seedlings. A widely targeted LC-MS/MS based metabolomics were used to identify and quantify metabolic changes in response to ABA during seed germination, and a total of 186 significantly DEMs were identified. There are many compounds which are involved in ABA stimuli, especially some specific ABA transportation-related metabolites such as starches and lipids were screened out. Meanwhile, a total of 4440 significantly DEGs were identified by transcriptomic analyses. There was a significant enrichment of DEGs related to phenylpropanoid and cell wall organization. It suggests that exogenous ABA mainly affects seed germination by regulating cell wall loosening. Finally, the correlation analysis of the key DEMs and DEGs indicates that many DEGs play a direct or indirect regulatory role in DEMs metabolism. The integrative analysis between DEGs and DEMs suggests that the starch and sucrose pathways were the key pathway in ABA responses. The two metabolites from starch and sucrose pathways, levan and cellobiose, both were found significantly down-regulated in ABA-treated seedlings. These comprehensive metabolic and transcript analyses provide useful information for the subsequent post-transcriptional modification and post germination growth of rapeseed in response to ABA signals and stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the effects of priming methods on seedling physiology under osmotic stress conditions is important to understand how priming enhances osmotic stress tolerance in safflower. The mechanisms by which priming achieves this at the physiological level, such as changes in osmoprotectants, antioxidants, and membrane damage, are not well understood. This research aims to fill these knowledge gaps and provide insights that can be used to optimize priming treatments and improve safflower productivity in drought-prone areas.. Seeds were treated with priming including distilled water, folic acid, glutathione, epibrassinolide and chitosan and then subjected to osmotic stresses including no osmotic stress, mild osmotic stress (4 bar) and severe osmotic stress (8 bar) for germination and seedling growth. Severe osmotic stress increased soluble leaf proteins, this increase was observed in all priming treatments except distilled water. Severe osmotic stress increased soluble leaf proteins by an average of 35% in folic acid, chitosan, and epibrassinolide treatments. Chitosan treatment exhibited 172% and 188% more proline under mild and severe stress, respectively, compared to the control. Folic acid treatment showed a 207% increase in catalase under severe stress. Epibrassinolide and glutathione treatments had 201% more superoxide dismutase (SOD) under non-stress conditions. Distilled water treatment had 48.6% more soluble sugars under non-stress, while glutathione and epibrassinolide treatments had 14.5% more under mild stress. Control treatment had the highest malondialdehyde (MDA) amounts under mild and severe stress. Chitosan treatment exhibited a 25% increase in seedling length under severe stress compared to the control. Under non-stress conditions, chitosan treatment had slightly lower seedling length compared to control, while glutathione and epibrassinolide treatments showed the highest lengths. Under mild stress, folic acid, chitosan, and epibrassinolide treatments were superior to control. Under severe stress, distilled water showed a 20% increase, while chitosan treatment showed a 25% increase in seedling length compared to control. Chitosan treatment improved safflower seedling growth under severe osmotic stress through mechanisms including increased osmoprotectant levels, enhanced antioxidant activity, and improved membrane integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw returning to the field has an inhibitory effect on seed germination and the early stage of seedling growth. Nanoparticles may contribute to good seed germination and seedling growth under stress. However, the effects of nanoparticles on seed germination and seedling growth of rice under straw returning remain unknown. Two popular aromatic rice varieties, Xiangyaxiangzhan and Meixiangzhan 2, were used as experimental materials. Three doses of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) (i.e., 0 mg L−1, 25 mg L−1, and 50 mg L−1) were used for seed coating, and the nanoparticle-coated seeds were grown at three concentrations of straw extract (i.e., 0 g L−1, 10 g L−1, and 20 g L−1). The seed germination, seedling growth, antioxidant response, and nitrogen metabolism of aromatic rice were studied. The results showed that the aromatic rice varieties responded differently to straw concentration. Straw extract at 10 mg L−1 promoted the germination of Xiangyaxiangzhan but inhibited the germination of Meixiangzhan 2. With increasing straw extract concentration, the antioxidant response of Xiangyaxiangzhan increased. Fe2O3 NPs significantly increased seed germination under straw stress by 5–44%. The growth response of aromatic rice to iron oxide nanoparticle coating treatments varied among the different aromatic rice varieties and straw extract treatments. Therefore, iron oxide nanoparticle coating improved seed germination and regulated early growth and physiological parameters in aromatic rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Green gram (Vigna radiata), the third most important pulse crop, is grown in tank-fed, command areas after the harvest of paddy. In such areas, legume trees like Delonix regia and Peltophorum pterocarpum are commonly found and tree parts often fell in watercourses and were flown to crop fields along with irrigation water. Hence, it is necessary to study whether any allelopathic effect is present in these parts of trees which may affect the growth and development of green gram grown in farmland crops. Methods: Collected different tree parts viz., bark, leaf and fresh flower, a matured pod of Delonix regia and Peltophorum pterocarpum, cleaned and soaked distilled water at weight/volume ratio of 1:10 for 24 hrs. Aqueous extracts were filtered and tested for inhibition of green gram. Pot culture experiments were conducted with 10 treatments and four replications. Germination (%), shoot length (cm), root length (cm), fresh weight (mg), dry weight (mg), seedling vigour index-I and vigour index-II in green gram were recorded and the magnitude of inhibition versus simulation in bioassay was compared through response index. Result: Among the plant parts, Delonix regia flower and Peltophorum pterocarpum matured pods suppressed germination (45.00 and 60.00%), shoot length (13.87 and 13.39 cm), root length (4.27 and 10.49 cm), seedling vigour index-I (624.15 and 803.40) and seedling vigour index-II (960.75 and 948.00) respectively in green gram. This might due to presence of inhibitory chemicals in flowers of Delonix regia and matured pods of Peltophorum pterocarpum compared to other plant parts of trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aspergillus niger and A. flavus cause rotting, damping-off, loss in germination and toxification of oil seeds. Aspergillus is a common mold in tropical and Sub-tropical countries and causes aflatoxin contamination. A. flavus and A. niger were responsible for storage rot of groundnut. In addition to storage rot, aflatoxin contamination also leads to adverse effects on consumer health. Therefore, present study was conducted to estimate the impact of both A. niger and A. flavus on seed quality parameters of groundnut. Methods: Effect of major seed borne fungi A. niger and A. flavus on seed quality characters of thirteen different genotypes of groundnut was observed in the present study. All the seedling quality characters were measured as per ISTA guidelines. Result: On an average A. niger caused 25.14, 25.18, 43.99, 26.20 and 44.75 per cent reduction in seed germination, seedling length, seedling vigour index I, seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index II, respectively, over the control whereas A. flavus caused average per cent reduction of 22.38, 24.23, 41.18, 23.92 and 40.95 in seed germination, seedling length, seedling vigour index I, seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index II, respectively, over the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epiphytic orchids comprise 68% of vascular epiphytes globally; nevertheless, many are endangered. One such epiphytic orchid is Phalaenopsis japonica, which is widely used in the floricultural industry. This study aimed to identify the mycorrhizal fungi of adult P. japonica and their roles in seed germination and seedling development. Root samples were collected from 32 adults across 4 sites in southern Japan, and mycorrhizal fungi were identified using Sanger and high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The results show phylogenetically diverse mycobionts, mainly Ceratobasidiaceae (CE) and Tulasnellaceae (TU), with dominant OTUs designated CE6 and CE22. Sanger sequencing found 9 OTUs, 4 CE, and 5 TU; HTS detected 22 OTUs, 4 CE, 16 TU, and 2 Serendipitaceae. Seeds inoculated with CE6 improved germination and protocorm development compared with other strains. In addition, asymbiotic seedlings inoculated with CE6, CE22, and TU18 displayed varying effects in growth, with CE6 being the most notable. While TU18 did not promote seed germination, it effectively promoted leaf development in seedlings. Overall, Ceratobasidiaceae was predominantly associated with seed germination, seedling growth, and the adult stages, with CE6 and CE22 becoming the primary partners throughout the life history of P. japonica. Our findings illuminate mycorrhizal symbiosis in epiphytic habitats, offering conservation and commercial production insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress exerts adverse effects on yield by inhibiting or delaying seed germination and impeding seedling growth. Additionally, different salt concentrations have adverse effects on plant wet and dry weight and stem and shoot development. Crotalaria juncea L., the fastest-growing species within the Crotalaria genus, demonstrates a high degree of adaptability to both tropical and subtropical climates. To assess the tolerance of sunn hemp to salinity during the germination and early seedling stages, several indicators were determined at different (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mM) salt concentrations. Germination was conspicuously absent at salt concentrations of 250 mM and 300 mM. Notably, seedling characteristics, such as shoot length, root length, root fresh weight, seedling fresh weight, retention capability of the shoot, and the relative water content, experienced adverse effects with escalating salt concentrations. Intriguingly, the apex of seedling and root dry weights manifested at the pinnacle of salt concentration at 200 mM. Despite the discernible influence of heightened salt concentrations during the nascent seedling stage, the tolerance index was quantified at 100 mM, 150 mM, and 200 mM. Analyzing the study results through the lens of macro-minerals revealed an augmentation in Na and Cl content concomitant with increasing salt concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zelkova schneideriana Hand.-Mazz is a valuable ornamental tree and timber source, whose seedling breeding and large-scale cultivation are restricted by low seed germination and seedling rates. The regulatory mechanisms underlying seed germination and seedling establishment in Z. schneideriana remain unknown. This study conducted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of seed germination and seedling establishment in Z. schneideriana. Regular expression of genes and metabolite levels has been observed in plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The reduction in abscisic acid during seed germination may lead to seed release from dormancy. After the seed is released from dormancy, the metabolic levels of auxin, cytokinins, brassinolide, and various sugars are elevated, and they are consumed in large quantities during the seedling establishment stage. Linoleic acid metabolism is gradually activated during seedling establishment. Transcriptome analysis showed that a large number of genes in different metabolic pathways are upregulated during plant establishment, and material metabolism may be accelerated during seedling establishment. Genes regulating carbohydrate metabolism are altered during seed germination and seedling establishment, which may have altered the efficiency of carbohydrate utilization. In addition, the syntheses of lignin monomers and cellulose have different characteristics at different stages. These results provide new insights into the complex mechanisms underlying seed germination and seedling establishment in Z. schneideriana and other woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus flowers during both hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters in Nepal, yet it remains unknown if there are differences in seed germination and seedling growth during these contrasting seasons. We analysed seed germination and seedling growth of summer and winter cohorts of P. hysterophorus in Kathmandu Valley. Seeds were germinated at low (25/15°C) and high (30/20°C) temperatures, 12/12 h photoperiod and complete dark, and at different levels of water stress. Seedlings were grown in a greenhouse to determine biomass allocation and relative growth rate (RGR). Winter seeds had higher seed biomass than summer seeds, and both seed types germinated under complete dark and 12/12 h photoperiod. Summer seeds germinated at significantly lower rates and percentage than winter seeds at the low temperature, but this difference in germination was not present when summer and winter seeds were incubated at the high temperature. Winter seeds had higher germination (percentage and rate) and took a longer time to reach maximum germination than summer seeds at different levels of water stress. Seedling emergence of both seed types declined with increasing soil depth. Seedling RGRs were nearly equal (summer: 73 mg g−1 day−1, winter: 77 mg g−1 day−1). Biomass allocation to stem and leaves were similar in both cohorts but root biomass allocation was higher in the winter than in the summer cohort. Overall, the maternal environmental effect was moderate on seed germination, and weak on seedling growth. Lack of a pronounced difference in the germination and seedling growth of summer and winter cohorts of P. hysterophorus suggests a wide environmental tolerance of the species, and this could be one of the reasons for the species' ability to invade diverse climatic and geographic regions globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the applications of nanotechnology are increasing in various fields such as information technology, energy, the medical sector, and agriculture. Nanotechnology has proved its ability to solve problems in agriculture and related industries. Establishing the impact of nanoparticles on various ecosystems has become a primary research topic, but studies on forest ecosystems and trees are quite limited. This study examined the effects of silver nanoparticles on the germination parameters of oriental beech seeds and established their toxic threshold values. Silver nanoparticles were applied at concentrations of 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/L to oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) seeds collected from 10 different populations in order to identify the germination rate, germination percentage, seedling height, root collar diameter, plumula length, radicle thickness, and radicle length parameters. The results revealed that silver nanoparticles have a negative effect on germination and seedling parameters of oriental beech seeds, and that this effect is clearly seen in the germination rate at 20 mg/L levels and in seedling characters starting from 60 mg/L dose, causing a decrease of 13% in germination rate, 24% in germination percentage, 40% in plumula length, and 30% in radicle length. The Kahramanmaras-Andirin population was found to be the most affected by nanoparticles, while the Bursa-Inegol and Ordu-Akkus populations were the least affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid wastes such as municipal wastes and agricultural wastes can pollute our environment if they are not disposed properly. In contrast, under manipulation, they can be changed into valuable products such as bio-enzymes and bio fuel. Bio-enzymes derived from kitchen wastes and agricultural wastes are cost effective and can be utilized in industry and agriculture with cutting in cost. This research is carried out to provide information about the cost-effective bio-enzymes with emphasis on their effect on germination and growth of seedlings of peanut (Arachis hypogea L. subsp. fastigiata). For bio-enzyme production, kitchen wastes such as onion-peels, cruciferous and citric fruits were used as solid substrate. Fermentation method was solid state fermentation with and without isolated microbes. The fermented formulation was that the mixture of three substrates at a weight/weight/weight ratio of 1:1:1 was placed into four airtight plastic containers containing the mixture of molasses and water at a volume/volume ratio of 1:10. Isolated bacteria, P1, P2 and P105 were introduced into three formulated mixtures, BE2, BE3, and BE4, respectively. All of them were fermented at 25° - 30° for three months. From this research, different hydrolytic activities of these four formulated bio-enzymes were investigated and their concentration being likely to impact on the germination and growth of peanut were examined in comparison to Hydro treatment used as negative control. Among BE1, BE2, BE3, BE4 and Hydro treatments, BE3 treatment at 1:200 dilution significantly showed the most effective activity on germination index, vigor index, branches per plant and pods per plant with 6.31 ± 0.29, 44.9 ± 23.63, 6.85 ± 0.15 branches per plant and 28.98 ± 0.07 pods per plant, respectively. This research shed light on the effect of bio-enzymes on peanut plant cultivation, particularly BE3, and it may become a potential for smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop plant varieties exhibit diverse reactions when subjected to wastewater irrigation in terms of seed germination, seedling development, and overall productivity. Magneto-priming, which involves treating seeds with an appropriate magnetic field, is gaining popularity as the preferred technique due to its effectiveness and environmentally friendly characteristics for improving seed vigour, growth, and plant yield. In this study, magneto-primed and non-primed broccoli seeds were irrigated with distilled or wastewater and kept under observation for a 10-day period to record seedling growth. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the impact of magneto-priming on broccoli seeds with a homogeneous stationary magnetic-field strength of 5.9 mT for 1 h. They were irrigated with two types of water: distilled and wastewater. Another test was performed to evaluate the effect of 1-h and 2-h magneto-priming on seed germination when seeds were irrigated with wastewater. From the results, the broccoli seedlings irrigated with distilled water grew higher and heavier than the ones irrigated with wastewater, probably due to the significant amounts of salts in organic wastewater. Nonetheless, the saline effect of wastewater was ameliorated when seeds were previously magneto-primed. All the germination parameters of broccoli seeds irrigated with wastewater were significantly reduced when seeds were magneto-primed for both periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been noticed that Saraca asoca (Roxb. de Wilde) populations are drastically declining in the wild. Conserving such populations is crucial because of the numerous ecological, cultural, and economic values. The purpose of our study was to determine if germination and seedling growth could be improved for globally vulnerable Ashoka populations. The study analyzed the effect of various hydro, mechanical, and chemical pre-sowing treatments on the germination and one-year growth of Ashoka seedlings. Our results demonstrated that mechanical (exposing the seed cotyledons) and soaking of seeds in hot water treatments (60 °C) were better than all other water- and chemical-based pre-sowing treatments used in the study of enhancing germination. Nevertheless, chemical treatments were better for the growth and survival of the seedlings. This methodology offers to restore the scattered populations of Ashoka that are facing the risk of extinction in the wild while successfully meeting the commercial demand for this medicinal tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone treatment of corn seeds with respect to determination on changes in germination ability, germination under salt stress, seedling growth, seedling root length, conductivity and inactivation of endogenous microflora was studied. Corn seeds immersed in water treated by fixed ozone dose of 12.5 g/m3 for 1 (1O3), 3 (2O3) and 5 min (3O3) at room temperature. Ozone treatment provided full germination (100%) of the corn seeds on the 2nd day; whereas 66.6% of the control seeds germinated on the 8th days after planting. Ozone treated seedling were significantly taller and stronger than the control samples with significantly longer seedling root. Germination under 100 mM salt stress for ozone treated seeds was significantly higher than that of the control samples. Electrical conductivity of the seeds was significantly affected by the measurement time rather than ozone treatments. Ozone treatments provided significant inactivation on total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and total mold and yeast of the endogenous bacteria revealing maximum of 5.31 and 6.15 log reductions, respectively. It was concluded that ozone treatment at 12.5 g/m3 for 5 min can be utilized to treat corn seeds as these treatment parameters provided maximum inactivation on endogenous microflora with improvement of vigor and stronger seedling formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous and organic solvent extracts of stem bark, leaves and pods of Cassia fistula L. and their residues were tested for their phytotoxic effects on seed germination and seedling growth of Raphanus sativus L. Bioassay with different solvents extracts revealed that inhibition by ethyl acetate extract of stem bark, leaves and pods was more than other extracts. Epiafzelechin and epicatechin (tannins or the building blocks of the proanthocyanidins) were present in the ethyl acetate extract of pods, kaempferol was obtained from the stem bark, while 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl anthraquinone (chrysophenol) and 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-6-methoxy acetophenone (physcion) were found in the leaves of Cassia fistula L. The chemical studies revealed that epiafzelechin and epicatechin (tannins) most inhibited the plumule and radicle growth of Raphanus sativus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like many species within the Fabaceae family, Sesbania punicea L. seeds experience seed coat dormancy, affecting their germination from a hard shell coating the seed, preventing water absorption and gaseous exchange into the seeds. The presented research sought to overcome the outer dormancy phase in Sesbania punicea seeds by treating them with two concentrations of sulfuric acid (50% and 98% H2SO4) for periods of 0, 10, and 15 minutes and soaking in hot water (without, with) for 24 hours. The results revealed that seed pretreatment of immersion in sulfuric acid at a 98% concentration was significantly superior to the 50% and showed the highest mean values for the studied parameters, germination percentage, seedling height, stem diameter, leaves per seedling, and shoots dry weight at 78.33%, 61.61 cm, 5.79 mm, 31.27 leaves/seedling, and 7.32 g, respectively. In the same line, the immersion in sulfuric acid for 15 minutes was superior compared with 10 minutes, providing the highest values for the same traits at 87.04%, 64.08 cm, 6.16 mm, 32.08 leaves/seedling, and 8.12 g, respectively. The hot water treatment was notably dominant to the one without soaking and exhibited the maximum values for the above traits (78.55%, 59.83 cm, 5.94 mm, 31.05 leaves/seedlings, and 7.32 g, respectively). The interaction effects of three factors (immersion in 98% sulfuric acid for 15 minutes and soaking in hot water) excelled other treatments for the traits, i.e., germination rate (99.30%), seedling height (71.00 cm), main stem diameter (7.28 mm), leaves/seedling (36.66), and shoot's dry weight (11.42 g). The most remarkable achievement was that chemical scarification using sulfuric acid and hot water, either individually or in combination, proved effective in breaking the seed dormancy of Sesbania punicea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is a common substance used to decrease the harmful effects of abiotic stress and to improve the germination and early seedling growth of crops. However SNP use is limited by its short lifespan and photosensitivity. With this context, current study taken up to that synthesize of SNP loaded chitosan nanoparticles and to standardize for the seed treatment. Methods: SNP loaded chitosan nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by using ionic gelation method. A variety of characterization techniques utilized viz., dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and release kinetics. A laboratory experiment was conducted to standardize the ideal SNP nanoformulation dosage for seed treatment in order to minimize the negative impacts of drought stress in maize. The treatments involved soaking seeds in solutions containing various concentrations of SNP nanoformulation, including 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μM including control. Result: The experimental results indicated that, among SNP nanoformulation concentrations, seeds treated with @ 100 µM concentration showed the highest germination percentage (85%), promptness index (82.3%), vigor index (1624%), shoot and root length (8.4 cm and 11 cm), fresh and dry weight of shoot (123.7 and 61.6 mg/20 seedlings) and root (52.6 and 25.0 mg/20 seedlings) respectively, under PEG-induced drought stress conditions compared with control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson and A. hybridus L. are common herbaceous annual summer weeds in different regions of Iran, which produce a large number of small seeds per plant. The goal of these experiments was to determine seed germination cardinal temperature and investigate the effect of constant temperature, osmotic and salt stresses, stratification, flooding duration, after‐ripening and seed planting depth on seed germination and seedling emergence. Two‐piece segmented, dent‐like and beta four‐parameter models were used to investigate the relationship between germination rate and constant temperature. The dent‐like model showed the best description of the effect of constant temperature on seed germination rate of both A. blitoides and A. hybridus. Optimal seed germination of A. blitoides occurred at 35°C, but in A. hybridus optimum germination was observed in a range of constant temperatures from 30 to 40°C. Osmotic and salt stresses and flooding adversely affected seed germination of both species. After ripening for 6 months increased germination percentage of both A. blitoides and A. hybridus. Maximum seedling emergence of A. blitoides (42.8%) and A. hybridus (44.9%) occurred at a planting depth of 3.3 cm, whereas further increased planting depth minimized seedling emergence of both weeds. Information obtained from this study will help us to develop effective techniques for management of A. blitoides and A. hybridus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Superior vigor and germination attributes are observed in green soybean seeds when conditioned with brassinolide. • Photosynthetic rates, effective quantum yields of PSII photochemical energy conversion and ETR were improved with brassinolide. • Brassinolide-conditioned seeds exhibited tissue differences and greater lipid and protein accumulation. Factors associated to biotic and abiotic stresses, such as high temperatures and prolonged droughts, can induce premature plant maturation and, thus, lead to the formation of green seeds. This is major issue for the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) production chain, due to low physiological seed quality. Although seed conditioning can improve seed germination and vigor, little is known on the use of the brassinolide (BL) phytohormone during this process in green soybean seeds. This study, therefore, aimed to elucidate BL conditioning effects on green soybean seeds. A BL stock solution was prepared and cultivar AS 3680 IPRO seeds were conditioned at 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 μM BL concentrations followed by drying until reaching original water contents. Seed conditioning effects were investigated by assessing germination and accelerated aging test results, seedling shoot, and root lengths, electrical conductivity, germination speed index and dry seedling mass. Gas exchanges and chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters were determined in seedlings 15 days after sowing. Seed germination and vigor were superior when conditioned with 0.6 and 0.8 μM BL. Photosynthetic rates, effective quantum yields of PSII photochemical energy conversion and electron transport rates were improved in seeds treated with 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 μM BL. Brassinolide-conditioned seeds exhibited histochemical reserve tissue differences and greater lipid and protein accumulation compared to the control group. These findings demonstrate that green soybean seed BL treatment can increase the quality and subsequent physiological development in soybean seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The germination of cannabis treatments varied with landrace and treatments. • H 2 SO 4 , GA 3 , and KNO 3 enhanced the germination capacity of cannabis landraces. • Control produced vigorous seedlings compared dormancy-breaking pre-treatments. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of different pre-treatments for dormancy breaking and seed germination of five cannabis landraces. These landraces were collected from local growers in three regions of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, namely, Bergville (B), Hammersdale (H), and Ladysmith (L). Each genotype was assigned an alphabet and number based on where the seed material was collected. The five landraces were as follows, 'B1', 'K1', 'H1', 'L1', and 'L2'. The study was conducted using various pre-treatments, including potassium nitrate (KNO 3), hydrochloric acid (HCL), hot water (HW) at 70 °C, nitric acid (HNO 3), dry prechilling at 10 °C, gibberellic acid (GA 3), sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4), and water, which served as the control. Before the germination test, the seed viability of cannabis landraces was assessed using the tetrazolium chloride (TCC) test. Afterward, the seeds were germinated in Petri dishes with cotton pads moistened with distilled water for five (5) days. The study was later validated under tunnel conditions. The parameters such as germination percentage, germination rate, seedling length, and seed vigour index of the germinated seeds were then measured. The landraces, dormancy breaking treatments, and their interactions showed significant differences (p < 0.001) in germination percentage, germination rate index, seedling length, and seed vigour index under both laboratory and tunnel conditions. In summary, GA 3 , KNO 3 and prechilling were the most effective pre-treatments to improve the germination and seedling growth of cannabis genotypes and breaking seed dormancy. Therefore, it was concluded that cannabis genotypes had physiological dormancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 1930s, when the first corn hybrids were grown commercially, innovations in the agriculture industry have had an unprecedent impact worldwide, helping to meet the demands for food of an exponentially growing population. In particular, seed technology research has contributed substantially to the improvement of crop performance over the years. Ultrasonic treatment of seeds is a green technology that promises to have an impact on the food industry, enhancing germination and seedling development in different species through the stimulation of water and oxygen uptake and seed metabolism. The increase in starch degradation has been associated with the stimulation of the α‐amylases of the endosperm, but relatively few reports focus on how ultrasound affects seed germination at the biochemical and molecular levels. For instance, the picture is still unclear regarding the impact of ultrasound on transcriptional reprogramming in seeds. The purpose of this review is to assess the literature on ultrasound seed treatment accurately and critically, ultimately aiming to encourage new scientific and technological breakthroughs with a real impact on worldwide agricultural production while promoting sustainable practices on biological systems. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Salt has been identified as an elicitor that can increase the accumulation of phytochemicals in seedlings during the germination process. However, the salinity level required to maximize the yield of phytochemicals, particularly phenolic compounds, needs further investigation for several plant species. To address this issue, we imposed increasing levels of salinity (NaCl solutions) on the sprouting substrate of Triticum durum (var. Platone) grains, at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mM (0_S, 50_S, 100_S, 150_S, 200_S, 250_S, and 300_S, respectively). RESULTS: The highest NaCl doses (250_S and 300_S) significantly impacted germination performance and were excluded from further analysis. The seedlings harvested at 8 days after sowing exhibited different growth stages depending on the salinity level: wheatgrass for 0_S, early wheatgrass for 50_S, intermediate between sprout and wheatgrass for 100_S, sprout for 150_S, and very early sprout for 200_S. Furthermore, salinity induced the concentration of phenolic compounds (PhCs) in the seedlings' tissues (i.e., both roots and shoots) in a salinity‐dependent manner. The highest values were observed at 200_S, with an increase of 187% of the total investigated PhCs in comparison with 0_S, averaged over shoots and roots. In particular, in 200_S, the accumulation of phenolic acids was up to fourfold higher in roots, and that of flavonoids was up to twofold higher in shoots. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the use of 200 mM NaCl applied to the sprouting substrate is excessive for producing edible sprouts but may be suitable for phytochemical extraction purposes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The germination tests to evaluate the quality of the seed, were carried out in laboratory of Quality of the Agrarian University of Havana, under controlled conditions, of humidity and light. Values were obtained they evidence the growth of the black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L var. BAT 304) per day, where it is shown that in the second day, of the 100 seeds that underwent the germination experiment, 8 of them were the most vigorous that measured between the values of 20 and 24,9 mm. In the third day the most vigorous they were 8 seedlings of values between 25 and 29,9 mm. In the fourth day they were 6 seedlings the most vigorous with values smaller than 30 mm. For what the fourth day was of 94%, you can demonstrate you that the seeds selected for the germination test in the laboratory are of high quality, being considered that this lot is of high quality, since it reaches superior levels to 90 germination%. The germination test in the field was carried out in a property in the immediacy of the popular advice of you Covered, the sampling was carried out to the fourth day, where 100 seeds that underwent the germination experiment, alone 3 of them the most vigorous that measured between the values of 20 and 24,9 mm. In the ninth day the most vigorous were they were 10 seedlings of values between 25 and 29,9 mm. In the tenth fourth day they were 9 seedlings the most vigorous with values smaller than 30 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to determine the effects of osmo-priming duration on the germination and seedling parameters of rice seeds. Two rice varieties FARO 44 and FARO 59 were used for the study. Three osmo-priming chemicals (Calcium chloride CaCl, Potassium nitrate KNO3 and Polyethylene glycol PEG6000) and four priming duration's (Control, 12, 24 and 36 hours in the above chemical solutions) as treatments in the study. Data were collected on the following parameters; final germination percentage, germination rate index, mean germination time, coefficient of velocity of germination, seedling height, seedling fresh weight and seedling dry weight. For most of the parameters, osmo-priming duration was statistically significant. The results showed that chemical priming treatments had significant effect on final germination percentage, mean germination time, germination rate index, coefficient of velocity of germination, seedling height and seedling weight of rice seeds. Primed with KNO3, PEG6000 and CaCl solution for a period of 24 - 36 hours is a remarkable technique for improving seed germination and seedling growth of rice. The no priming treatment showed the lowest final germination percentage, mean germination time, germination rate index, coefficient of velocity of germination, seedling height and seedling weight of rice seeds. Therefore, the present study concludes that improvement of germination capacity and rapidity of germination of rice seed could be possible by employing osmo-priming duration treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lotus corniculatus L. is one of the agronomically and economically important perennial legume forage species with moderately salt-tolerant. It is well known that even the cultivars of the same species in plants have different responses in salinity. However, studies on the salt response of L. corniculatus and its cultivars, which are more advantageous than other forage crops such as white clover (Trifolium repens) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), in the use of marginal agricultural lands affected by abiotic stress factors such as salinity, are limited. Under salt stress, the most crucial phases of the plant life cycle that are directly related to the survival of the plant are seed germination, growth, and vigour. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the germination and growth responses of L. corniculatus cultivar 'Leo', which is known to have higher tannin content than other cultivars, under NaCl-derived salt stress in vitro. For this purpose, L. corniculatus seeds were cultured in MS (Murashige and Skoog/Gamborg) medium containing 0, 40, and 80 mM NaCl for 14 days. Seed germination percentage, mean germination time, germination rate index, shoot-root length, root to shoot length ratio, shoot-root fresh dry weight, shoot-root dry matter, the ratio of root to shoot dry matter, shoot-root water content and seedling vigour index parameters were measured. According to the results of the research, the germination percentage did not change in the applied NaCl treatments, but the germination rate decreased. However, shoot length decreased and root length increased. Although there was no statistically significant change in shoot and root fresh-dry weight, both decreased in 80 mM NaCl treatment. The shoot and root dry matter increased and the water content decreased. Also, the seedling viability index decreased. In 40 mM NaCl treatment, on the other hand, there was an increase in shoot fresh-dry weight, dry matter ratio and seedling viability index with the positive effect of low dose. Within the scope of this study, comprehensive information was presented for L. corniculatus (cultivar 'Leo'), an important forage plant, in terms of germination and seedling growth under salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to understand the use of air gliding arc (GA) plasma to generate plasma-activated water (PAW) for fixing nitrogen in water and the chemical properties of PAW on the germination of rice seeds. The N2, NO, and OH molecules in GA plasma led to NO3−, NO2−, and H2O2 formation in the PAW. The NO3−, NO2−, and H2O2 contents in PAW rapidly decreased after 5 days of storage. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomised design using GA plasma discharged above the surface of deionised (DI) water with different airflow rates (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 L/min) compared to the control (DI water). The NO3− and NO2− contents increased, resulting in an increase in total nitrogen (N) and gibberellic acid (GA3) accumulation in rice seeds. The PAW at an airflow rate of 5 L/min was optimal for enhancing radicle emergence at 48 and 72 h, germination, germination index, shoot length, fresh weight, and dry weight of seedlings. Therefore, air GA plasma to generate PAW is an efficient method for producing nitrogen in a soluble form, which can support the germination processes and early growth of rice seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicotian glauca is a noxious invasive shrub in Saudi Arabia, and it is well known for its harmful impact on biodiversity, competing with native plants using various strategies. Among their strategies is their allelochemical activity, i.e., the use of chemicals to dominate and compete. The present study aims to evaluate the allelopathic potential of N. glauca aqueous extracts from leaves, flowers, and twigs on Acacia gerrardi seed germination and seedling growth. Petri dishes containing extracts from N. glauca parts with different concentrations were incubated in a growth chamber. The results indicated that extracts and concentrations negatively impact seed germination and hypocotyl. Relative to the control, the leaf extract with concentrations of 60 and 100 g/L reduced the seed germination rate by 81.11% and 93.33%, respectively. Flower extracts of similar concentrations decreased germination by 81.91 and 92.55%, while the twig extracts declined germination by 79.56 and 95.69%, respectively. The leaf, flower, and twig extracts (100 g/L) decreased hypocotyl radicle by 76.54, 78.05, and 65.75%, respectively. Overall, the concentrations of 20, 60, and 100 g/L showed the lowest growth indices. Generally, aqueous extracts, particularly 100 g/L, impacted the germination and protrusion of A. gerrardii hypocotyl. In conclusion, our study draws attention to the harmful impact of N. glauca on A. gerrardii regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed passage through frugivorous bats' gastrointestinal tracts is important in seed dispersal, germination and seedling emergence. We investigated the ingestion and effects of Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bats, Epomophorus wahlbergi, on the germination and seedling emergence of four Ficus species in separate laboratory feeding trials in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. We observed seedling emergence and germination rates for all ingested seeds, whole and de-pulped fruits. Our results showed that ingestion amounts were high and the germination of Ficus seeds was positively influenced by mastication and/or gut passage of E. wahlbergi, underscoring the potential of fruit bats as effective seed dispersers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mountain forests, tree regeneration is limited by increasingly frequent frosts with increasing elevation. We investigated the effects of exposure to freezing temperature on early life stages of two native trees of different elevational origin in a seasonally dry mountain forest. We hypothesized that the negative effects of freezing exposure on performance of early life stages increases as freezing temperature decreases, and that frost resistance increases in plants of high elevational origin.We collected seeds of two tree species (Kageneckia lanceolata and Lithraea molleoides) from populations located at different elevations and grew seedlings and saplings in a greenhouse. Dry seeds, imbibed seeds and 1‐month‐old seedlings were exposed to seven temperature treatments ranging from 4 °C to −20 °C, while 12‐month‐old saplings were exposed to four temperature treatments from −8 °C to −20 °C. After freezing exposure in a climate chamber, we monitored seed germination and seedling and sapling survival.Germination of K. lanceolata decreased with decreasing temperature only for imbibed seeds from mid‐ and high elevations, whereas germination of L. molleoides slightly increased with decreasing temperature only for imbibed seeds from high elevations. For both species, seedling survival decreased with decreasing temperature. For K. lanceolata, the negative effects of freezing temperatures were weaker as elevational origin of seeds increased, whereas L. molleoides showed the opposite pattern. For both species, saplings only survived at the mildest applied freezing temperature (−8 °C).We conclude that effects of climatic variation associated with elevation depend on the study species and life stage. The observed patterns could be caused by maternal effects, which are absent at the sapling stage. Moreover, temperatures below −8 °C can limit recruitment since partial mortality of seedlings and saplings occurred at such values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Early responses of plants to environmental stress factors prevent damage but can delay growth and development in fluctuating conditions. Optimising these trade‐offs requires tunability of plant responsiveness to environmental signals.We have previously reported that Histone Deacetylase Complex 1 (HDC1), which interacts with multiple proteins in histone deacetylation complexes, regulates the stress responsiveness of Arabidopsis seedlings, but the underlying mechanism remained elusive.Here, we show that HDC1 attenuates transcriptome re‐programming in salt‐treated seedlings, and we identify two genes (LEA and MAF5) that inhibit seedling establishment under salt stress downstream of HDC1. HDC1 attenuates their transcriptional induction by salt via a dual mechanism involving H3K9/14 deacetylation and H3K27 trimethylation. The latter, but not the former, was also abolished in a triple knockout mutant of the linker histone H1, which partially mimics the hypersensitivity of the hdc1‐1 mutant to salt stress. Although stress‐induced H3K27me3 accumulation required both H1 and HDC1, it was not fully recovered by complementing hdc1‐1 with a truncated, H1‐binding competent HDC1 suggesting other players or independent inputs.The combined findings reveal a dual brake function of HDC1 via regulating both active and repressive epigenetic marks on stress‐inducible genes. This natural 'anti‐panic' device offers a molecular leaver to tune stress responsiveness in plants. See also the Commentary on this article by Archacki, 241: 7–9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dehulled and split seeds of black gram (Vigna mungo) are used in the preparation of several dishes all over India. Salt stress is a troublesome issue in the arid and semi-dry areas and is seen as a critical constraint for growth and yield. It is very sensitive to salt especially during the seedling stage. Hence, a study was conducted to assess the impact of salt stress induced with NaCl on the germination and seedling growth of black gram. Methods: The different levels of salt concentration (20 ppm, 40 ppm, 60 ppm, 80 ppm) were prepared in the laboratory. Selected black gram (ADT-6) seeds were sown in small poly pots (soil, sand and farmyard manure at 1:1:1 ratio) with 3 replications and irrigated with a respective dose of saline water. The distilled water (0 ppm) was used as a control. The germination (%), shoot length (cm) and root length (cm) in the black gram were recorded after two weeks. The inhibition effect was studied by the response index (RI) method. Result: Increase in salt concentration diminished seed germination percentage, shoot length and root length of seedling and vigor index in black gram. Further, the response index indicated that all the salt concentration treatments had negative values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intraspecific variations of phenotypic traits in the early life stages, such as seed germination and seedling establishment, are important components affecting species adaptation and differentiation. As one of the most common ways in which seeds are maintained, dry storage usually affects these traits, by either increasing or decreasing variation among populations. However, little is known about how the interaction between dry storage and population variation of a species affects the performance and adaptability of early life-cycle traits. In this study, we conducted experiments with seeds from ten populations of Elymus nutans along an altitudinal gradient on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Fresh seeds and seeds stored dry for 6 months were used to quantify the temperature thresholds for germination, determine seedling emergence and survival in two common gardens and examine the correlation between these traits and environmental conditions of population provenance. Dry storage increased germination percentage, germination speed and seedling emergence, and decreased intraspecific variation in germination traits of seeds (reduced by 33.36, 52.05 and 20.45% for T b, θT(50) and σ θ T , respectively). Dry storage had little effect on the intraspecific variation of seedling emergence and survival. In addition, the temperature threshold for germination cannot be used to predict seedling emergence and survival in either common garden, regardless of whether seeds were stored or not. These results indicated that it is feasible to use dry-stored seeds to evaluate and select suitable provenances in ecological restoration, and using dry-stored seeds in ecological restoration projects is expected to achieve better vegetation restoration results than fresh seeds. On the other hand, the status of seeds (fresh vs. dry stored) should be considered in an evaluation of the adaptive value of plant functional traits, especially in the early life stages, otherwise, inconsistent conclusions may be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abiotic stress is a serious threat to crops as it inhibits the seed germination and seedling growth. Seed treatment with osmolytes and plant growth regulators found to be effective in mitigating the abiotic stress. In this regard, the study was conducted to evaluate the osmo-priming effect of Carrabiitol®, a novel patented (IN) commercial product, on seed germination and seedling growth of sorghum and fenugreek under induced stresses. Methods: The concentrations of Carrabiitol® tested for seed priming were 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/L. The abiotic stresses viz. drought, salinity and excess water stresses, were induced using PEG 6000, sodium chloride and water, respectively. Experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Result: The germination percentage, root length and shoot length were reduced in non-primed stressed sorghum and fenugreek seeds (T2) as compared to unstressed seeds. Osmo-priming with 3000 mg/L of Carrabiitol® (T5) was found to be most significant in improving the seed germination and seedling growth of sorghum and fenugreek under the induced stresses (p≥0.05). Overall, the results suggested that application of Carrabiitol® was effective in improving the seed germination and seedling growth of sorghum and fenugreek by alleviating the applied abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cotton crop is sensitive in its young stages i.e. stand establishment. Cotton seeds are fuzzy and messy in handling and field sowing. Delinting is a necessary process done commonly using acids and are comprehensively not protective. Optimal plant population, growth and persistence are strongly influenced by germination and establishment. In line with this, it is necessary and needful of an hour to find an alternative, eco-friendly, ecologically safe and low cost seed treatment method. Methods: The experiment was conducted in two methods viz., a petridish method and roll-towel method with seed treatment methods viz., cowdung and red earth mix treated with and without biofertilizer and compared with acid-delinted and fuzzy seeds. The germino-metrics were determined using GerminaR package, an interactive web application and statistical analysis was performed using R software package v. 4.2.1. Result: The summative effect of seed treatment with fresh cow dung, red earth and biofertilizer (Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria) per kg of seeds at respective quantities (0.5:0.25:0.12) recorded significantly maximal germination indices and seedling growth determinants. This present study would be a complementary to comprehensively promote the use of indigenously available natural materials as an alternative to acids in cotton seed delinting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanomaterials such as single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) offer a new possibility for phyto-nanotechnology and biotechnology to improve the quality and quantity of secondary metabolites in vitro. The current study aimed to determine the SWCNTs effects on Thyme (Thymus daenensis celak.) seed germination. The seedlings were further assessed in terms of morphological and phytochemical properties. Sterile seeds were cultured in vitro and treated with various concentrations of SWCNTs. Biochemical analyses were designed on seedling sample extracts for measuring antioxidant activities (AA), total flavonoids (TFC) and phenolic contents, and the main enzymes involved in oxidative reactions under experimental treatments. The results indicated that an increase in SWCNTs concentration can enhance the total percentage of seed germination. The improvement was observed in samples that received SWCNTs levels of up to 125 µg ml−1, even though seedling height and biomass accumulation decreased. Seedling growth parameters in the control samples were higher than those of grown in SWCNT-fortified media. This may have happened because of more oxidative damage as well as a rise in POD and PPO activities in tissues. Additionally, secondary metabolites and relevant enzyme activities showed that maximum amounts of TPC, TFC, AA and the highest PAL enzyme activity were detected in samples exposed to 62.5 µg ml−1 SWCNTs. Our findings reveal that SWCNTs in a concentration-dependent manner has different effects on T. daenensis morphological and phytochemical properties. Microscopic images analysis revealed that SWCNTs pierce cell walls, enter the plant cells and agglomerate in the cellular cytoplasm and cell walls. The findings provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms of SWCNTs on T. daenensis growth, germination and secondary metabolites production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil (Lens culinaris) is one of the most important cool season pulse crops, which is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and fibers. It encounters various abiotic stresses that negatively impacts the crop productivity. With an increasing global average temperature, the effect of heat stress on lentil seed germination needs to be addressed. Seed priming is a cost-effective quality enhancement technique for mitigating abiotic stresses in several crops. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of priming techniques to mitigate heat stress. Heat stress (30 and 20 °C for 16 and 8 h, respectively) hampered seed germination and affected further seedling development in all of the lentil varieties, namely, IPL 316, PDL 1, and L 4147, due to increased membrane leakage and reduced chlorophyll content. Seed priming with humic acid at a concentration of 600 ppm for 18 h increased the germination percentage (20%-23%), seedling vigor (29%-34%), membrane stability index (14%-18%), chlorophyll content (32%-68%), proline content (55%-68%), phenolic content (30%-31%), catalase activity (49%-61%), peroxidase activity (54%-64%), superoxide dismutase content (40%), total soluble sugar content (11%-12%), soluble protein (3%-8%), and free amino acid content (5%-10%), and reduced the mean germination time (8%-10%), malondialdehyde (20%-24%), hydrogen peroxide (18%-28%), and carbohydrate (3%-5%) contents in the lentil varieties under heat stress. Humic acid priming fastens the imbibition of water with effective reserve mobilization providing rapid germination. Moreover, seed priming with humic acid in lentil improves the antioxidant machinery and osmoprotection mechanism, which reduces the accumulation of deleterious reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, thereby increasing membrane stability. This suggests the possible protection of plants from the negative consequences of heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) frequently occurs in rice due to the long spells of rainy weather, and causes severe yield loss and grain quality decrease. Here, we identified one PHS-related gene OsCNX1 cloned from rice PHS mutant, which encoded a molybdenum cofactor (MoCo) biosynthesis enzyme. Genetic complementation indicated OsCNX1 could rescue the PHS and seedling lethal phenotype of the mutant. Expression pattern showed that OsCNX1 was expressed in rice tissue including seedling shoot, culm, blade, and sheath of flag leaf, young panicle, and the seeds at different development stages. Overexpression of OsCNX1 significantly decreased the plant height, and the seed germination of the dormant seeds harvested from fresh panicles, comparing to the wild type (WT). In addition, 1492 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between OsCNX1-overexpressed line and WT by RNA-sequencing, which were mainly classified in plant-pathogen interaction, plant hormone signal transduction, and starch/sucrose metabolism. These results showed that OsCNX1 was not only necessary for rice seed germination, but also participated in plant development, indicating that OsCNX1 may be useful in rice breeding of PHS resistance and plant height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T2 ribonucleases are endoribonucleases that are found in every organism and that carry out important biological functions. In plants, T2 ribonucleases are organized into multi-gene families, and each member is thought to have a specific function. In this study, the ribonuclease activity has been analyzed in common bean seedlings during germination and it was found that the activity was very high in the testa during this process. This high activity correlated with a high level of expression of the S-like ribonuclease T2 PvRNS3. The protein encoded by this gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. The purified protein showed ribonuclease activity with RNA and not with DNA, confirming that PvRNS3 encodes a ribonuclease. PvRNS3 is an acidic ribonuclease with remarkable heat stability, of which activity is inhibited by Cu and Zn, as well as by ditiotreitol (DTT). PvRNS3 expression was also selectively induced in some stress situations, such as salt stress in radicles and wounded leaves. The high level of expression in the testa and high ribonuclease activity suggest an additional role for the testa in common bean germination, apart from being a protective barrier for embryos in seeds. The putative role of this ribonuclease in the extracellular space after seed hydration and release to the surrounding space to improve seedling fitness is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuolar sugar transporters transport sugar across the tonoplast, are major players in maintaining sugar homeostasis, and therefore play vital roles in plant growth, development, and biomass yield. In this study, we analyzed the physiological roles of the tonoplast monosaccharide transporter 2 (TMT2) in Arabidopsis. In contrast to the wild type (WT) that produced uniform seedlings, the tmt2 mutant produced three types of offspring: un-germinated seeds (UnG), seedlings that cannot form true leaves (tmt2-S), and seedlings that develop normally (tmt2-L). Sucrose, glucose, and fructose can substantially, but not completely, rescue the abnormal phenotypes of the tmt2 mutant. Abnormal cotyledon development, arrested true leaf development, and abnormal development of shoot apical meristem (SAM) were observed in tmt2-S seedlings. Cotyledons from the WT and tmt2-L seedlings restored the growth of tmt2-S seedlings through micrografting. Moreover, exogenous sugar sustained normal growth of tmt2-S seedlings with cotyledon removed. Finally, we found that the TMT2 deficiency resulted in growth defects, most likely via changing auxin signaling, target of rapamycin (TOR) pathways, and cellular nutrients. This study unveiled the essential functions of TMT2 for seed germination and initial seedling development, ensuring cotyledon function and mobilizing sugars from cotyledons to seedlings. It also expanded the current knowledge on sugar metabolism and signaling. These findings have fundamental implications for enhancing plant biomass production or seed yield in future agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lotus corniculatus L. (bird's foot trefoil, BFT) is a valuable perennial legume forage species due to its high nutritive value, persistence under grazing, and condensed tannin content that improves ruminant production and prevents bloating. However, it is less preferred by farmers compared with other perennial forage legumes such as alfalfa because of slow germination, slow establishment and low seedling vigor. This study was conducted to determine whether X-ray seed priming could improve these deficiencies. Seeds of L. corniculatus cv. 'AC Langille' were irradiated at 0, 100, and 300 Gy. Non-irradiated and irradiated seeds were sown on Murashige and Skoog/Gamborg medium under in vitro conditions and cultured for 21 days. Germination percentage, mean germination time (MGT), germination rate index, length of shoot and root, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, dry matter ratios of shoot and root, water content of shoot and root, and seedling vigor index were measured. The results of this study demonstrated that X-ray seed priming significantly increased the germination percentage of L. corniculatus, increased the germination rate and thereby shortened the MGT, and improved seedling growth. However, X-ray pretreatment also decreased seedling shoot and root biomass. In this study, it is reported for the first time that X-ray seed pretreatment has the potential to address important seedling establishment issues in L. corniculatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rice genotype BPT-5204 exhibits higher cold resistance than GNV 1109. • Salicylic acid treatment for 24 h improved seed germination, seedling vigour, and seed quality. • Salicylic acid was found to reduce oxidative stress in seedlings exposed to low temperatures. • Increased antioxidant enzymes activity was seen in salicylic acid treated seeds. To feed the ever-growing worldwide population, rice production in all the three (fall, winter and summer) seasons has become essential. With the increase in global climatic change, the occurrence of low temperature stress in winter particularly at seed germination stage is becoming more intense is posing a greater challenge to rice production worldwide including India. A more effective method to improve rice seed germination under low temperature stress is seed priming. The goal of the current study was to determine how different chemicals can withstand low temperatures stress through seed priming. The experiment consisted of sixteen treatment combinations (two genotypes and eight seed priming treatments) which were laid out in a 2 factorial CRD. Among the different seed priming treatments imposed, the seeds primed with salicylic acid (0.5 mM) recorded significantly higher seed germination (92.3% and 93%), seedling length (24 cm), seedling dry weight (150 mg) and seedling vigour index-Ⅰ (2239) and vigour index-Ⅱ (13,996) and better stress related enzyme activities (peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities) compared to other treatments during seed germination under low temperature stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Seed protein localization in seed storage protein bodies (SSPB) and their significance in germination are well recognized. SSPB are spherical and contain an assembly of water‐soluble and salt‐soluble proteins. Although the native structures of some SSPB proteins are explored, their structural arrangement to the functional correlation in SSPB remains unknown. SSPB are morphologically analogous to electron‐dense amyloid‐containing structures reported in other organisms. Here, we show that wheat, mungbean, barley, and chickpea SSPB exhibit a speckled pattern of amyloids interspersed in an amyloid‐like matrix along with native structures, suggesting the composite nature of SSPB. This is confirmed by multispectral imaging methods, electron microscopy, infrared, and X‐ray diffraction analysis, using in situ tissue sections, ex vivo protoplasts, and in vitro SSPB. Laser capture microdissection coupled with peptide fingerprinting has shown that globulin 1 and 3 in wheat, and 8S globulin and conglycinin in mungbean are the major amyloidogenic proteins. The amyloid composites undergo a sustained degradation during germination and seedling growth, facilitated by an intricate interplay of plant hormones and proteases. These results would lay down the foundation for understanding the amyloid composite structure during SSPB biogenesis and its evolution across the plant kingdom and have implications in both basic and applied plant biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic compounds originating from plant metabolism and reaching the environment may inhibit or stimulate germination and early developmental processes of other plants grown in the vicinity. The aim of this study was to investigate the allelopathic interactions of brown mustard with four other aromatic plants (summer savoury, coriander, caraway and common sage). While health-promoting metabolites of brown mustard are thoroughly investigated and the plant receives an increasing interest from cultivators of aromatic and medicinal plants, its allelopathic interactions with other aromatic plants are poorly documented. The experiments were performed in closed germination vessels, under controlled conditions. The influence of the presence or absence of light, as well as of a sufficient or reduced water supply on the co-germination of brown mustard seeds with each of the other four aromatic plants was also evaluated. The presence of brown mustard reduced the germination velocity of caraway, coriander, sage and savoury. It inhibited stem elongation, but stimulated root growth of savoury. Shoot growth of coriander seedlings was enhanced by the vicinity of brown mustard plantlets. Caraway slowed down the germination of brown mustard seeds, but it stimulated root and stem elongation of the seedlings. The presence of savoury enhanced the fresh biomass production of brown mustard. Common sage inhibited root growth, but stimulated stem elongation of brown mustard plantlets. Most of the allelopathic effects were more pronounced under water shortage than under sufficient water supply. Positive interspecific influences on biomass production were, in most cases, more pronounced in the presence of light. The findings may contribute to optimization of brown mustard cultivation in small parcels, in the vicinity of other aromatic plants, some allelopathic interactions being able to stimulate growth and developmental processes in an environmental-friendly and cost-effective manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]