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Tobacco is one of the important cash crops in China. It is sensitive to low temperature, especially in the early stage of tobacco seed germination and seedling growth. Low temperature stress directly affects the germination of tobacco seeds, leading to irregular emergence and slow growth of seedlings. Therefore, it is important to improve the vigor and cold tolerance of tobacco. In this study, two cold-sensitive tobacco varieties were primed individually with ZnSO 4 , FeSO 4 and Na 2 SeO 3 to test the effects of different microelements priming on seed germination. The results showed that under low temperature (11 °C), all three elements could improve tobacco seed vigor and promote seed germination, with selenium priming exhibiting the best effect. Selenium priming significantly increased the seed vigor index of YY97 by 29.60 % and of YY85 by 47.57 %. Moreover, selenium priming could effectively enhance POD activity in seeds, promote the oxidation of phenolic substances and enhance the activities of G-6-PDH and 6-P-GDH in the process of scavenging ROS and converting H 2 O 2 to ·O 2 - . The results suggested that selenium played an important role in promoting tobacco seed germination under low temperature., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this study, the seed germination and dormancy characteristics of three Ranunculus species native to Korea (R. cantoniensis, R. chinensis, and R. sceleratus) were determined to establish an effective dormancy-breaking protocol. The results revealed that the R. cantoniensis, R. chinensis, and R. sceleratus seeds responded differently to treatment with gibberellins (GAs) and stratification. Warm stratification at 20℃ increased the germination percentage and partially broke the dormancy of the R. cantoniensis seeds; moreover, the germination temperature range of the seeds expanded upon treatment with high-concentration GA 4 + 7 . Meanwhile, neither cold nor warm stratification was effective at breaking the dormancy of R. chinensis seeds; however, high-concentration GA 4 + 7 treatment broke the dormancy of the seeds by expanding the germination temperature range. Lastly, the R. sceleratus seeds did not respond to the treatment with GAs; however, their germination percentage increased after undergoing warm stratification at 25℃. The seeds of these three species were characterized as exhibiting nondeep morphophysiological dormancy. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of the temperature-related germination responses of the three Ranunculus species, offering valuable insights into their conservation and utilization., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Humans have been using plants in the treatment of various diseases for millennia. Currently, even with allopathic medicines available, numerous populations globally still use plants for therapeutic purposes. Although plants constitute a safer alternative compared to synthetic agents, it is well established that medicinal plants might also exert adverse effects. Thus, the present investigation aimed to assess the phytotoxic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic potential of two plants from the Brazilian Cerrado used in popular medicine, Davilla nitida (Vahl) Kubitzki, and Davilla elliptica (A. St.-Hil.). To this end, germination, growth, and cell cycle analyses were conducted using the plant model Lactuca sativa . Seeds and roots were treated with 0.0625 to 1 g/L for 48 hr under controlled conditions. The germination test demonstrated significant phytotoxic effects for both species at the highest concentrations tested, while none of the extracts produced significant effects in the lettuce growth test. In the microscopic analyses, the aneugenic and cytotoxic action of D. elliptica was evident. In the case of D. nitida greater clastogenic action and induction of micronuclei, (MN) were noted suggesting that the damage initiated by exposure to these extracts was not repaired or led to apoptosis. These findings indicated that the observed plant damage was transmitted to the next generation of cells by way of MN. These differences in the action of the two species may not be attributed to qualitative variations in the composition of the extracts as both are similar, but to quantitative differences associated with synergistic and antagonistic interactions between the compounds present in these extracts.

Abiotic and biotic stresses during seed germination are typically managed with conventional agrochemicals, known to harm the environment and reduce crop yields. Seeking sustainable alternatives, nanotechnology-based agrochemicals leverage unique physical and chemical properties to boost seed health and alleviate stress during germination. Nanoprimers in seed priming treatment are advanced nanoscale materials designed to enhance seed germination, growth, and stress tolerance by delivering bioactive compounds and nutrients directly to seeds. Present review aims to explores the revolutionary potential of nanoprimers in sustainable seed treatment, focusing on their ability to enhance crop productivity by improving tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Key objectives include understanding the mechanisms by which nanoprimers confer resistance to stresses such as drought, salinity, pests, and diseases, and assessing their impact on plant physiological and biochemical pathways. Key findings reveal that nanoprimers significantly enhance seedling vigor and stress resilience, leading to improved crop yields. These advancements are attributed to the precise delivery of nanomaterials that optimize plant growth conditions and activate stress tolerance mechanisms. However, the study also highlights the importance of comprehensive toxicity and risk assessments. Current review presents a novel contribution, highlighting both the advantages and potential risks of nanoprimers by offering a comprehensive overview of advancements in seed priming with metal and metal oxide nanomaterials, addressing a significant gap in the existing literature. By delivering advanced molecular insights, the study underscores the transformative potential of nanoprimers in fostering sustainable agricultural practices and responsibly meeting global food demands., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This article was not written, authored or published with any potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is highly esteemed for its therapeutic properties and is widely used in traditional medicine and modern pharmacology. Enhancing its genetic traits and phytochemical profile, particularly its trigonelline content, can significantly increase its medicinal and agricultural value. This study aims to investigate the effects of gamma rays and Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) as mutagenic agents on the genetic and phytochemical characteristics of the M2 generation of fenugreek, focusing on genetic diversity and desirable trait enhancement., Methods and Results: To achieve this, various concentrations of EMS and gamma rays were administered to fenugreek seeds, and 27 traits were assessed in the resulting M2 generation. These traits were analyzed for variance, mean values, and correlations. The genetic diversity of 23 M2 offspring was investigated using nine Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers. The genetic diversity assessment involved Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) and cluster analysis, utilizing the Dice similarity coefficients and the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA). A Bayesian model provided deeper insights into the genetic structure. Results revealed that lower doses of gamma rays (100 Gy) and EMS (0.2%) positively impacted specific traits. In comparison, higher doses (200 Gy and 0.4% EMS) increased seed trigonelline content to 0.71 mg/g dry weight. Among the SCoT markers, SCoT-9 was the most efficient, segregating the populations into three clusters. The first three principal components in the PCoA explained 20% of the total variance, leading to seven subgroup populations distinction., Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of induced mutagenesis in enhancing desirable traits in fenugreek., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Nanotechnology represents a burgeoning field of science that enables advanced research across various domains. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the utilization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for diverse agricultural and industrial applications. Similarly, copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have significant attention in agriculture due to their cost-effectiveness and practicality. This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of silver and copper nanoparticles on enhancing both the yield and quality of Brassica napus L. cultivar CON-1. The combined foliar application of green synthesized silver and copper nanoparticles at varying concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 mg/L) resulted in notable improvements in the growth, yield and quality of Brassica napus L. compared to untreated plants. Particularly, the concentration of 25 mg/L for both silver and copper nanoparticles demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of plant height, number of primary and secondary branches/plant, number of siliques /plant, number of seeds/silique, siliqua length, 1000-seed weight, biological yield/plant, seed yield/plant, oil yield/plant, and harvest index. Furthermore, the nanoparticles effectively reduced the accumulation of erucic acid in the oil, thereby enhancing the overall oil quality of canola. In summary, the application of silver and copper nanoparticles shows promising potential in improving the productivity and quality of Brassica napus L., highlighting their role as beneficial agricultural additives in modern farming practices., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Salinization is recognized as a global problem, restricting agricultural production and sustainability. Targeting the salinity-induced oxidative stress, antioxidant treatment represents a protective strategy to improve plant salt tolerance. Herein, we report a V 4 C 3 MXene nanozyme (MXenzyme), which exhibits good biocompatibility and excellent reactive oxygen species scavenging activity to ameliorate the salt stress-induced inhibition of seed germination. V 4 C 3 MXenzyme treatment can significantly relieve salinity-induced oxidative stress and restore the antioxidant system in pea seeds, thus improving the phenotypic traits during germination. The molecular mechanism by which antioxidant V 4 C 3 MXenzymes augment salt tolerances is revealed through transcriptomics and metabolomics. V 4 C 3 MXenzymes significantly regulate the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and molecule biosynthesis that correlate closely with hormone signal transduction genes and energy metabolism genes. With correlation and the combined analysis, redox homeostasis targeted by antioxidant V 4 C 3 MXenzymes plays a critical role in promoting plant growth under salt stress.

Colletotrichum fungus complex affects several crops and tropical products, which suffer significant losses due to anthracnose. The use of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs), alone or in combination with bioactive compounds, has been recommend for agronomic applications. However, there is very little information on their phytotoxicity, and there is no information about the effect on microorganisms with low susceptibility to chitosan. This work aims to compare their antifungal effect against isolates of C. fructicola with low susceptibility to chitosan and to study the toxicological effects of CNPs on the germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and radish (Raphanus sativus) seeds. Levels of phytotoxicity of high-to-very high and moderate-to-very high were observed for lettuce and radish seeds, respectively, with greater detrimental effects on the radicle elongation after exposure to CNPs concentrations of 4-5 g L -1 . For the three C. fructicola isolates, the CNPs did not inhibit the fungal growth; however, the cell viability decreased as the CNPs concentration increased, and a complete inhibition of the viability was found for H4-1 and 003 isolates at a CNPs concentration of 5 g L -1 . Morphometric alterations characterized by a reduction in the average length of the terminal hyphae, distortion, and a higher number of branches in the hyphae, were observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report where the effect of nanochitosan particles in Colletotrichum fructicola, with experimentally proven low sensitivity to chitosan, was studied., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Seed priming with a composite of iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) and silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) nanoparticles (NPs) is an innovative technique to mitigate cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) uptake in plants from rooting media. The current study explored the impact of seed priming with varying levels of Fe 3 O 4 NPs, SiO 2 NPs, and Fe 3 O 4 -SiO 2 nanocomposites on Cd and Cr absorption and phytotoxicity, metal-induced oxidative stress mitigation, growth and biomass yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). The results showed that seed priming with the optimum level of 100 mg L -1 of Fe 3 O 4 -SiO 2 nanocomposites significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased root dry weight (144 %), shoot dry weight (243 %) and leaf area (34.4 %) compared to the control, primarily by safeguarding plant's photosynthetic machinery, oxidative stress and phytotoxicity of metals. Plants treated with this highest level of Fe 3 O 4 -SiO 2 nanocomposites exhibited a substantial increase in photosynthetic and gas exchange indices of spinach plants and enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) antioxidant enzymes by 45 %, 48 %, and 60 %, respectively. Correspondingly, the relative gene expression levels of SOD, CAT, and APX also rose by 109 %, 181 %, and 137 %, respectively, compared to non-primed plants. This nanocomposite application also boosted the levels of phenolics (28 %), ascorbic acid (68 %), total sugars (129 %), flavonoids (39 %), and anthocyanin (29 %) in spinach leaves, while significantly reducing Cd (34.7 %, 53.4 %) and Cr (20.2 %, 28.8 %) contents in plant roots and shoots, respectively. These findings suggest that seed priming with Fe 3 O 4 -SiO 2 nanocomposites effectively mitigated the toxic effects of Cd and Cr, enhancing the growth and biomass yield of spinach in Cd and Cr co-contaminated environments, offering a promising sustainable approach for producing metal-free crops., 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 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diclofenac (DCF) and naproxen (NPX), represent a group of environmental contaminants often detected in various water and soil samples. This work aimed to assess possible phytotoxic effects of DCF and NPX in concentrations 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/L, both individually and in binary mixtures, on the seed germination and primary root elongation of crops, monocots Allium porrum and Zea mays, and dicots Lactuca sativa and Pisum sativum. Results proved that the seed germination was affected by neither individual drugs nor their mixture. The response of primary root length in monocot and dicot species to the same treatment was different. The Inhibition index (%) comparing the root length of drug-treated plants to controls proved to be approximately 10% inhibition in the case of dicots lettuce and pea, and nearly 20% inhibition in monocot leek, but almost 20% stimulation in monocot maize. Assessment of the binary mixture effect confirmed neither synergistic nor antagonistic interaction of DCF and NPX on early plant development in the applied concentration range., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The preparation of soilless medium for the growth of seeds based on macroporous scaffolds of chitosan-glutaric acid and urea (CHGAUR) is reported. The CHGAUR scaffold was prepared by the hydrothermal reaction of chitosan with GA in presence of urea. The product was purified using Soxhlet extraction with methanol. CHGAUR was composed of chitosan with a small weight fraction of glutaric acid and urea, which were present in the salt form as confirmed by TGA and FT IR spectroscopy. This suggested that CH is most likely to be physically crosslinked in the scaffold through GAUR links. SEM images confirmed the porous structure of material. Water absorption studies suggested that CHGAUR could absorb ∼4100-5700 % water and could be varied by varying the CH: UR ratio used in the preparation. The percentage porosity of CHGAUR did not vary much with urea content suggesting that significant variation in the micropore structure was not obtained by varying the urea content in the preparation. Mechanical tests revealed that material was soft and flexible and able to retain its original shape even after removing the load. CHGAUR, in purified state, was studied for the germination and seedling growth. Among the seeds investigated, pigeon pea showed the best result., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Small concentrations of herbicide, such as those found in drift, can affect nontarget plants at different life-history stages including seed germination and seedling emergence as well as seedling growth. Fragmented landscapes, such as those in the northern Great Plains, lead to increased proximity of ecological restoration sites to agricultural lands using herbicides. Germination, emergence, and growth are crucial life-history stages leading to ecological restoration success, but these stages are sensitive to impacts from external factors such as herbicide exposure. A lab germination experiment and a greenhouse emergence experiment were performed to examine the effect of herbicides (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid [2,4-D], atrazine, and trifluralin) on species used in ecological restorations in the northern Great Plains. Seed germination, seedling emergence, and seedling growth of many study species decreased with exposure to herbicides at different concentrations representative of herbicide drift. At concentrations as low as 0.1% recommended application rate 2,4-D elicited broad effects on final seed germination percentage and germination rate. Atrazine affected seedling emergence and growth for a number of study species at concentrations as low as 10% recommended application rate. Trifluralin affected germination, emergence, and growth of the fewest number of study species. The information gained from these experiments can be used to inform restoration practitioners of best practices and recommended species to use when implementing ecological restoration adjacent to agricultural lands. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2387-2397. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC., (© 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.)

Soil salinization has been considered as a major environmental threat to plant growth. Different types of salt in saline soil have different effects on germination and seedling growth. Effect of NaCl on germination and seedling establishment in Suaeda liaotungensis have been reported, but its response to alkali stress remains unclear. Our results showed that brown seeds had higher germination rate, however, black seeds had higher germination recovery percentage under alkali stress. Na 2 CO 3 had stronger inhibitory effect on germination and seedling growth than NaHCO 3 . As the concentration of alkali stress increased, the ROS level of brown seeds gradually ascended, while that of black seeds decreased first and then ascended. MDA content of dimorphic seeds significantly increased under alkali stress. The trend of SOD, POD and CAT activity between dimorphic seeds was similar under the same type of alkali stress. Alkali stress enhanced proline content of dimorphic seeds, and dimorphic seeds in NaHCO 3 solution had higher proline content than Na 2 CO 3 solution. Moreover, radicle and shoot tolerance indexes of seedlings in NaHCO 3 solution were significantly higher than that of Na 2 CO 3 solution. Under strong alkali stress, seedlings in NaHCO 3 solution had significantly lower ROS level and MDA content as well as higher antioxidant enzyme activity than Na 2 CO 3 solution. This study comprehensively compared the morphological and physiological characteristics in germination and seedlings to better reveal the saline-alkali tolerance mechanisms in S. liaotungensis., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Botanical Society of Japan.)

One of the most important areas of nanotechnology is the use of nanoparticles (NPs) for a variety of environmental and biological applications, with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) gaining a lot attention due to their distinct properties. The current study deals with the synthesis of Ag-NPs from Dicliptera bupleuroides Nees leaf extract and to determine their antioxidant, antimicrobial potential and effects on wheat seed germination and growth. UV-Visible spectrum revealed a prominent absorption peak at 442 nm, elucidating the conformation of the Ag-NPs synthesis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed distinctive triangular, pyramidal, and irregular shape. X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated their crystalline nature, with average crystallite size of the Ag-NPs measured at 20.52 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) further confirmed the presence of functional groups such as Phenols (O-H stretch), transition metal carbonyls N-H, ≡C-H, C ≡ N, C ≡ C, C-Cl, C-Br and O-H bonds on the surface Ag-NPs. The antibacterial activity of the Ag-NPs was most pronounced against Bacillus subtilis, with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) measuring 11 mm ± 0.57 at a concentration of 1000 μg/mL (45% inhibition). Likewise, Ag-NPs exhibited highest antioxidant potential (73.2%) at 100 μg/mL compared with standard (ascorbic acid) which showed (76%) at the same concentration. Furthermore, the effect of D. bupleuroides mediated Ag-NPs on wheat seeds growth and germination was recorded maximum at high concentrations (200-300 ppm). In conclusion, D. bupleuroides mediated Ag-NPs showed safe, cost effective and environmentally friendly synthesis which can be used as an antibacterial and antioxidant agent as well as for enhancing the growth and seed germination of crop seeds globally. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Nanotechnology is the study of nanoparticles for biological and environmental applications. Ag-NPs among other NPs have received broad attention because of their unique properties. D. bupleuroides Ag-NPs: 45% antibacterial, 73.2% antioxidant, enhance wheat germination. D. bupleuroides-mediated Ag-NPs are both cost-effective and environmentally beneficial., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Precise, effective and green control plays an essential role in reducing environmental and ecosystem damage. Seed treatment has proven effective and long-lasting for target organisms, and exploring the reasons for long-term protection is important for sustainable agricultural development. This study examined the uptake and metabolism behaviour of thiamethoxam under seed treatment in wheat samples throughout the whole growth cycle, as well as the associated synergistic effects of thiamethoxam and its metabolites during the most severe period of aphid occurrence. Uptake and metabolism results showed that 41 % of thiamethoxam and its active metabolites (clothianidin and demethyl-clothianidin) accumulated mainly in flag leaves of wheat, severely harming aphids, which was significant in controlling leaf-feeding pests. Combined activity results showed that thiamethoxam, clothianidin and demethyl-clothianidin produced synergistic efficacy in controlling aphids, with cotoxicity coefficients ranging from 179.34 to 452.07. Compared with the control, thiamethoxam seed treatments at a rate of 1.5 a.i. g/kg seeds and 3.0 a.i. g/kg seeds can significantly enhance salicylic acid (55 % and 41 %) and jasmonic acid (168 % and 125 %) concentrations and invoke changes in the concentrations of plant secondary substances, which promoted wheat resistance to aphids. Future studies cannot ignore the synergistic effects of metabolites and plant secondary substances in pest control. These results provided data support for reducing pesticide use, increasing efficiency and making more rational use of neonicotinoid insecticides., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gamma irradiation-based mutant creation is one of the most important methods for rice plant mutagenesis breeding and molecular biology research. Although median lethal dose irradiation severely damages rice seedlings, applying brassinolide (BR) can increase the survival rate of irradiated seedlings. In this study, we investigated the effects of soaking seeds in solutions containing different BR concentrations (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 μmol/L) and then spraying the resulting seedlings twice with 0.1 μmol/L BR. The combined BR treatments markedly decreased the superoxide anion (O 2 •- ), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and malondialdehyde contents but increased the chlorophyll content. An appropriate BR treatment of gamma-irradiated samples substantially increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase as well as the proline, ascorbic acid, and glutathione contents in rice seedling shoots. The BR treatment also promoted the growth of seedlings derived from irradiated seeds and increased the shoot and root fresh and dry weights. Most notably, soaking seeds in 0.01 or 0.1 μmol/L BR solutions and then spraying seedlings twice with 0.1 μmol/L BR significantly increased the final seedling survival rate and decreased mutant loss. The study results suggest that exogenous BR treatments can protect rice seedlings from gamma irradiation stress by enhancing antioxidant metabolism.

Nano-priming is a relatively new seed treatment technique using metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), and such application of NPs may support the plants' immunity. Recently we have shown that the that biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (bio-AgNPs) used as short-term foliar treatment protect pea seedlings against D. pinodes and F. avenaceum . In the present study, the protection of peas against both fungal pathogens via seed priming with bio-AgNPs was analyzed. Moreover, the changes in the polar metabolic profiles of the seedlings caused by priming and infection were also compared. Seed priming with bio-AgNPs at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/L considerably reduced the symptoms and infection levels of both pathogens by over 70% and 90% for F. avenaceum and D. pinodes , respectively. Pathogens infection and nano-priming affected the metabolic profile of pea seedlings. The major changes in the primary metabolism were observed among carbohydrates and amino acids. In turn, this may result in changes in the expression and accumulation of secondary metabolites. Therefore, further investigation of the effect of nano-priming should focus on the changes in the secondary metabolism.

Thiazole and phenoxyacetic acid are key moieties in many natural and synthetic biologically active agents. A series of N -(5-(3,5-methoxyphenyl)-(thiazole-2-yl))phenoxyacetamide derivatives 6an-6bd were designed and synthesized, and their structures were confirmed by NMR and HRMS. Most of derivatives exhibited superior inhibition of Echinochloa crusgalli (E.c.) and Lactuca sativa (L.s.) seed germination by the Petri dish bioassay. Indeed, herbicidal bioassays indicated that 6an (2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)- N -(5-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)acetamide) had the best inhibition against L.s. (IC 50 = 42.7 g/ha, 375 g/ha at field experiments). 6an also had no harmful effect on Zea mays at 2- to 4-fold field usage. Moreover, transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis showed that 6an significantly influenced cell metabolism, including galactose metabolism and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. These discoveries highlight that 6an shows promise to be developed as a potential herbicide.

This experimental study aimed to elucidate the optimal colchicine concentration for inducing polyploidy and to examine the morphological effects on Nigella sativa L. (family Ranunculaceae) plants recognized as 'Kalonji' in India. Here, seeds were exposed with different concentration of colchicine ranging from 0.025 to 0.4% with varying time duration (24-48 h). The agro-morphological attributes and chromosome counts of the putative polyploids were compared with control diploid plants, revealing significant differences. The ploidy level determined by chromosome counts revealed that 0.05-0.1% concentration of colchicine induced tetraploids within both plant genotypes for 24 h and 48 h. However, results based on agro-morphological trait correlation analysis revealed more significant association among yield traits at 0.1% concentration and the principal component analysis revealed that the maximum possible ameliorative effect of the colchicine dose was the lowest concentration (0.025% for a 48-hour exposure time) for the AN1 genotype; likewise, a 0.05% concentration established a more positive association in terms of growth and yield attributes for the AN20 genotype. This study demonstrated that low dosages (0.025% and 0.1%) strongly impact plant growth and yield, whereas higher dosages obliterate these positive effects and add destructive characteristics within plants which ultimately reduces yield., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cotton seeds have poorer germination than other crops because of their high sensitivity towards insect pests and other biotic and abiotic stresses during the germination process. In the present study, inorganic bulk and nano nutrients of zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles were synthesized using the chemical reduction method and invigourated with cotton seeds. The characterization of nanoparticles was done by FESEM, HRTEM, UV/Vis analysis and FTIR. The delinted and fuzzy seeds of two American cotton varieties (H 1300 and H 1098-i) were nano-primed for 10 h with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) @ 400 ppm and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) @ 100 ppm. After nanoparticle invigouration, the seeds were analyzed for various parameters at different intervals (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months) such as germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, electrical conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, antioxidant enzyme activity. The results indicated that that different storage periods and nanopriming treatments had significant effects on all seed quality parameters except the effect of nanopriming treatments on germination percentage (excluding delinted seeds of H 1098-i). It is also revealed that the interaction effect of nanopriming treatment and storage period was non-significant on all parameters except EC. Maximum reduction in seed quality parameters was observed in control treatment and minimum was found when seeds were nanoprimed with ZnONPs @ 400 ppm. The differences in the response for both NPs can be attributed to their surface charge, and concentration used. Overall, ZnONPs and TiO 2 NPs could hold seed quality and vigour during the storage of cotton seeds of American varieties (H 1300 and H 1098-i)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The novel brominated flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) has biological toxicity, persistence, long-range migration and bioaccumulation ability. However, there is currently little research on the phytotoxicity of DBDPE in plants. The perennial herbaceous plant tall fescue (Festuca elata Keng ex E. B. Alexeev) was selected as the model organism for use in seed germination experiments, and the phytotoxicity of DBDPE in the soil of tall fescue was studied. The results indicated that DBDPE had a significant effect on the germination and growth of tall fescue seedlings. Citric acid reduced the stress caused by DBDPE in plants, effectively alleviating the phytotoxicity of DBDPE in tall fescue. The root vitality and protein content significantly increased after the application of citric acid, increasing by 74.93-183.90%, 146.44-147.67%, respectively. The contents of proline and soluble sugars significantly decreased after the application of citric acid, decreasing by 45.18-59.69% and 23.03%, respectively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in superoxide dismutase (SOD) or peroxidase (POD) activity in tall fescue seedlings, and the catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were significantly lower after the application of citric acid, decreasing by 64.62-67.91% and 29.10-49.80%, respectively (P < 0.05). Tall fescue seedlings bioaccumulated DBDPE, with biological concentration factors (BCFs) ranging from 4.28 to 18.38 and transfer factors (TFs) ranging from 0.43 to 0.54. This study provides theoretical support for the study of the toxicity of DBDPE to plants and offers a research foundation for exploring the phytoremediation of DBDPE-contaminated soil by tall fescue., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The economic part of the Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) plant is the sepal. One of the main challenges in harvesting this product is separating its seeds, which are surrounded by sepals. If the parthenocarpy process occurs without seeds, the labor costs are reduced and the profits from the production of this plant are increased. In current study, the effect of gibberellic acid (GA 3 ), melatonin (M), and indole acetic acid (IAA) on the induction of parthenocarpy in H. sabdariffa plants was investigated. The study was conducted as a factorial experiment in the form of randomized complete block design with three replications. Different concentrations of GA 3 (0 (control), 700, 800, and 900 ppm), M (0 (control), 100, 200, and 400 ppm), and IAA (0 (control), 1000, 1200, and 1400 ppm) were foliar sprayed after the emergence of the flower bud on the 50th, 60th, and 70th days of planting, and the control plants were also sprayed with distilled water. Various measurements were taken including the number of seeds per boll, parthenocarpy percentage, capsule volume, number of bolls per plant, number of mature seeds, and phytochemical parameters such as anthocyanin, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, antioxidant value, total phenol and flavonoid content, and soluble solids. The application of GA 3 at 800 and 900 ppm along with IAA at 1000 ppm and M at 100 and 200 ppm led to the production of parthenocarpy fruits and showed the best results in the induction of parthenocarpy. The control group indicated the highest number of mature seeds per boll. The highest amount of phenol and flavonoid contents were obtained in plants treated with GA 3 at 800 ppm. For anthocyanin, the control group showed the highest value (1.63 mg g -1 ), and in the case of the antioxidant trait, plants exposed to 100 ppm M showed the highest IC50 (40.68%). Hence, the application of plant growth regulators with appropriate concentrations can be effective in inducing parthenocarpy in H. sabdariffa plants. Additionally, parthenocarpy-induced by GA 3 , IAA, and M had different impacts on fruit quality and quantity, suggesting that the effect depends on the type of employed hormones used and their concentrations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Carbon Dots (CDs) were synthesized from peanut shells (PNS) through pyrolysis and characterized using FTIR, XRD, HRTEM and BET analysis revealing an average size of 2-5 nm with amorphous nature. Synthesized PNS-CDs was employed both as priming and foliar agent for enhancing seed quality and crop productivity in blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper). Different concentrations ranging from 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 1000 ppm was used for seed priming and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75 and 100 ppm were given as foliar spray on 30 th and 45 th days after sowing (DAS). On accounting the best seed priming and foliar spray concentrations, field trial was conducted to validate the optimistic effect of PNS-CDs on blackgram crop productivity. Results revealed that priming with 200 ppm for 3 h exhibited maximum seed imbibition (54%), germination (88%) and vigour index (3165). Whereas, foliar spray with 50 ppm expressed significant improvement in leaf area index (2.6), total chlorophyll (2.70 mg/g), total soluble protein (71 mg/g), Number of nodules/plant (138), seed yield/plant (8.7 g) and 100 seed weight (5 g). The impact of PNS-CDs treatments resulted in increased photosynthetic rate (12.45 µmol CO 2 m -2 s -1 ), transpiration rate (3.13 mmol H 2 O/m -2 s -1 ), stomatal conductance (0.55 mol H 2 O/m -2 s -1 ) and internal leaf CO 2 concentration (652 µmol CO 2 m -2 s -1 ) which ultimately enhanced the photosynthetic efficiency of plants. It has also exhibited a promising effect on the resultant seed in which the combination seed priming (200 ppm) followed by foliar spray (50 ppm) recorded maximum 100 seed weight (4.19 g), germination (97%) and vigour index (3019). Thus, this study highlights the promising role of PNS-CDs as a sustainable and effective agricultural nanomaterial, offering a novel approach to utilize the agricultural waste and also to enhance the crop productivity through advanced non-chemical approach., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Poor seedling germination and growth can result in large financial losses for farmers, thus, there is an urgent need for sustainable agricultural techniques to enhance seed germination and early growth. As an outcome, sustainable agriculture-which emphasizes the smart and effective utilization of resources-has gained popularity worldwide. At numerous levels, the field of nanotechnology is capable of significant benefit in achieving sustainable agricultural practices. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been shown to have biostimulatory properties and serve as effective solutions for addressing environmental and biotic stressors. The purpose of this study, investigating Salvadora persica halophytic leaf extract -synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (S-ZnONPs) as nano-priming agents to ensure okra seeds germinated under stress-free conditions. From an application perspective, we examined the effect of seed priming with varying concentrations of S-ZnO NPs (0, 20 and 40 ppm) for 18 and 24 h of soaking. Results indicated that the germination rate of hybrid variety improved with 20 ppm at 18 h, increasing by 58.22%, while mean germination time reduced by 24.62%. An enhancement trend was observed in the shoot, root length, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot and root dry weight of hybrid variety at 20ppm with 18 h priming by 34.2, 84.3, 80.2, 47.4, 50.3, and 36.2%, respectively. However, chlorophyll pigments chl a, chl b, and carotenoids was significantly raised in desi variety by 42.4, 79.31, and 142.29% with 20 ppm at 18 h priming. Hydrogen per oxide decreased up to 87.8% with 40 ppm at 24 h in hybrid variety, while, in desi variety H 2 O 2 was reduced 88.3% with 20 ppm at 24 h. Non enzymatic antioxidant activities such as ascorbic acid, was highly increased 130.6% in hybrid at 24 h priming with 20 ppm dose. Flavonoids raised in same variety by 166.1% with 20 ppm at 18 h. Proline content was increased by 144.5% with 40ppm at 18 h. Moreover, Antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase were significantly increased in both varieties with both levels of S-ZnO NPs and priming time. This cost-effective and environmentally safe technique to produce nanoparticles of different halophytic plants can maximize resource utilization, supporting sustainable agriculture by minimizing adverse environmental effects without compromising efficiency., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Here we investigated the effects of three types of microplastics (MPs), i.e., PS (P), ABS (B), PVC (V), and each with additive (MPAs) (PA, BA, and VA), on soil health, microbial community, and plant growth in two acidic and slightly alkaline soils. Incubation experiment revealed that although MPs and MPAs consistently stimulated soil nutrients and heavy metals (e.g., Mn, Cu) in weakly alkaline soils, only BA and VA led to increase in soil nutrients and heavy metals in acidic soils. This suggests distinct response patterns in the two soils depending on their initial pH. Concerning microorganisms, MPs and MPAs reduced the assembly degree of bacteria in acidic soils, with a reduction of Chloroflexi and Acidobacteriota but an increase of WPS-2 in VA. Culture experiment showed consistent positive or negative responses in radish seed germination, roots, and antioxidant activity across MPs and MPAs types in both soils, while the responses of seed heavy metals (e.g., Cr, Cd) were consistent in acidic soils but dependent on MPs and MPAs types in alkaline soils. Therefore, our study strongly suggests that the effects of MPs on soil-microbial-plant systems were highly dependent on initial soil characteristics and the types of MPs with plastic additives., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Drought stress (DS) adversely affects a plant's development and growth by negatively altering the plant's physio-biochemical functions. Previous investigations have illustrated that seed priming with growth regulators is an accessible, affordable, and effective practice to elevate a plant's tolerance to drought stress. Melatonin (MT) is derived from the precursor tryptophan and can improve germination, biomass, and photosynthesis under stress conditions. The current study examined the effect of melatonin seed priming on two wheat cultivars (Fakhar-e-Bhakkar and Akber-19) cultivated under severe drought conditions (35% FC). There were 6 levels of melatonin (i.e., M0 = control, M1 = 1 mg L - 1 , M2 = 2 mg L - 1 , M3 = 3 mg L - 1 , M4 = 4 mg L - 1 and M5 = mg L - 1 ) which were used for seed priming. Our results confirmed that seed priming with M2 = 2 mgL - 1 concentration of MT alleviates the negative effects of DS by boosting the germination rate by 54.84% in Akber-19 and 33.33% in Fakhar-e-Bhakkar. Similarly, leaf-relative water contents were enhanced by 22.38% and 13.28% in Akber-19 and Fakhar-e-Bhakkar, respectively. Melatonin pre-treatment with 2 mgL - 1 significantly enhanced fresh and dry biomass of shoot and root, leaf area, photosynthetic pigments, osmoprotectants accumulation [total soluble proteins (TSP), total free amino acids (TFAA), proline, soluble sugars, glycine betaine (GB)] and lowered the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) production by elevating antioxidants [Ascorbic acid, catalase (CAT), Phenolics, peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] activity under drought stress (DS). Meanwhile, under control conditions (NoDS), the melatonin treatment M1 = 1 mgL - 1 effectively enhanced all the growth-related physio-biochemical attributes in both wheat cultivars. In the future, more investigations are suggested on different crops under variable agroclimatic conditions to declare 2 mgL - 1 melatonin as an efficacious amendment to alleviate drought stress., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The present study aims to evaluate the toxicity of the green calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) from golden linseed extract (Linum usitatissimum L.) by phytotoxicity in seeds (Daucus carota, Beet shankar, Lactuca sativa and Brassica oleracea), in vitro safety profile and soil toxicity for CaO-NPs solutions from 12.5 to 100 μg mL -1 . Ecotoxicity analysis of the soil was conducted using XRD diffractograms, which revealed characteristic peaks of the nanoparticles at 37.35° (12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μg mL -1 ), as well as a peak at 67.34° (25 and 100 μg mL -1 ). Additionally, the in vitro safety assessment indicated favorable cell specification and regulation within the first 24 h, demonstrating reductions of 15.9 ± 0.2%, 17.9 ± 0.2%, 17.6 ± 0.2%, and 32.9 ± 0.2% to 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μg mL -1 , respectively. The dsDNA assay revealed initial protection and controlled release within the cells for 48 h. However, after 72 h, there was an increase of 20 ± 0.2%, 16 ± 0.2%, 32 ± 0.2%, and 43 ± 0.2% to 12.5, 25, and 50 μg mL -1 . The analysis of ROS generation demonstrated a reduction of 40 ± 0.2%, 33 ± 0.2%, 20 ± 0.2%, and 9 ± 0.2% to 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μg mL -1 , respectively, within 72 h. When compared to the negative control (NC), there was an increase of 50 ± 0.2%, 56 ± 0.2%, 77 ± 0.2%, and 92 ± 0.2% at the same concentrations, suggesting that the nanoparticles generated free radicals, leading to cellular inflammation. This was attributed to the positive surface charge of the nanoparticles, resulting in reduced interaction with the cell membrane and the subsequent release of hydroxyl (•OH), which caused inflammatory processes in the cells. Therefore, CaO-NPs exhibited a low phytotoxicity and high cytocompatibility, while also promoting plant germination and growth., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a significant nutritional limitation to crop yield globally, particularly in calcareous soil environments. Tree peony of Peaonia ostii 'Fengdan' is regarded as an oil crop due to its seeds rich in alpha-linolenic acid, a beneficial compound for health promotion. However, low seed yield remains a primary challenge in attaining sufficient seed oil from tree peony. In this study, Zn fertilization was applied to soil or foliage of P. ostii 'Fengdan' in the growth period before fruit development. Our findings reveal that foliar Zn-spraying, as opposed to soil application, proves to be a more effective method for augmenting seed yield, Zn accumulation and photosynthetic capacity in 'Fengdan'. Comparative analyses of the leaf proteome of 'Fengdan' using iTRAQ profiling under foliar Zn-spraying identified 115 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including 36 upregulated proteins, which likely contribute to the observed increase in seed yields of 'Fengdan' caused by foliage Zn-spraying. Specifically, Zn 2+ stimulation of phosphatidylinositol signaling initiates a cascade of metabolic regulations. Firstly, ATP synthesis promotes leaf photosynthetic capacity, facilitated by improved sucrose metabolism through upregulated pullulanase and 1,4-alpha-glucan-branching enzyme. Furthermore, lipid synthesis and transport are facilitated by upregulated lipoyl synthase and plastid lipid-associated proteins. Additionally, DEPs involved in secondary metabolism are upregulated in the production of various metabolites conducive to 'Fengdan' growth. Overall, our results demonstrate that foliage Zn-spraying enhances seed yield in P. ostii 'Fengdan' by elevating Zn content and secondary metabolite synthesis in leaves, thereby augmenting leaf photosynthetic capacity and lipid synthesis. This study provides an effective way to increase seed yield of tree peony by exogenous Zn application., 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 Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

This review article explores the fascinating world of chitosan coating applied to seeds and its profound impacts on enhancing the germination process and growth performance of plants. Chitosan, a biodegradable and non-toxic polysaccharide derived from chitin, has shown remarkable potential in seed treatment due to its bioactive properties. The review discusses the mechanisms of chitosan's effect on plant germination including promoting water uptake, enhancing nutrient absorption, and protecting seeds from biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, it evaluates the effects of chitosan on plant growth parameters such as root development, shoot growth, chlorophyll content, and overall yield. The review also discusses the sustainable aspects of chitosan coatings in agriculture, emphasizing their eco-friendly nature and potential for reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals. Overall, the findings underscore the significant benefits of chitosan-coated seeds in improving the overall performance of plants, paving the way for a greener and more productive agricultural future. Finally, the article will conclude with a SWOT analysis discussing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of this technology., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present investigation highlights the necessity of monitoring some basic physico-chemical water quality indicators and their phytotoxic effect using ecotoxicological bioassays such as "seed germination tests." The phytotoxicity of raw and treated vegetable oil refinery wastewater (VORW) using different treatment processes was assessed through some physiological responses (relative seed germination (RSG), seedling elongation, and germination index (GI)) using Lactuca sativa cultivar. Biotest results of different raw water samples revealed a noticeable correlation between the organic matter content and water phytotoxicity. In fact, VORW showed a very low RSG (17 ± 0.7 to -47 ± 0.58%) and high phytotoxic effects (GI < 50%). The use of coagulation/flocculation (CF) allowed a satisfactory phytotoxicity removal where RSG obtained ranged from 83 ± 1.58 to 90 ± 1.2%. However, the effluent still presents high to moderate phytotoxicity since GI remained below 80% which indicates the presence of toxic elements remaining after CF treatment. When VORW were treated using membrane processes, their phytotoxicity was gradually decreased with the decrease in the membrane pore size. The use of microfiltration membranes (MF), with pore size of 5 µm, 1.2 µm, 0.45 µm, and 0.22 µm, showed RSG values ranged from 37 ± 1.15 to 77 ± 1.68% and GI of less than 80% indicating a moderate to high phytotoxicity. However, the use of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of 100 kDa, 30 kDa, and 10 kDa made it possible to achieve an RSG of 100% and an IG exceeding 80% showing that the VORW-treated using UF does not exhibit any phytotoxicity effect. Hence, UF appears to be the most efficient and environmentally friendly technology that could be used for safely treated VORW irrigation purposes compared to CF and MF processes., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The growth and yield of rapeseed are significantly hampered by salt stress. Indole-3-butyric Acid Potassium Salt (IBA-K) has been found to alleviate the impact of salt stress on plant growth. However, the regulatory effect of IBA-K dipping on salt-stressed rapeseed remains unclear. To explore the implications of IBA-K on the growth and development of rapeseed during the seedling stage, we conducted potting experiments using the Huayouza 62 variety. Five different concentrations of IBA-K for seed soaking (0, 10, 20, 40, 80 mg·L - 1 ) were tested. The promotional impact of IBA-K on rapeseed demonstrated an initial increase followed by a decline, reaching a peak at 20 mg·L - 1 . Therefore, 20 mg·L - 1 was determined as the optimal concentration for subsequent experiments. To further understand the mechanism of IBA-K's action on salt-stressed rapeseed seedlings, we utilized the moderately salt-resistant cabbage rapeseed variety Huayouza 158R and the highly salt-resistant Huayouza 62 as specimens. The investigation focused on their response and repair mechanisms under 150 mmol·L - 1 NaCl stress. The findings demonstrated that compared with the sole NaCl stress, the 20 mg·L - 1 IBA-K seed soaking treatment under salt stress significantly enhanced the plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area of both rapeseed varieties. It also led to greater biomass accumulation, increased chlorophyll content, and improved photosynthetic efficiency in rapeseed. Furthermore, this treatment bolstered the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), while significantly reducing the levels of electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Consequently, it alleviated the membrane lipid peroxidation damage induced by NaCl stress, enhanced the accumulation of soluble proteins, maintained cellular osmotic pressure, and effectively mitigated the adverse effects of NaCl stress on rapeseed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The production of açaí seed waste from the commercial and extractive exploitation of the Euterpe oleraceae palm tree is a serious problem that contributes to environmental contamination and production of greenhouse gases, a fact that suggests the need for an environmentally correct destination for this waste produced on a large scale. To this end, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential of acaí seed biochar (BCA) in mitigating the toxic effects of copper in Brazilian mahogany plants, analyzing biometrics and gas exchange. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five blocks, in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to the control (without Cu) and three concentration of Cu (200, 400, and 600 mg Cu kg -1 ) and three levels of BCA (0%, 5% and 10%) proportional to the amount of soil in the pots, totaling sixty experimental units. The use of 5% BCA in soils contaminated with up to 200 mg kg -1 Cu promoted biometric increase (height, diameter, number of leaves), maintaining gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal carbon and internal/external carbon), and consequently, maintaining water use efficiency in plants under abiotic stress, resulting in plant growth. The findings of this study allow us to indicate the use of biochar in remediating and improving the growth of plants grown in copper-contaminated soils. The production of biochar from açaí seeds is an ecologically sustainable alternative, because it reduces its accumulation on public roads and contributes to reducing soil pollution. In the context of public policies, biochar production could be a source of income in the context of the bioeconomy and circular economy practiced in the Amazon, because it is produced in large quantities., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

With the increasing demand for non-chemical weed control methods, phenolic acids have shown promise due to their natural weed inhibitory potential. In this study, the inhibitory effect of ferulic acid, vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid was investigated on Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and the selectivity of Zea mays L. against these phenolic acids was tested. The seeds of A. artemisiifolia and Z. mays were treated in vitro with three phenolic acids at doses of 200-600 × 10-7 mol and in vivo foliar on A. artemisiifolia and Z. mays plants. While all phenolic acids had effects on the early growth of A. artemisiifolia, p-coumaric acid significantly reduced the length of radicle and hypocotyl by more than 60% while the effects on Z. mays were minimal. In vivo assessments using chlorophyll fluorescence and multispectral imaging showed selective stress responses in A. artemisiifolia but not in Z. mays after foliar application. The in vitro results show that p-coumaric acid is a promising compound for the control of A. artemisiifolia. However, these phenolic acids at these doses led to an insufficient reduction in photochemical efficiency. Therefore, these natural compounds need to be combined with other methods of weed control., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Pismarović et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Key Message: Sodium treatment caused the sodium ion accumulation at the milk stage of immature rice grains which in turn triggered the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage. The tolerant cultivar showed an enhanced antioxidative response and induced expressions of OsNHX and OsHKT ion-transporters. Sodium chloride-(NaCl) induced soil salinity is a major constraint hindering global rice production. Amongst its constituent ions, sodium (Na + ) is known to be the main driver of toxicity under salt stress. The present investigation aims to measure the impacts of excess Na + during rice grain filling using two Indica rice cultivars with opposite tolerances to salt (salt tolerant: Panvel-3, salt-sensitive: Sahyadri-3) mainly via oxidative and responsive antioxidative pathways. Plants were treated with Na + -specific treatments and NaCl with equimolar Na + levels (100 mM) at the initiation of the reproductive phase. Stressed and control plants were harvested at three different grain-filling stages- early milk, milk, and dough and assessed for ion accumulation and oxidative damage/antioxidant responses under Na + stress. Na + toxicity triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and upregulated the responsive enzymatic antioxidants. Na + stress also increased the nitric oxide (NO) levels and the activity of nitrate reductase in immature grains. Differential expression levels of OsNHX and OsHKT transporters were observed in response to Na + stress. Mature grains displayed a high accumulation of Na + along with reduced K + content and elevated Na + /K + under high Na + availability. The alterations in mature grains' sugar, starch, and protein content were also observed in response to the Na + stress. Overall, the salt-tolerant cultivar displayed higher antioxidant activities and a lower rate of ROS generation in response to the Na + stress. Results suggested a link between Na + accumulation, Na + -mediated stress responses via anti/-oxidant pathways, and the grain-filling process in both rice cultivars., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Gadolinium (Gd) is an increasingly found lanthanide element in soil; thus, understanding its impact on plant physiology, biochemistry, and molecular responses is crucial. Here, we aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Gd (150 mg kg - 1 ) impacts on guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) plant yield and metabolism and whether the symbiotic relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can mitigate Gd toxicity of soil contamination., Results: AMF treatment improved mineral nutrient uptake and seed yield by 38-41% under Gd stress compared to non-inoculated stressed plants. Metabolic analysis unveiled the defense mechanisms adopted by AMF-treated plants, revealing carbon and nitrogen metabolism adaptations to withstand Gd contamination. This included an increase in the synthesis of primary metabolites, such as total sugar (+ 39% compared to control), soluble sugars (+ 29%), starch (+ 30%), and some main amino acids like proline (+ 57%) and phenylalanine (+ 87%) in the seeds of AMF-treated plants grown under Gd contamination. Furthermore, fatty acid and organic acid profile changes were accompanied by the production of secondary metabolites, including tocopherols, polyamines, phenolic acids, flavones, and anthocyanins., Conclusions: Overall, the coordinated synthesis of these compounds underscores the intricate regulatory mechanisms underlying plant-AMF interactions and highlights the potential of AMF to modulate plant secondary metabolism for enhanced Gd stress tolerance., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Seed hypocotyl germination signifies the initiation of the life cycle for plants and represents a critical stage that heavily influences subsequent plant growth and development. While previous studies have established the melatonin (MEL; N-acetyl-5-methoxytrytamine) effect to stimulate seed germination of some plants, its specific role in peony germination and underlying physiological mechanism have yet to be determined. This study aims to evaluate the MEL effect for the hypocotyl germination of peony seeds, further ascertain its physiological regulation factors., Methods: In this work, seeds of Paeonia ostia 'Fengdan' were soaked into MEL solution at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, and 400 µM for 48 h and then germinated in darkness in incubators. Seeds immersed in distilled water without MEL for the same time were served as the control group., Results: At concentrations of 100 and 200 µM, MEL treatments improved the rooting rate of peony seeds, while 400 µM inhibited the process. During seed germination, the 100 and 200 µM MEL treatments significantly reduced the starch concentration, and α -amylase was the primary amylase involved in the action of melatonin. Additionally, compared to the control group, 100 µM MEL treatment significantly increased the GA 3 concentration and radicle thickness of seeds, but decreased ABA concentration. The promotion effect of 200 µM MEL pretreatment on GA 1 and GA 7 was the most pronounced, while GA 4 concentration was most significantly impacted by 50 µM and 100 µM MEL., Conclusion: Correlation analysis established that 100 µM MEL pretreatment most effectively improved the rooting rate characterized by increasing α -amylase activity to facilitate starch decomposition, boosting GA 3 levels, inhibiting ABA production to increase the relative ratio of GA 3 to ABA. Moreover, MEL increased radicle thickness of peony seeds correlating with promoting starch decomposition and enhancing the synthesis of GA 1 and GA 7 ., Competing Interests: Qiang Shen is employed by HezeRuipu Peony Biotechnology Co., LTD. Chunlei Zhao is employed by HezeCunlei Horticulture Co., LTD. The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2024 Li et al.)

Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, limit plant growth and development, reducing crop yields. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of the signaling mechanisms and responses of plants to changing environmental conditions is crucial for improving sustainable agricultural productivity. Chemical screening was conducted to find novel small compounds that act as regulators of the abiotic stress signaling pathway using the ABA-inducible transgenic reporter line. Small molecules called stress response regulators (SRRs) were isolated by screening a synthetic library composed of 14,400 small compounds, affecting phenotypes such as seed germination, root growth, and gene expression in response to multiple abiotic stresses. Seeds pretreated with SRR compounds positively affected the germination rate and radicle emergence of Arabidopsis and tomato plants under abiotic stress conditions. The SRR-priming treatment enhanced the transcriptional responses of abiotic stress-responsive genes in response to subsequent salt stress. The isolation of the novel molecules SRR1 and SRR2 will provide a tool to elucidate the complex molecular networks underlying the plant stress-tolerant responses.

Background: In the realm of wheat seed germination, abiotic stresses such as salinity and high temperature have been shown to hinder the process. These stresses can lead to the production of reactive oxygen species, which, within a certain concentration range, may actually facilitate seed germination. γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a non-protein amino acid, serves as a crucial signaling molecule in the promotion of seed germination. Nevertheless, the potential of GABA to regulate seed germination under the simultaneous stress of heat and salinity remains unexplored in current literature., Methods: This study employed observational methods to assess seed germination rate (GR), physiological methods to measure H 2 O 2 content, and the activities of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), NADPH oxidase (NOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The levels of ABA and GABA were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography technology. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR technology was utilized to analyze the expression levels of two genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, MnSOD and CAT., Results: The findings indicated that combined stress (30 °C + 50 mM NaCl) decreased the GR of wheat seeds to about 21%, while treatment with 2 mM GABA increased the GR to about 48%. However, the stimulatory effect of GABA was mitigated by the presence of ABA, dimethylthiourea, and NOX inhibitor, but was strengthened by H 2 O 2 , antioxidant enzyme inhibitor, fluridone, and gibberellin. In comparison to the control group (20 °C + 0 mM NaCl), this combined stress led to elevated levels of ABA, reduced GAD and NOX activity, and a decrease in H 2 O 2 and GABA content. Further investigation revealed that this combined stress significantly suppressed the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as downregulated the gene expression levels of MnSOD and CAT . However, the study demonstrates that exogenous GABA effectively reversed the inhibitory effects of combined stress on wheat seed germination. These findings suggest that GABA-induced NOX-mediated H 2 O 2 signalling plays a crucial role in mitigating the adverse impact of combined stress on wheat seed germination. This research holds significant theoretical and practical implications for the regulation of crop seed germination by GABA under conditions of combined stress., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Yu et al.)

The plant extract-mediated method is eco-friendly, simple, safe, and low-cost, using biomolecules as a reducing agent to separate nanoparticles. Lanthanum (La) is a rare earth metal that positively affects plant growth and agriculture. Citrus limon is a leading citrus fruit with many varieties. Conventional vegetative propagation methods depend on season, availability of plant material and are time-consuming. It is the main reason for limiting the acceptance of new varieties. So, In-vitro propagation of the lemon method is practiced overcoming all these problems. Lanthanum oxide nanoparticles (La 2 O 3 -NPs) were synthesized using plant extract of C. aurantium. Ultraviolet (UV)-Visible Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the synthesized La 2 O 3 -NPs. Fabricated La 2 O 3 -NPs were oval and spherical, with an average size of 51.1 nm. UV-visible absorption spectra of La 2 O 3 -NPs were shown at a sharp single peak at 342 nm and FTIR showed stretching frequency at 455 cm -1 -516 cm -1 . In the TGA outcome, mass loss was 9.1%. In vitro experiments demonstrated that La 2 O 3 -NPs significantly enhanced the germination and growth of C. limon seeds, achieving an 83% germination rate at 5 mg/L concentration, with uncoated seeds showing root initiation at 10 days and shoot formation at 15 days. Furthermore, La 2 O 3 -NPs effectively stimulated callus induction and maturation, with optimal responses observed in media containing MS and 2 mg/L 2,4-D, resulting in a maximum callus frequency of 100% from leaves and 87.5% from shoots at 5 mg/L concentration. These findings underscore the potential of La 2 O 3 -NPs to improve seed germination rates, seedling vigor, and callogenesis efficiency, suggesting their promising integration into agricultural practices for sustainable crop production, especially in suboptimal growing conditions. Future research is recommended to explore the mechanisms and broader applications of La 2 O 3 -NPs across various plant species and environments., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Corn is the second most cultivated crop in Brazil, the number-one country in pesticide consumption. Chemical control of weeds is performed using herbicides such as S-metolachlor with pre- and post-emergence action and thus the toxicity of herbicides constitutes a matter of great concern. The present investigation aimed to examine the effects of an S-metolachlor-based herbicide on Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) and Zea mays L. (maize) utilizing various bioassays. The test solutions were prepared from commercial products containing the active ingredient. Seeds from the plant models were exposed in petri dishes and maintained under biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) at 24°C. Distilled water was negative and aluminium positive control. Macroscopic analyses (germination and growth) were conducted for both plant species, and microscopic analysis (cell cycle and chromosomal alterations) were performed for L. sativa root tip cells. Detrimental interference of S-metolachlor-based herbicide was noted with lettuce for all parameters tested reducing plant germination by over 50% and the germination speed by over 45% and showing a significant decrease in mitotic index, from 16.25% to 9,28% even on the lowest concentration tested. In maize, there was no significant interference in plant germination; however, speed of germination was significantly hampered, reaching a 51.22% reduction for the highest concentration tested. Data demonstrated that the herbicide was toxic as evidenced by its phyto- and cytotoxicity in L. sativa L. and Z. mays L.

Industrial and agricultural production processes lead to the accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in soil, resulting in crops absorb Cd from contaminated soil and then transfer it to human body through the food chain, posing a serious threat to human health. Thus, it is necessary to explore novel genes and mechanisms involved in regulating Cd tolerance and detoxification in plants. Here, we found that CDR1, a DUF946 domain containing protein, localizes to the plasma membrane and positively regulates Cd stress tolerance. The cdr1 mutants exhibited Cd sensitivity, accumulated excessive Cd in the seeds and roots, but decreased in leaves. However, CDR1-OE transgenic plants not only showed Cd tolerance but also significantly reduced Cd in seeds and roots. Additionally, both in vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated an interaction between CDR1 and OPT3. Cell free protein degradation and OPT3 protein level determination assays indicated that CDR1 could maintain the stability of OPT3 protein. Moreover, genetic phenotype analysis and Cd content determination showed that CDR1 regulates Cd stress tolerance and affect the distribution of Cd in plants by maintaining the stability of OPT3 protein. Our discoveries provide a key candidate gene for directional breeding to reduce Cd accumulation in edible seeds of crops., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Abscisic acid (ABA) is the primary preventing factor of seed germination, which is crucial to plant survival and propagation. ABA-induced seed germination inhibition is mainly mediated by the dimeric PYR/PYL/RCAR (PYLs) family members. However, little is known about the relevance between dimeric stability of PYLs and seed germination. Here, we reveal that stabilization of PYL dimer can relieve ABA-induced inhibition of seed germination using chemical genetic approaches. Di-nitrobensulfamide (DBSA), a computationally designed chemical probe, yields around ten-fold improvement in receptor affinity relative to ABA. DBSA reverses ABA-induced inhibition of seed germination mainly through dimeric receptors and recovers the expression of ABA-responsive genes. DBSA maintains PYR1 in dimeric state during protein oligomeric state experiment. X-ray crystallography shows that DBSA targets a pocket in PYL dimer interface and may stabilize PYL dimer by forming hydrogen networks. Our results illustrate the potential of PYL dimer stabilization in preventing ABA-induced seed germination inhibition., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Graphene oxide (GO), beyond its specialized industrial applications, is rapidly gaining prominence as a nanomaterial for modern agriculture. However, its specific effects on seed priming for salinity tolerance and yield formation in crops remain elusive. Under both pot-grown and field-grown conditions, this study combined physiological indices with transcriptomics and metabolomics to investigate how GO affects seed germination, seedling salinity tolerance, and peanut pod yield. Peanut seeds were firstly treated with 400 mg L⁻¹ GO (termed GO priming). At seed germination stage, GO-primed seeds exhibited higher germination rate and percentage of seeds with radicals breaking through the testa. Meanwhile, omics analyses revealed significant enrichment in pathways associated with carbon and nitrogen metabolisms in GO-primed seeds. At seedling stage, GO priming contributed to strengthening plant growth, enhancing photosynthesis, maintaining the integrity of plasma membrane, and promoting the nutrient accumulation in peanut seedlings under 200 mM NaCl stress. Moreover, GO priming increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, along with reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to salinity stress. Furthermore, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) of peanut seedlings under GO priming were mainly related to photosynthesis, phytohormones, antioxidant system, and carbon and nitrogen metabolisms in response to soil salinity. At maturity, GO priming showed an average increase in peanut pod yield by 12.91% compared with non-primed control. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that GO plays distinguish roles in enhancing seed germination, mitigating salinity stress, and boosting pod yield in peanut plants via modulating multiple physiological processes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Main Conclusion: Seed-application of the natural products protects sugar beet and wheat plants against infection with plasmodiophorid-transmitted viruses and thus may represent an efficient, environmentally friendly, easy and cost effective biocontrol strategy. In times of intensive agriculture, resource shortening and climate change, alternative, more sustainable and eco-friendly plant protection strategies are required. Here, we tested the potential of the natural plant substances Glycyrrhiza glabra leaf extract (GE) and the rhamnolipid Rhapynal (Rha) applied to seeds to protect against infection of sugar beet and wheat with soil-borne plant viruses. The soil-borne Polymyxa betae- and Polymyxa graminis-transmitted viruses cause extensive crop losses in agriculture and efficient control strategies are missing. We show that GE and Rha both efficiently protect plants against infection with soil-borne viruses in sugar beet and wheat when applied to seeds. Moreover, the antiviral protection effect is independent of the cultivar used. No protection against Polymyxa sp. was observed after seed treatment with the bio-substances at our analysis time points. However, when we applied the bio-substances directly to soil a significant anti-Polymyxa graminis effect was obtained in roots of barley plants grown in the soil as well as in the treated soil. Despite germination can be affected by high concentrations of the substances, a range of antiviral protection conditions with no effect on germination were identified. Seed-treatment with the bio-substances did not negatively affect plant growth and development in virus-containing soil, but was rather beneficial for plant growth. We conclude that seed treatment with GE and Rha may represent an efficient, ecologically friendly, non-toxic, easy to apply and cost efficient biocontrol measure against soil-borne virus infection in plants., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In plant production, evaluation of salt stress protectants concerning their potential to improve growth and productivity under saline stress is critical. Bacillus subtilis (Bs) and cobalt (Co) have been proposed to optimize salt stress tolerance in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L. cv. Balady) plants by influencing some physiological activities. The main aim of this work is to investigate the response of (Bs) and (Co) as eco-safe salt stress protectants to resist the effect of salinity, on growth, seed, and essential oil yield, and the most important biochemical constituents of coriander produced under salt stress condition. Therefore, in a split-plot factorial experiment design in the RCBD (randomized complete block design), four levels of salinity of NaCl irrigation water (SA) were assigned to the main plots; (0.5, 1.5, 4, and 6 dS m -1 ); and six salt stress protectants (SP) were randomly assigned to the subplots: distilled water; 15 ppm (Co1); 30 ppm (Co2); (Bs); (Co1 + Bs); (Co2 + Bs). The study concluded that increasing SA significantly reduced coriander growth and yield by 42.6%, which could be attributed to ion toxicity, oxidative stress, or decreased vital element content. From the results, we recommend that applying Bs with Co (30 ppm) was critical for significantly improving overall growth parameters. This was determined by the significant reduction in the activity of reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and non-enzyme: proline by 5, 11.3, 14.7, and 13.8% respectively, while increasing ascorbic acid by 8% and preserving vital nutrient levels and enhancing plant osmotic potential to buffer salt stress, seed yield per plant, and essential oil yield increased by 12.6 and 18.8% respectively. The quality of essential oil was indicated by highly significant quantities of vital biological phytochemicals such as linalool, camphor, and protein which increased by 10.3, 3.6, and 9.39% respectively. Additional research is suggested to determine the precise mechanism of action of Bs and Co's dual impact on medicinal and aromatic plant salt stress tolerance., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Here we report that non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma exposure can improve Brassica juncea (leaf mustard) seed germination rate from 50 % to 98 %. The commercially relevant germination rate was achieved by plasma exposure for only 10 minutes and the effect sustains at least for one month under an appropriate storage condition. Improved germination by plasma exposure was also observed for Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis (Chinese cabbage) seeds. The plasma device used is simple. No pure gas flow system is necessary and it is easy to handle. A large number of seeds can be treated by simply scaling up the device. Plasma exposure can be a practical method for improving seed germination of crop plants important for agriculture., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no declarations of interests, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rice is a staple food for over half of the global population, necessitates efficient and cost-effective production methods to ensure food security. However, direct seeding of rice often encounters challenges due to adverse environmental conditions, resulting in increased seeding costs. In this study, we analyzed the germination and physiological data of sixty-six rice varieties under cold and submergence conditions. Our results demonstrate that selecting rice varieties with superior germination capacity in these adverse conditions can improve germination rates by 39.43%. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of two contrasting varieties revealed potential regulatory mechanisms involving hormonal pathways and the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. Furthermore, we found that the exogenous application of specific metabolites provides a cost-effective seed enhancement strategy for varieties with poor germination capacity. These findings suggest that combining suitable variety selection with seed enhancement treatments can significantly reduce seeding costs in rice production. This research offers valuable insights for developing resilient rice varieties and cost-effective seeding strategies, potentially contributing to improved rice cultivation practices and enhanced global food security., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been successfully synthesized using leaf extract of Neem (Azadirachta Indica), Mint (Mentha Piperita), Tulsi (Ocimum Tenuiflorum), Bermuda grass (Cynodon Dactylon) and silver salt. As plant extracts produce best capping material for the stabilization of nanoparticles. AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy in range of 200-800 nm and transmission electron microscopy TEM, XRD and FTIR. The nanoparticles synthesized were mainly in sizes between 25 and 100 nm. They appeared to be spherical, nanotriangles and irregular in shape. Catalytic application was observed for all the aqueous solution of leaves, quantity taken was 1 ml, 2 ml, 3 ml, 4 ml and 5 ml. Furthermore, prepared Ag nanoparticles are also used for seed germination., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The hydrogen molecule can effectively regulate plant growth and development, improving plant resistance to abiotic stresses. However, studies regarding the optimal concentration of hydrogen and the associated mechanisms of action in organisms are lacking. This study showed that the maximum germination rate of radish seeds decreased from 90 % to 50 % under the stress of cadmium ions (Cd 2+ ), and hydrogen nanobubble (NB) water significantly alleviated the stress effect of Cd 2+ on radish seed germination. A hydrogen concentration of 0.8 ppm had the best effect, reducing Cd 2+ accumulation in radish seeds by 63.23 % and increasing the maximum germination rate from 50 % to 65 %. At concentrations exceeding 1.2 ppm, the beneficial effect of hydrogen was weakened or even reversed. Consequently, we integrated the concept of the oxidative window into a REDOX balance model and demonstrated that an appropriate hydrogen concentration can effectively maintain the REDOX state within organisms. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that hydrogen NB water modulated Cd 2+ absorption and accumulation in seeds by regulating cell wall components, alleviating oxidative stress through oxidoreductase activity, and enhancing nutrient synthesis and metabolism. This collectively alleviated the inhibitory effect of Cd 2+ on seed germination. This study is helpful for further understanding the effect of hydrogen concentration on the REDOX balance of seed germination, providing a theoretical basis for selecting hydrogen concentration to improve its effectiveness in agricultural fields., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest TThe 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that regulate shoot branching. In addition, SLs act as compounds that stimulate the germination of root parasitic weeds, such as Striga spp. and Orobanche spp., which cause significant damage to agriculture worldwide. Thus, SL agonists have the potential to induce suicidal germination, thereby reducing the seed banks of root parasitic weeds in the soil. Particularly, phenoxyfuranone-type SL agonists, known as debranones, exhibit SL-like activity in rice and Striga hermonthica . However, little is known about their effects on Orobanche spp. In this study, we evaluated the germination-inducing activity of debranones against Orobanche minor . Analysis of structure-activity relationships revealed that debranones with electron-withdrawing substituents at the 2,4- or 2,6-position strongly induced the germination of Orobanche minor . Lastly, biological assays indicated that 5-(2-fluoro-4-nitrophenoxy)-3-methylfuran-2(5 H )-one (test compound 61 ) induced germination to a comparable or even stronger extent than GR24, a well-known synthetic SL. Altogether, our data allowed us to infer that this enhanced activity was due to the recognition of compound 61 by the SLs receptor, KAI 2d, in Orobanche minor .