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African nightshade (Solanum scabrum) is a vegetable of great importance in several African countries. Production by seed is constrained by limited access to high quality seed, leaving farmers unable to meet the growing demand. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of berry maturity stages (mature green and purple) on germination and protein components of African nightshade seeds. Nine accessions were used for the germination assays and three selected for the proteomics. The seeds harvested at the purple ripe stage showed a higher germination percentage than seeds harvested at the mature green stage. Seeds of three accessions, which showed different germination responses depending on maturity, were subjected to gel-based proteome comparison followed by mass spectrometry. Analysis revealed a total of 563 spots, of which 19-23% were differentially abundant between the two harvest times. This is the first study to utilise proteomics in African nightshade. Four types of seed storage proteins were identified. Identified proteins were associated with seed maturation, indicating more advanced maturation stages in accessions with higher germination capacity. In addition, a reference proteome map of S. scabrum was created using GelMap platform ( www.gelmap.de ). Colour change of African nightshade berries seems to be a suitable indicator for seed maturity., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Statement: The study adhered to ethical guidelines and received permission to conduct field experiments from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology and formal permission from KEGG pathway database to publish this material commercially under open access license., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To investigate the effects of discharge plasma on Agropyron mongolicum seeds, various treatments including direct exposure to discharge plasma, combined treatment with discharge plasma and plasma-activated water (PAW) were applied to the seeds. The changes in germination rate, MDA content, and volatile compound levels of Agropyron mongolicum seeds after different treatments were examined. The results showed that the direct effect of plasma had no significant effect on the MDA content or germination rate of Agropyron mongolicum seeds due to the limited penetration depth. However, the combined effect of plasma and activated water could cause active nitrogen and oxygen particles to enter the seeds and cause oxidative stress damage. After 18 h of combined treatment, the MDA content increased significantly, and the germination rate decreased to below the semilethal dose, which was 33.44 %. After plasma treatment, 55 volatile compounds, mainly alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, were identified from the seeds of Agropyron mongolicum. Due to the oxidation and modification of the plasma, the content of most aldehydes increased with increasing reaction time. After screening, 13 volatile organic compounds could be used as potential markers to distinguish between different treatment methods. These results reveal the mechanism underlying the biological effects of plasma treatment on Agropyron mongolicum seeds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Acacia nilotica Linn. is a widely distributed tree known for its applications in post-harvest and medicinal horticulture. However, its seed-based growth is relatively slow. Seed is a vital component for the propagation of A. nilotica due to its cost-effectiveness, genetic diversity, and ease of handling. Colchicine, commonly used for polyploidy induction in plants, may act as a pollutant at elevated levels. Its optimal concentration for Acacia nilotica's improved growth and development has not yet been determined, and the precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not been established. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of optimized colchicine (0.07%) seed treatment on A. nilotica's morphological, anatomical, physiological, fluorescent, and biochemical attributes under controlled conditions, comparing it with a control., Results: Colchicine seed treatment significantly improved various plant attributes compared to control. This included increased shoot length (84.6%), root length (53.5%), shoot fresh weight (59.1%), root fresh weight (42.8%), shoot dry weight (51.5%), root dry weight (40%), fresh biomass (23.6%), stomatal size (35.9%), stomatal density (41.7%), stomatal index (51.2%), leaf thickness (11 times), leaf angle (2.4 times), photosynthetic rate (40%), water use efficiency (2.2 times), substomatal CO 2 (36.6%), quantum yield of photosystem II (13.1%), proton flux (3.1 times), proton conductivity (2.3 times), linear electron flow (46.7%), enzymatic activities of catalase (25%), superoxide dismutase (33%), peroxidase (13.5%), and ascorbate peroxidase (28%), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging activities(23%), total antioxidant capacity (59%), total phenolic (23%), and flavonoid content (37%) with less number of days to 80% germination (57.1%), transpiration rate (53.9%), stomatal conductance (67.1%), non-photochemical quenching (82.8%), non-regulatory energy dissipation (24.3%), and H 2 O 2 (25%) and O -2 levels (30%)., Conclusion: These findings elucidate the intricate mechanism behind the morphological, anatomical, physiological, fluorescent, and biochemical transformative effects of colchicine seed treatment on Acacia nilotica Linn. and offer valuable insights for quick production of A. nilotica's plants with modification and enhancement from seeds through an eco-friendly approach., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

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., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2022 Liu et al.)

Identification and use of lithium (Li) accumulator plants is a promising strategy to remediate Li-contaminated soil. Apocynum venetum is reported as a Li accumulator. However, its tolerance to Li salt during germination is still unknown. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two Li salts on seed germination of A. venetum. At the same concentrations, germination percentages in LiCl solution were higher than that in Li 2 CO 3 solution. At 25 °C, seeds germinated to 4-90% at 0-400 mmol L -1 LiCl and 3-91% at 0-150 mmol L -1 Li 2 CO 3 . Low concentration (0-50 mmol L -1 ) of LiCl did not significantly affect germination percentage. The simulated critical value (when germination percentage is 50%) in LiCl solution is 196 mmol L -1 , and 36 mmol L -1 for Li 2 CO 3 . Activity of α-amylase, contents of MDA, soluble sugar, and proline were dramatically affected by Li salts, especially at medium and late germination stages. When compared with control, α-amylase activity of seeds under 25 mmol L -1 LiCl and 10 mmol L -1 Li 2 CO 3 did not show significant difference. Germination percentage and index, radicle length, and physiological parameters indicate A. venetum seeds are highly tolerant to Li salts during germination, especially LiCl.

The present study effects of pollutant particles from Bartın Cement Factory on development of seeds and leaves of Taurus Cedar (Cedrus libani Rich.) which in plantation area around the factory were examined. For this purpose, seeds were collected from sampling trees located 200m, 400m, 600m, 800m and 1000m (control) and germination percentage of seeds, and total chlorophyll content of seedlings were determined. Moreover, in the present study, the air movement around Bartın Cement Factory and level of pollutants in sampling areas were also determined. The directions of the prevailing winds around the cement factory were North, and Northwest. From the aspect of pollutant material level, the array of sampling areas was SP1>SP2>SP3>SP4>C. On the other hand, evaluating the results of mean seed germination percentages, a significant difference (P<0.01) was noted between control and seeds of Taurus Cedar at various distances from are pollutant source. From the aspect of the power of seeds collected with 3 repetitions from Taurus Cedars located at various distances, it a significant difference (P<0.01) was found between the control and experimental groups. Accordingly, from both the aspects of mean germination percentage and seed power, an apparent increase was observed from 400 m distance. On the other hand, as the distance from cement factory increased, total chlorophyll content in Taurus Cedar seedlings increases significantly. Results of bilateral regression analysis evaluated exponential relationship at level 97% between these 2 variables.

Background: Onion seeds have limited storage capacity compared to other vegetable seeds. It is crucial to identify the mechanisms that induce tolerance to storage conditions and reduce seed deterioration. To address this goal, an experiment was conducted to evaluate changes in germination, biochemical, physiological, and molecular characteristics of onion seed landraces (Horand, Kazerun landraces and Zargan cultivar) at different aging levels (control, three-days and six-days accelerated aging, and natural aging for one year). Results: The findings suggest that there was an increase in glucose, fructose, total sugar, and electrolyte leakage in the Horand (HOR), Kazerun (KAZ) landraces, and Zarghan (ZAR) cultivar, with Kazerun exhibiting the greatest increase. The percentage and rate of germination of Kazerun decreased by 54% and 33%, respectively, in six-day accelerated aging compared to the control, while it decreased by 12% and 14%, respectively, in Horand. Protein content decreased with increasing levels of aging, with a decrease of 26% in Kazerun landrace at six days of aging, while it was 16% in Horand landrace. The antioxidant activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase decreased more intensively in Kazerun. The expression of AMY1, BMY1, CTR1, and NPR1 genes were lower in Kazerun landraces than in Horand and Zargan at different aging levels. Conclusions: The AMY1, BMY1, CTR1, and NPR1 genes play a pivotal role in onion seed germination, and their downregulation under stressful conditions has been shown to decrease germination rates. In addition, the activity of CAT, SOD, and GPx enzymes decreased by seed aging, and the amount of glucose, fructose, total sugar and electrolyte leakage increased, which ultimately led to seed deterioration. Based on the results of this experiment, it is recommended to conduct further studies into the molecular aspects involved in onion seed deterioration. More research on the genes related to this process is suggested, as well as investigating the impact of different priming treatments on the genes expression involved in the onion seed aging process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hopea chinensis (Merr.) Hand.-Mazz. is a Class II national key protected plant and Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations in China. In order to further analyze why H. chinensis is endangered and optimize conservation techniques, we carried out a study on the effects of seed biological characteristics and environmental factors on the seed germination and seedling growth of H. chinensis. The results show that there were no significant differences in seed morphology between four populations in southern China, but there were significant differences in calyx lobe morphology and seed germination. The removal or retention of the calyx lobes or the seed coat had no significant effect on seed germination. The weight of individual H. chinensis seeds was mainly >1.0 g, with small seeds (<0.5 g) not germinating, whereas seeds >2.0 g had the highest germination rate and fastest seedling growth. H. chinensis produces typical recalcitrant seeds, being sensitive to natural dehydration, with dehydration for 8 d reducing seed viability by 50%, whereas dehydration for 16 d resulted in seeds with zero viability. H. chinensis seeds are light-neutral and capable of germination at a temperature of 30 °C and on a substrate with good water retention and aeration. The seeds are not tolerant of drought, salinity, or flooding. In conclusion, the unique biological characteristics of H. chinensis seeds and the specific habitat which they inhabit contribute to a significant loss of viable seeds, which negatively affects the population's ability to regenerate and achieve maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming has adverse effects on crop growth, development and yield production. It is of great theoretical and practical significance to evaluate the seed heat tolerance of different crops and to mine the related genes for improving the tolerance of crops to high temperature stress. In order to study the differences of seed heat tolerance in different crops, the seeds of different crop varieties or parental lines were used as materials, and the germination potential and germination percentage were investigated after h, h, h, h and h of heat treatment under about 100 °C. The results showed that there were significant differences in seed heat tolerance in different crops. The general trend was that the germination potential and germination percentage decreased continuously with the extension of treatment time. The seeds of sesame and partial rapeseed varieties had the strongest heat tolerance, and the germination potential and germination percentages after hours heat treatment were still over %. The heat tolerance of wheat, rice, barley and safflower is moderate, and the heat tolerance of peanut seeds is the weakest, the germination potential and germination percentages after h treatment were less than %. In order to explore heat tolerance-related genes of rapeseed, Brassica napus lines were used as materials and treated at 100°C for 8h. And 60 K Illumina SNP array were used to conduct genome-wide association analysis of germination potential and germination percentage in two environments. As a result, 11 SNPs associated with germination potential and SNPs associated with germination percentage were detected. A total of heat tolerance-related genes were screened within the candidate interval, and some homologous genes of the genes have been reported to play an important role in heat tolerance response of other plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research is the property of Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Hu and W. C. Cheng, as the only surviving relict species of the Taxodiaceae Metasequoia genus, is a critically endangered and protected species in China. There is a risk of extinction due to the low vigor of M. glyptostroboides seeds, and the physiological mechanism of seed aging in M. glyptostroboides is not yet clear. In order to investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the aging process of M. glyptostroboides seeds, we analyzed the antioxidant system and transcriptome at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days after artificial accelerated aging treatment at 40 °C and 100% relative humidity. It was found that the germination percentage of fresh dried M. glyptostroboides seeds was 54 ± 5.29%, and significantly declined to 9.33 ± 1.88% after 6 days of aging, and then gradually decreased until the seed died on day 8. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, ascorbic acid (AsA), glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide anion (O2·−) content and production rate significantly decreased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) activity gradually increased during the aging process. A total of 42,189 unigenes were identified in the whole transcriptome, and 40,446 (95.86%) unigenes were annotated in at least one protein database. A total of 15,376 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained; KEGG enrichment analysis results revealed that seed aging may be mainly involved in the protein-processing pathways in endoplasmic reticulum, oxidative phosphorylation, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that the dark magenta, orange, and medium purple modules were highly correlated with physiological indicators such as SOD, CAT, and GSH and further identified 40 hub genes such as Rboh, ACO, HSF, and CML as playing important roles in the antioxidant network of M. glyptostroboides seeds. These findings provide a broader perspective for studying the regulatory mechanism of seed aging and a large number of potential target genes for the breeding of other endangered gymnosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Agricolas is the property of University of Narino, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Forestry Society of Croatia / Sumarski List Hrvatskoga Sumarskoga Drustva is the property of Forestry Society of Croatia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigationon evaluation of provenance variations in seed morphometric, germination and seedling growth attributes of Neem was conducted at Division of Genetics and Tree Improvement at Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India with an aim to study the variation in different provenances of Azadirachta indica for seed morphometry, germination and seedling traits, to identify superior provenances of Azadirachta indica to produce quality planting stocks, during monsoon of 2021 and 2022. Extensive surveys were conducted in 6 different agro-climatic zones in Tamil Nadu and selected 30 Candidate Plus Trees (CPT's) based on growth superiority and higher fruit yield. The significant differences were recorded on seed length (cm), seed width (cm), seed perimeter (cm), seed area, and 100 seed kernel weight (g), germination percentage, mean daily germination, germination value, germination time, peak value, time spread of germination and germination index and seedling characters such as shoot length, root length, color diameter, leaf numbers, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, shoot and root vigorous index among the provenances and seed lots. Southern Zone and Rainfall Zone provenances recorded higher values on seed length and breadth, seed weight and seedling parameters and lower values of seed parameters were observed in the Western Zone and seedling parameters in North Eastern Zone. Seed length, seed area, seed perimeter and germination percentage had a significant strong positive correlation with the shoot vigour index. Southern Zone and Rainfall Zone provenances can be recommended for establishing large-scale plantation in the Tree Outside Forest (ToF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

The purpose of this study was to observe the germination rate and fungal pathogens association in selected Tossa jute varieties. The experiment was conducted following Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications. Truthfully labelled seeds (TLS) collected from four districts in Bangladesh, was used in the present study. The Highest germination rate (93.5%) and the lowest infection (31.25 pathogens/100 seed) were observed in BJRI Tossa Pat 5 (O-795) variety. BJRI Tossa Pat 4 (O-72) was observed as the most vulnerable against pathogen infection (121.25 pathogens/100 seed) and the showed lowest germination (83.25%). Regressions co-efficient (ß) -0.82 was observed between germination (%) and total number of pathogens on seeds. Regression co-efficient (ß) was -0.71 between moisture (%) and germination (%) of Tossa seeds. Regression co-efficient (ß) was 0.65 between moisture (%) and total number of pathogens at Tossa jute seeds. For conducting the experiment, there was no limitation. From the study, it may be concluded that, seed-borne pathogenic fungi negatively affect the germination (%) of Tossa jute seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) is mostly known for its edible kernels, which have been used for human consumption since Paleolithic times because of its highly nutritive value including high fat and protein. It is an important tree species in the Mediterranean basin, and one of the five native pine species in Turkey. Stone pine is also a crop in agroforestry in Mediterranean climate zones. Germination traits, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, C/N, carbon mass (CM) and nitrogen mass (NM) were investigated in seed lots of five native stone pine populations of Turkey. Significant differences were found among populations in terms of seed C and N concentrations. Seed germinations were conducted at 15 oC, 20 oC and 25 oC temperatures for 28 days. Germination percentage (GP) at 20 °C was the highest in all populations and up to 93%. The highest mean germination time (MGT) was 25 days at 15 °C and the minimum MGT was 13 days at 20 °C. C and N concentrations were 61–63% and 7.3–8.0%, respectively. The magnitude of the variance of C, N, C/N, CM and NM among the populations was 16%, 55%, 54%, 13%, and 16% respectively. MGT-N% (R2 = 0.88) and MGT-C/N (R2 = 0.78) at 20 °C and MGT-(C%-N%) (R2 = 0.95) at 15 °C indicated clearly the influence of C and N on seed MGT. Strong relationships suggest that stone pine seed carbon and nitrogen can be used as a relevant and fast assessment of seed viability in the context of nursery and afforestation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of nanoparticles and nonnanoparticles of titanium dioxide on germination indices of Echinacea under salinity stress. Experimental treatments included nano and bulk particles of titanium dioxide at concentrations of 0, 10, 50, 100 and 150 mg/l and salinity stress from NaCl at levels of 0, 3, -6 and-9 bar. The results showed that Echinacea is sensitive to high salinity stress levels (-6 and -9 bar). The use of nano and nonnano titanium dioxide treatment improved some traits under severe salinity stress. The germination percentage did not occur at salinity levels of -6 and -9 bar, but the addition of nano titanium dioxide with a concentration of 150 mg/l and 50 mg/l nonnano increased germination by 50.6%. Application of nano titanium dioxide increased the seedling weight in control by 1.28 mg to 4.26 mg in the treatment of 150 mg/l nanoparticles. The application of nano and bulk titanium dioxide could significantly reduce the negative effect of high salinity stress levels. This can be a valuable and hopeful solution to solve the problem of salinity stress in Echinacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore long term preservation of Pinus massoniana seeds through cryopreservation technology, aseptic seeds of P. massoniana with different water contents(WC)(27.4%, 24.6%, 22.7%, 16.8%, 15.8%, 10.7%, 7.5%, 6.1%, 4.8%, 3.2%)were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Our results showed that:(1)The germination of cryopreserved seeds increased when the seed WC elevated from 3.2% to 6.1%, reaching the highest rate of 91.33% at the optimum WC of 6.1%; However, seed germination decreased as WC further increased from 6.1% to 27.4%, in particular, with a rapid decline in germination of seeds with 15.8% or higher WC; There is a wide range of safe WC, within 3.2%-7.5%, the average germination rate reached above 80%.(2)In addition to WC, freezing and thawing methods also affected cryopreservation. Rapid freezing by directly immersing seeds into liquid nitrogen is better than pre-freezing at -20 °C prior to liquid nitrogen freezing; a slow air-thawing at room temperature gave a better germination result compared with a rapid thawing in a 42 °C water bath that caused seed episperm cracking.(3)The episperm also played an important role, which protected the seeds from the mechanical damage. The germination rates without episperm were significantly lower than those with episperm, and the abnormal seedlings were more observed when the episperms were removing.(4)At the optimum WC of 6.1%, cryopreserved seeds germinated better than those non-cryopreserved(control), indicating that cryopreservation may stimulate seed germination of P. massoniana. Collectively, our results showed that water content, freezing and thawing methods as well as the episperm structure can significantly affect cryopreservation of P. massoniana seeds; and the best method for cryopreservation of P. massoniana seeds is to directly freeze seeds with 6.1% WC using liquid nitrogen followed by a slow air-thawing at room temperature, by which the germination can reach above 90%. Results from this study may provide a rational for a long-term storage of P. massoniana seeds through cryopreservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is an important cereal consumed globally, however, poor germination and non-uniform seedling establishment are major causes of low rice yield in water-limiting arid ecosystems. Seed priming study with KNO3, SA and SiO2 to enhance germination and seedling growth was carried out with the objectives of (1) to determine the effects of seed priming on germination and early seedling growth, and (2) to evaluate effects of seed priming on physiological growth characteristics of rice seedling under drought stress simulated by polyethylene glycol (PEG6000). Under well-watered conditions, rice seeds were primed with concentrations of KNO3 (2.5%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%), SiO2 (2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4% and 4.5%) and SA (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 mM). While under drought stress, rice seeds were primed with 2.5% and 5% KNO3; 3% and 3.5% SiO2 and 1 mM and 2.5 mM SA. The results showed that all primed rice seedlings under both well-watered and drought stress conditions had significantly enhanced rice seedling growth parameters of seedling length, plumule length, root length, seedling vigor, seedling biomass and germination index and shorter germination time compared to unprimed controls. However, seed priming with concentrations of 2.5% and 5% KNO3; 3% and 3.5% SiO2, and 1 mM and 2.5 mM SA increased rice seedling growth parameters studied better than other concentrations. However, germination percentage was not significantly affected. Thus, priming of FARO44 rice with these concentrations of chemicals is recommended for fast germination, seedling growth and emergence in arid ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard seed coat structure is the main reason for dormancy of Date Palm seed (Phoenix dactylifera L.), making it hard to absorb water during germination. Physical, mechanical, or chemical scarification treatments are useful in resolving dormancy conditions in seeds. In the present study, the effect of mechanical (braking and dividing into six groups) and chemical (sulfuric acid (H2SO4), potassium nitrate (KNO3), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatments on the germination of date palm seeds was performed for different treatment period (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 min). Among mechanical treatments, intact operculum with scarification showed the highest germination percentage (GP) (86.70%) of the seed in vitro germinated. Regarding the chemical treatments, each treatment period had an effect on the seeds, GP of 86.70%, and 80.0% was exhibited for 30 min with NaOH and KNO3, respectively. Moreover, soaking of date palm seed in (H2SO4) for 30 min resulted in the highest GP of 96.7%, on 12th day of culture and number of days lapsed to reach 50% of GP (GT50) of 5.12 days, the germination speed GRI and CGRI of seeds were no significant different in the treatments of (H2SO4) for 20 or 30 min of the seed in vitro germinated. For all treated time, the seeds that pre-germinated in vitro shortened the days for germination and resulted in a significant increase in germination percentage compared with soil tested. The results presented herein suggest that date palm seed demonstrated exogenous dormancy that is completely imposed by the hard seed coat. That can be effectively overcome by both mechanical and chemical scarification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lolium rigidum Gaudin. and L. prenne L. species, which are from poaceae category are two forage species of high importance in terms of palatability and production. In this investigation, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications was performed, 4, 6, 8 weeks and seeds at 22° C was used as control. Subsequently, parameters such as germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), germination value (GV) and germination index (GI) of Lolium rigidum Gaudin. and L. prenne L. were evaluated. The results showed that the effect of cold treatment was significant (p≤0.01) on GP, GV, GI and GR of two species. In general, it can be concluded that cold treatment in the positive way to improve the performance and to increase the seed germination of Lolium rigidum Gaudin. and L. prenne L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four kinds of strawberry (Benihoppe, Akihime, Tuscany and Qianmei) seeds were taken a the materials, to study the effects of gibberellin in different concentrations and ultrasonic treatment on seed germination. The results showed that thousand kernel weights of seeds from different strawberry varieties had significant difference, and the sequence was Benihoppe] Akihime l Qianmei l Tuscany. Gibberellin treatment could improve germination rate of strawberry seed , and the optimal gibberellin concentrations for Benihoppe, Tuscany, Qianmei and Akihime were 5, 5 , 5 and 10 mol/L. Gibberellin treatment could improve germination po-tential of Tuscany and Qianmei, and germination potential rose with gibberellin concentration increased within certain range, while ultrasonic treatment obviously inhibited germination of strawberry seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Seed germination is a key life‐history stage of halophytes. Most studies on seed germination of halophytes have focused on the effects of a single salt, while little information is available on the effects of mixed salt in the natural habitat. Due to the contribution of multiple ions in saline soil, we hypothesized that the effect of mixed salt on seed germination will differ from that of a single salt and the mechanism of how germination is affected will differ as well. The effects of mixed salt and NaCl on germination, water imbibition, and ionic concentrations of seeds of Suaeda salsa (L.) Pall. were compared at various salinity levels. Germination percentage (GP) and rate (GR) decreased with increasing salinity level, regardless of salt type. There was no difference in GP or GR between mixed salt and NaCl when the salinity level was below 20 dS m−1. Above 20 dS m−1, GP and GR in NaCl were lower than those in mixed salt. At the same salinity level, Na+ concentration in seeds was higher in NaCl than that in mixed salt, but the reverse was true for Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations. Imbibition rate for seeds in NaCl was lower than that in mixed salt at the same salinity level. Addition of Ca2+ and Mg2+ alleviated the inhibition of NaCl on seed germination. In conclusion, our results suggest that the effects of soil salts and NaCl on seed germination are different, and using NaCl instead of soil salt might not be realistic to show the effect of saline stress on seed germination of halophytes in the natural habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black cumin is an annual oilseed crop, native to the Mediterranean region and widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes. Reduced seed germination and early seedling growth under saline conditions are considered as major factors limiting the establishment of crops. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of salinity due to NaCl on germination of black cumin seeds. A set of experiments was conducted under completely randomized design with four replications of 200 seeds at two different suboptimal germination temperatures (15 and 20 °C) in the dark for 16 days. In order to create salt stress conditions during the germination process, five solutions were used (0 as control, 80, 160, 240 and 320 mM NaCl). The germination performance was evaluated by final germination percentage and mean germination time. The effect of salinity on seed germination percentage and mean germination time was significant at p<0.01. Germination of the controls was 96% and 95% at 15 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The presence of NaCl, regardless of temperature, reduced germination. This reduction was more severe at 15 °C (15%, and 19% germination in cases of 80 and 160 mM concentration respectively) than at 20 °C (65% at 80 mM salinity level) and no germination was observed from 240 mM onwards. The mean germination time increased with increased NaCl levels, especially at the lower temperature of 15 °C. The overall results of this experiment showed the inhibitory effects of salt stress on seed germination parameters of black cumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of temperature, salt stress and pH on seed germination of a Moroccan medicinal plant Origanum compactum (Benth). Mature seeds were isolated from O. compactum collected from two areas belonging to Ouezzane province at post-flowering stage. The in vitro seed germination tests were carried out in the dark in Petri dishes using an aqueous media. The influence of temperature, salt stress and pH was evaluated by following the evolution of germination over time. The results showed an optimal temperature of 15 °C with a maximal germination percentage of 81%, an optimum pH equal to 7 with 71% as a maximal germination percentage and a negative correlation between NaCl concentration and seed germination. The seed germination was null at high temperature (25 °C) and at high NaCl concentration (>7.5 g/l) as well as at acid pH (pH <3.5). These data may serve as guidelines for species-specific propagation protocols, and ex situ conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the temporal effects of fruit consumption on the subsequent seed germination pattern of a fleshy-fruited tree, the Chinese hackberry ( Celtis sinensis). Via nursery-based sowing experiments, we investigated (1) how pulp removal affected seed germination patterns at the different stages of fruit maturation, and (2) how the timing of seed dispersal (August, October, and December) affected the germination patterns of seeds from ripe fruits after the removal of pulp. We found that the removal of pulp from around the seeds of ripe fruit had no effect on the percentage and timing of germination. In contrast, the removal of pulp from seeds of unripe fruits largely reduced the germination percentage. The time of sowing did not affect the germination percentage, whereas the timing of germination was delayed for seeds that were sown later or under shaded environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High vigor sweet corn seeds have higher yield potential than low vigor seeds. Relationships between kernel size and seed vigor during caryopsis development of three sh 2 sweet corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) analysis method. The pattern of kernel development among the three cultivars was similar and the length, width, thickness, volume, fresh weight and dry weight of the seeds reached their highest values at 30, 26, 18, 26, 26 and 38 days after pollination (DAP), respectively. Meanwhile, germination percentage (GP), germination energy (GE), germination index (GI) and vigor index (VI) gradually increased and reached their highest levels at 38 DAP. The TSR analysis indicated that seed dry weight affected seed vigor more significantly than other kernel size parameters did and was positively correlated with GP, GE, GI and VI. The results suggested that sh 2 sweet corn seed vigor in different seed developmental stages could be predicted by seed dry weight. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hippophae salicifolia D.Don is a deciduous tree species restricted to the Himalayan region. It is a important medicinal plants with multiple benefits. Source variation tests are necessary to screen the naturally available genetic variation to select the best planting material for higher productivity. In this study, an effort has been made to evaluate the extent of variation among the seed sources with respect to different fruit, seed and seedling traits. The seeds of H. salicifolia were collected from twelve seed sources. Initially fruits and seeds were measured for length, width and 100 seed weight. Seed germination test involved 4 replications of randomly selected 25 seeds each, from the working sample. The present investigation reports the variation in fruit, seed and seedling characters of Hippophae salicifolia. The maximum fruit length (7.15 mm), fruit width (6.25mm), seed length (5.20 mm), seed width (2.83 mm) and 100 seed weight (2.83 g) were observed in S9 seeds source of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Germination percentage was also highest in S9 (96.25 %). Length of radicle (2.30 cm) and plumule (4.43 cm) also showed maximum values in S9. According to present study, the seed source (S9 ) probably can be recommended for large scale plants production of the species from this locality for afforestation programme and for further breeding work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fritillaria montana Hoppe ex W.D.J.Koch (Liliaceae) is a rare perennial geophyte growing in south-eastern Europe. Although it occurs in most of the Italian territory, it is very rare and is included in the Red List of threatened plant species of most of the regions in which it grows; in Tuscany (central Italy), it is listed as Critically Endangered. The aim of our study was to investigate the seed size, weight, and morphology; the seed moisture and oil contents; the seed germination conditions; and the effect of different storage treatments on final germination success in F. montana. Seeds were collected from the only Tuscan population that set fruit in 2008, and they were then subjected to morphometric, moisture, and oil content measurements; germination tests; and different storage conditions. Morphometric measurements and shape index evidenced the flat and drop-like shape of the seeds, which have a moisture content of 14.62% and an oil content of 1.09%. They need a period of cold stratification to break dormancy and germinate, with a final percentage of 77.5%. The germination percentage after storage at 5 °C was 70%, while after storage in a drying room it was 55.2%. The differences between the final germination percentage of fresh seeds and treated seeds were only weakly significant. In the short time allotted for the trial, seeds of F. montana showed a good tolerance to drying and a potential predisposition to ex situ conservation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is a perennial plant characteristic of the Mediterranean region that presents difficulties in its propagation, both vegetatively and by seeds. The main aim of this study is to provide collection guidelines to achieve a viable caper commercial propagation, for which three experiments were undertaken to determine the viability and germination in different seed lots. In the first experiment, commercial and own produced seeds (collected with the same criteria as commercial seeds) were analysed; the commercial seeds presented the lowest viability and germination. The second experiment analysed the effect of the fruit (from which the seeds were extracted) at its maturation stage, obtaining the lowest seed viability and germination in the seeds extracted from the dry fruits. In the third experiment, seed viability and germination were analysed immediately after collection, following a short drying period (3 d), and after six storage months. Viability and germination decreased with seed storage. Overall, it can be stated that caper seeds are sensitive to desiccation; consequently, a general rule of thumb is to collect the fruits once a week, to extract the seeds, and to plant them immediately for germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of this study, the effect of nanoparticles of the essential trace element selenium stabilized by Polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP) C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid on the germination of barley seeds has been studied. Selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid, characterized by a spherical shape, monodisperse size distribution, and a diameter of about 70 ± 5 nm, were obtained by the chemical reduction method. The experiment compared the effect of selenium nanoparticles and selenous acid on seed germination. The positive effect of preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid on the length of roots and shoots, the number of roots, and the percentage of seed germination has been revealed. It was determined that the highest percentage of Hordeum vulgare L. culture seed germination was achieved using a preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid at a concentration of of 4.65 µg/mL. Analysis of the results showed that selenium in the form of nanoparticles has an order of magnitude that is less toxic than in the form of selenous acid. The study of morphological and functional parameters during the germination of Hordeum vulgare L. seeds allowed us to conclude that selenium nanoparticles can be successfully used in agronomy and agriculture to provide plants with the essential microelement selenium, which is necessary for the normal growth and development of crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germination percentage and germination rate were examined in two melon accessions differing in their ability to germinate under low temperature and in their reciprocal F1, F2, and BC1 progeny. The seedcoat structure, pressure force required for seedcoat splitting, and the response to hilum sealing of the reciprocal F1s were examined as well. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of embryonic genotype and seedcoat characteristics on the ability of melon seeds to germinate under low temperature. The results of the study point out that both components are strongly involved in low-temperature germination. The cold tolerant parent, 'Persia 202' (P202), germinated greater than 90% at 15 °C, whereas the cold-sensitive parent, 'Noy Yizre'el' (NY), did not germinate at all. The P202 x NY F1 and the reciprocal F2 germinated 80% to 90%, whereas the NY x P202 F1 germination percentage was only 71%. Backcrosses of the reciprocal F1 to the parents revealed that if the cross was to the tolerant one, the seeds germinated greater than 90%, but if the F1s were backcrossed to the sensitive parent, the seeds had only 56% to 600 germination. Data collected suggest that several dominant genes are carried by P202 for low-temperature germination. On the other hand, the difference in germination percentages between the reciprocal F1 demonstrates that the different seedcoats also play a role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) is a commercially important biennial root crop, providing about 20% of the world's annual sugar production. Seed quality is crucial for adequate plant growth and production. The productivity of sugar beet is often limited by heterogeneous germination in the field. In order to improve the sugar beet germination process, the effect of different concentrations of microalgal extracts from Chlorella vulgaris or Scenedesmus quadricauda was investigated by calculating several indices useful to evaluate the germination performance. Moreover, root morphological analysis was performed by using WinRHIZO software. B. vulgaris seeds were soaked with five different concentrations (from 0.1 to 10 mg Corg/L) of the microalgal extracts, considering the amount of organic carbon (Corg) in each extract. Our results show that these microalgal extracts exert a positive effect on sugar beet germination, by increasing efficiency and regularity of this critical process for B. vulgaris seeds. The best results, in terms of germination indices as well as root morphological traits, were reached by using C. vulgaris extract at the concentrations C2 (1 mg Corg/L) and C3 (2 mg Corg/L). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research highlights: This study is focused on the germination of Dracaena cinnabari seeds in order to discover the possibility of natural and artificial regeneration of this species. Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the optimal temperature for D. cinnabari seed germination, e.g., the temperature at which the germination percentage and germination rate (vitality) are the highest. The objectives of this study are to: (1) determine the optimal temperature for the germination of D. cinnabari seeds, (2) compare the suitability of different seed collection methods, and (3) compare the germination parameters of seeds that were collected from different localities. The results of this study will contribute to obtaining the highest number of seedlings from limited seed material for reforestation of the most endangered localities of D. cinnabari species. Materials and methods: Four seed sections were employed. These sections were directly collected from either the fruits of a cut panicle or the ground and were obtained from different localities that differ in altitude. The seeds were tested in a greenhouse while using Petri dishes at three different temperatures—22, 26, and 30 °C—with four replicates of 25 seeds of each section. ANOVA and the t-test were employed for data analysis. Results: The highest germination percentages (GPs) were achieved at 26 °C and 30 °C, which were 84.6% and 82.5%, respectively. The ANOVA and t-test results showed that the germination index (GI) of the species was relatively higher at a temperature of 30 °C relative to that at other temperatures in the study. Although seeds that were collected from the tree achieved a higher GP, the t-test result showed no significant differences in the GI of D. cinnabari seeds that were collected from the ground and from the tree (p > 0.05). Overall, the findings of this study show that temperature has substantial influence on the germination of seeds of D. cinnabari. Therefore, we recommend a temperature of 30 °C to facilitate the germination of D. cinnabari, as it achieved the highest GI at this temperature relative to that at the other temperatures (22 °C, 26 °C) applied in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]