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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. [Display omitted] • PAW treatment can reduce the seed germination rate by half compared to the control group (CK). • The MDA content of the seeds treated with PAW was significantly higher than that of the CK. • Seed survival rate is linearly correlated with volatile compounds. • The changes of volatile substances in seeds after plasma treatment and the related mechanism were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) is a herbaceous plant of great importance in agriculture. The chemical composition of the substrate affects the mineral supply as well as the growth, development and metabolism of the plants. Therefore, the aim of this experiment is to determine the influence of zinc, copper and platinum complexes ([ZnCl 2 (en)], [CuCl 2 (en)], cis -[PtCl 2 (NH 3) 2 ], en = ethylenediamine) on the germination and growth of alfalfa and on the content of phenolic compounds. Alfalfa seeds were sown in three separate groups and treated with the above complexes, the fourth group being the control. The growth of the vegetative part was observed after the tenth, twentieth and thirtieth day. The percentage of germination was recorded for each experimental group. At the end of the treatment, the aerial parts of each group were dried and prepared for extraction with methanol, after which the quantitative composition of phenolic compounds was analyzed by liquid chromatography.The results obtained show that [CuCl 2 (en)] has the best effect on the germination percentage, while the treatment with the platinum(II) complex - cis -[PtCl 2 (NH 3) 2 ] showed a significant effect on the growth of alfalfa. The results of chromatographic analysis showed that [ZnCl 2 (en)] and [CuCl 2 (en)] improved the synthesis of phenolic compounds of alfalfa, with a significant content of catechins in the treatment with the copper complex compared to the control group. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the complex compounds have a significant effect on the germination, growth and phenolic compounds content of alfalfa, with different effects for each of the studied processes. [Display omitted] • Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) is plant with high nutritional value. • The influence of metal complexes on the germination and growth of alfalfa was investigated. • The effects of these complexes on the content of phenolic compounds was also evaluated. • The complexes had a positive effect on seed germination and cis -[PtCl2(NH3)2] had a significant effect on increasing the concentration of almost all phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, carboxymethyl cellulose-capped ZnO nanoparticles (CMC@ZnO NPs) have been synthesized using the co-precipitation method where the CMC behaved as a stabilizing and capping agent. The synthesis of CMC@ZnO NPs has been confirmed by UV–visible, HR-TEM, FTIR, SEM, and XRD analyses. The SEM study revealed that particles were long, cylindrical, and oblong with a rice grain-like morphology. TEM analysis showed that CMC@ZnO NPs have an average particle size of ̴ 10 nm. The synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated to study their influence on the germination and growth of the root and shoot of the Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) plant seedling. It was found that the minimal concentration of 0.50 mg/L of CMC@ZnO NPs was efficient in exhibiting enhanced growth in contrast to the control. According to the results, CMC@ZnO NPs could enter the plant cell via the roots and were quickly assimilated by the plants, resulting in increased growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the genetic variability of different species for conservation purposes and quality seedling production after longer storage time is important. The aim of the research paper was to examine the effect of longer seed storage periods (19–30 year) on seed viability, seed vigour and initial growth of seedlings from five provenances of Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk). Seeds collected from Dabena, Gambo, Agaro, Bishofitu, and Merti localities and stored for 19, 19, 21, 25, and 30 years, respectively used for the study. Different seed dormancy-breaking treatments such as; soaking in cold water for 48 h (CW-48); soaking in hot water for 10 min (HW-10); 20 min (HW-20) and mechanical scarification; i.e., nicking (NK) used for the germination of the seeds. A randomized complete block design was used for the experiment and the study undertaken in a greenhouse. For each treatment, four replications and for each replication, 50 seeds were used. One-way analysis of variance was used for germination index, early seedling growth and seed vigour index data. The results showed that for all the provenance seeds stored for different periods, NK treatment resulted relatively in a higher mean germination percentage and germination indices as compared to the other pre-treatments. The seed vigour index result showed significant differences among the different provenances (P < 0.001). Similarly, there were significant differences among the early growth of seedlings germinated from different provenance seeds (P < 0.001). The seeds collected from Merti provenance and stored for 30 years and Dabena provenance, stored for 19 years, have relatively resulted in higher mean germination index, seed vigour and seedling growth relative to the other studied provenance seeds. We observed that provenance had a more significant influence on germination, seed vigour and seedling growth than the seed storage period for the P. stellatum. Finally it is recommended that despite there is inter population variation, the seeds of P. stellatum can be stored for a longer time and application of nicking as a dormancy breaking treatment could enhance seed germination of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 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 CO2 (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 H2O2 (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.

Nanoscale geranium waste (GW) and magnesium nanoparticle/GW nanocomposites (Mg NP/GW) were prepared using green synthesis. The Mg NP/GW samples were subjected to characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-FT). The surface morphology of the materials was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and their thermal stability was assessed through thermal gravimetric analysis (TG). The BET-specific surface area, pore volume, and pore size distribution of the prepared materials were determined using the N2 adsorption–desorption method. Additionally, the particle size and zeta potentials of the materials were also measured. The influence of the prepared nanomaterials on seed germination was intensively investigated. The results revealed an increase in seed germination percent at low concentrations of Mg NP/GWs. Upon treatment with Mg NP/GW nanoparticles, a reduction in the mitotic index (MI) was observed, indicating a decrease in cell division. Additionally, an increase in chromosomal abnormalities was detected. The efficacy of GW and Mg NP/GW nanoparticles as new elicitors was evaluated by studying their impact on the expression levels of the farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS1) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GPPS1) genes. These genes play a crucial role in the terpenoid biosynthesis pathway in Sinapis alba (S. alba) and Pelargonium graveolens (P. graveolens) plants. The expression levels were analyzed using reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. The qRT-PCR analysis of FPPS and GPPS gene expression was performed. The outputs of FPPS1 gene expression demonstrated high levels of mRNA in both S. alba and P. graveolens with fold changes of 25.24 and 21.68, respectively. In contrast, the minimum expression levels were observed for the GPPS1 gene, with fold changes of 11.28 and 6.48 in S. alba and P. graveolens, respectively. Thus, this study offers the employment of medicinal plants as an alternative to fertilizer usage resulting in promoting environmental preservation, optimal waste utilization, reducing water consumption, and cost reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim of evaluating the effect of salicylic acid in improving the efficiency of the aged pumpkin seeds under drought stress conditions, a factorial experiment was carried out in the form of a completely randomized design with three replications. Pretreatment of different concentrations of salicylic acid including zero (pretreated with water), 1 and 1.5 mM at different drought levels of zero, -0.2, -0.4 and -0.6 MPa were investigated. Indicators of mean germination time, germination percentage, seedling length, seed vigor, membrane electrolyte leakage, soluble carbohydrates, soluble proteins, malondialdehyde, ascorbate peroxidase activity, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes were evaluated. The results showed that the pretreatment of seeds with different concentrations of salicylic acid prevented the significant decrease in the germination indices of the deteriorated pumpkin seeds under drought stress. So that at the potential of -0.6 MPa, the treatment of seeds with 1.5 mM salicylic acid increased the percentage of germination, seed germination index, soluble carbohydrates and soluble proteins respectively 80.2, 169.4, 51.6, 93.4% and for the activity of ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes, 41.2%, 12% and 11.8%, respectively, compared to the control. Based on the research findings, seed priming with 1.5 mM concentrations of salicylic acid is recommended in order to reduce the oxidative stress caused by drought for pumpkin seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, to promote sustainable nano-farming, the apparent effects of different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 ppm) of titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO2NPs) solutions on the germination percentage, index and duration of seeds belonging to Balcı, Dincer, Hasankendi, Koc, Olas, and Zirkon safflower varieties were investigated. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to analyze TiO2NPs in germinated safflower varieties. Germination performance was TiO2NPs concentration and variety depended. It was determined that the seed samples displayed different responses to TiO2NPs concentrations; germination percentages were between 20.0±1.15 and 82.9±0.44%, germination durations were between 2.01±0.021 to 3.82±0.017 days, and germination indices were between 9.97±0.606 and 38.97±0.959. While the highest germination percentage (82.9±0.44%) was obtained from Dincer variety with 100 ppm TiO2NP pre-application, the lowest germination percentage (20.0±1.15% and 20.0±1.92%) was obtained from Balcı and Hasan Kendi varieties with 100 and 300 ppm TiO2NP pre-application. According to this result, although the highest germination percentage based on variety was obtained from the Dincer variety, the Balcı variety with the lowest germination percentage provided the most significant increase in the 200 ppm TiO2NPs application dose compared to the control. According to the germination percentage, it can be said that the most effective TiO2NPs application dose in Safflower varieties is 200 ppm. Further research on nanoparticles is needed to determine both the economical doses of TiO2NP pre-application and its uptake by the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 CO2 (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 H2O2 (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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The new generation special fertilizers have been introduced exclusively for foliar feeding and fertilization. The increased supply of nutrients and good response by plants resulted in enhanced translocation of nutrients to reproductive structures. Therefore, it is planned to study the effect of different nutrients as a foliar spray for growth, yield and seed quality parameters of hybrid pigeon pea. Methods: The experiment on effect of foliar spray of nutrients, growth regulators on seed yield, quality in hybrid pegionpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] was conducted at Seed Farm, College of Agriculture, Vijayapura, Karnataka during kharif 2019-2020. The treatment consisting of foliar spray of control (T¹), 1% Pulse magic (T2), 1% 19:19:19 (T3), 0.2% Borax (T4), 50 ppm NAA (T5), 1% Pulse magic + 1%19:19:19 (T6), 1% Pulse magic+0.2% Borax (T7), 1% Pulse magic+50 ppm NAA (T8), 1% Pulse magic+1% 19:19:19 + 0.2% Borax (T9), 1% Pulse magic + 1% 19:19:19 + 50 ppm NAA (T10), 1% Pulse magic+1% 19:19:19 + 50 ppm NAA+0.2% Borax (T11). Foliar spray was taken at flower initiation and peak flowering stage. Result: The results revealed that, foliar application of Pulse magic @1% +19:19:19@1%+ NAA@50 ppm + Borax@0.2% recorded higher number of branches (10.60), number of pods per plant (239.33), number of seeds per plant (5.75), test weight (12.18g), hybrid seed yield per plant (48.17g), hybrid seed yield per plot (1188.83g), hybrid seed yield per ha (1499kg/ha) and seed quality parameters viz: seed germination (93%), shoot length (15.08 cm), root length (18.67 cm), seedling vigour index(2649), lower electric conductivity (0.59 dSm-1) and protein percentage (22.18 %) respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 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.

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that inhibits seed germination, plant growth, and consequently the productivity of many important crops such as barley. Expansins are a major group of cell wall-loosening proteins, which play important roles in plant growth and development, and in response to different environmental stresses. In this study, salinity tolerance and changes in the expression of expansin genes in barley were tested. The germination percentage of Yarmouk was 72.3% of the control after 48 hours of salt stress, and that of Rum was 27.4%. Reserve mobilization was 61.6% and 43.6% of the control in Yarmouk and Rum, respectively. The decrease in the total soluble sugars was 0.3, and 0.54 mg. ml−1. g−1 FW in Yarmouk and Rum, respectively. Yarmouk has a higher number of induced expansin genes under salt stress compared to Rum. This indicates a significant role for expansins in the improvement of salinity tolerance of barley.

The excavation and utilization of dormancy loci in breeding are effective endeavors for enhancing the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) of wheat varieties. CH1539 is a wheat breeding line with high-level seed dormancy. To clarify the dormant loci carried by CH1539 and obtain linked molecular markers, in this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross of weak dormant SY95-71 and strong dormant CH1539 was genotyped using the Wheat17K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, and a high-density genetic map covering 21 chromosomes and consisting of 2437 SNP markers was constructed. Then, the germination percentage (GP) and germination index (GI) of the seeds from each RIL were estimated. Two QTLs for GP on chromosomes 5A and 6B, and four QTLs for GI on chromosomes 5A, 6B, 6D and 7A were identified. Among them, the QTL on chromosomes 6B controlling both GP and GI, temporarily named QGp/Gi.sxau-6B, is a major QTL for seed dormancy with the maximum phenotypic variance explained of 17.66~34.11%. One PCR-based diagnostic marker Ger6B-3 for QGp/Gi.sxau-6B was developed, and the genetic effect of QGp/Gi.sxau-6B on the RIL population and a set of wheat germplasm comprising 97 accessions was successfully confirmed. QGp/Gi.sxau-6B located in the 28.7~30.9 Mbp physical position is different from all the known dormancy loci on chromosomes 6B, and within the interval, there are 30 high-confidence annotated genes. Our results revealed a novel QTL QGp/Gi.sxau-6B whose CH1539 allele had a strong and broad effect on seed dormancy, which will be useful in further PHS-resistant wheat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, India during summer, 2020 to evaluate performance of different orientations of double pod sowing in comparison with kernel sowing (practice) on germination variability, yield and its related parameters of peanut. Methods: The experiment set up with four treatments replicated four times with pods sowing orientations viz., i) Sowing with vertical posterior-upwards ii) Vertical posterior-downwards iii) horizontal sowing and iv) sowing with kernels. Result: Results showed a little variation in germination between sowing orientation of double pods compared to kernel sowing. Though, mean germination percentage, germination energy, germination value and emergence energy value were higher in kernel sowing, pod sowing with vertical-posterior downwards elevated germination percent up to 97.45% and also inflated germination attributes and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was done as a factorial experiment with 5 replications was carried out. The seeds were primed using putrescine at concentrations of 0 (hydropriming), 0.5, and 1 mM, and control were used as control. Salinity treatment was applied under normal, low, moderate and severe (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl, respectively) salinity stress. According to the findings, increasing salinity levels reduced germination percentage, (GP), germination rate, (GR), coefficient of velocity of germination, (CVG), seed weight vigour index, (SWVI), by 29, 66, 53 and 25%, respectively and seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, roots length and shoot length by 37, 14, 72 and 61%, respectively, while increasing mean germination time (MGT), percentage of dry matter, total soluble sugar (TSS), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) by 112, 53, 57,16 and 182%, respectively. When seeds were primed using putrescine reduced the effects of oxidative stress by reducing ROS and MDA levels by 11 and 47%, respectively compared to control and improved the GP, GR, CVG, SWVI, root length and shoot length by 31, 81, 67, 36, 27, 19%, and decreased MGT by 40%. Although seed priming using 1 mM putrescine was effective in some parameters, there was no significant difference when compared to 0.5 mM putrescine. As a result, seed priming indigo using 0.5 mM putrescine with increasing dry matter by 73% appears to be more practical and economical in terms of mitigating the negative effects of salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

[Objective] To screen out suitable seed-coating agent for Euryale ferox. [Method] Two varieties, Suqian No. 2 and Qingziqian, were used as test materials. And 8 kinds of seed-coating agents (30% Pyraclostrobine·fludioxonil·Clothianidin FS, 25 g / L fludioxonil FS, 11% Pyraclostrobine ·triticonazole FS, 11% metalaxyl-M · fludioxonil · azoxystrobin FS, 27% difenoconazole · fludioxonil · clothianidin FS, 4. 23% metalaxyl·ipconazole FS, 22. 4% penflufen FS and 62. 5 g / L metalaxyl-M·fludioxonil metformin FS) were used for coating treatment. [Result]The germination rate of seeds showed that there were differences between varieties, and the germination rate of Suqian No. 2 was higher than that of Qingziqian. The effects of different seed-coating treatments on germination rate were different, among which 4. 23% methanol and thromacazole FS was better than other fungicides, and the germination rates of Suqian and Qingziqian, respectively, were 58. 49% and 42. 05%, which were not significantly different from the control germination rates. However, the leaves showed certain deformities and dwarfing symptoms when treated by seed-coating agents. [Conclusion] 4. 23% methanol and thromacazole FS has no obvious inhibitory effect on the germination rate of Euryale ferox, but there is a certain stress effect on the growth of Euryale ferox, and it is necessary to further optimize the application method. The results of this study can provide a reference for the screening of seed-coating agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates the genetic variability and viability association of eight mungbean varieties under different levels of salinity stress. The study found that four elite genotypes (Utkarsh, TARM 1, Vamban, and Vishal) performed better than others under various levels of salinity. The study also examined the effects of salinity on various growth parameters of mungbean plants, finding that increasing salinity levels negatively affected plant growth and development. Additionally, the study discussed the effects of salt stress on seed weight and yield, finding that increasing salinity levels resulted in a decrease in seed weight and yield per plant. The document concludes by recommending the use of the four superior genotypes in breeding programs for salt-tolerant mungbean varieties. [Extracted from the article]

An experiment was conducted in the Vegetable Unit, Department of Horticulture, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu during 2022 to find out the effective seed priming method in bhendi. The experiment was carried out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) which includes different organics in different concentrations viz., Panchagavya @ 2% & @4%, Cow urine @ 2% & 4%, Vermiwash @ 0.1% &_0.25%, Beejamrutham @ 2% & 4%, Coconut water @25% & 50% and Control. The results of the experiment demonstrated that among the organic seed priming evaluated, Coconut water @ 50% (T10) has resulted in a higher germination percentage, seedling growth and seedling vigour index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current experiment was conducted during 2020-21 at the Microbiology Laboratory, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station Bawal to examine the impact of bio-inoculants and chemicals seed priming on bael seed germination. There were 15 seed priming treatments i.e., control, IBA @ 100 ppm and 50 ppm for 24 hours, NAA @ 50 and 100 ppm for 24 hours, GA3 @ 50 and 100 ppm for 24 hours, KNO3 @ 1 per cent for 24 hours, Azotobacter (HT 54) for 30 minutes, Trichoderma viride for 30 minutes, Rhizobium (CK 16) for 30 minutes, PSB (P 36) for 30 minutes, hot water for 30 minutes, nitric acid for 3 minutes, sulphuric acid for 3 minutes. Among different seed priming treatments, shortest germination time (12.7 days) was recorded with sulphuric acid for 3 minutes in agar medium at 28 °C under laboratory conditions and the highest germination percentage (83.3 %), dry weight per seedling (153.2 mg), seedling length (12.2 cm) and vigour index I (976) and II (12256) were observed when bael seeds primed with GA3 @ 100 ppm for 24 hours under laboratory conditions.° [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Corn is one of the most important crops in the cereal family, and after wheat, it has the largest cultivated area in the world. Among the types of corn, sweet corn seeds are sensitive to storage conditions due to their low starch content and poor seed vigor. Therefore, it is essential to understand their physiological and biochemical behavior during storage to prolong their longevity and prevent the loss of vigor. On the other hand, seed deterioration is a natural phenomenon, resulting in seeds losing their viability and quality even under optimal storage conditions. This undesirable phenomenon causes more damage, especially in sensitive seeds such as sweet corn. Part of this damage is related to the decrease in the speed and percentage of seed germination, which leads to a decrease in plant density and failure to achieve the desired density in the field, resulting in decreased crop yield. This experiment evaluated and tested the ability of seed priming with ascorbic acid to improve damage caused by sweet corn seed deterioration. Materials and methods: This experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, BuAli Sina University, as a factorial in a completely randomized design with four replications. The seed used for the experiment was Chase variety. Wheat seeds deteriorated by accelerated aging method for 72 hours at 43 °C. Then, the deteriorated seeds were primed at 25°C with 1, 1.5 ml of ascorbic acid and distilled water for 18 hours. The studied traits included germination percentage, mean germination time, germination rate, vigor index, malondialdehyde content, soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. Results: The results showed that vitamin priming of seeds with ascorbic acid improved the germination percentage, germination rate, vigor index, soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase in deteriorated seeds. Among the examined traits, the mean germination time and malondialdehyde content of primed seeds decreased compared to non-primed ones. The concentrations of ascorbic acid used in mean germination time, germination rate, vigor index, and soluble sugars were not significantly different. However, it had a more favorable effect than hydropriming in improving the studied parameters of sweet corn seeds. While seed priming with a concentration of 1.5 mM ascorbic acid had the most significant effect on germination percentage, soluble proteins, malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase activity, and its difference with other priming treatments was significant. Even though seed priming with a concentration of 1.5 mM ascorbic acid had the greatest effect on the germination percentage, soluble proteins, malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase activity. However, its difference was significant from other priming treatments. It increased the percentage of germination, soluble proteins, and superoxide dismutase activity by 71, 85, and 44%, respectively, and decreased the content of malondialdehyde by 52.9%. Conclusion: Based on the results from this experiment, it can be concluded that applying ascorbic acid, especially the concentration of 1.5 mM, as the best priming treatment is recommended to recover the lost quality of deteriorated sweet corn seeds and improve their germination characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibberellic acid (GA3) is the one of the plant growth regulator which helps plants tolerate salt competently and diminishes the effects of salt stress. The present investigation was done to determine the effect of GA3 on two different Nacl concentrations on seed germination and physiological limits of four fabaceae seeds: Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth., Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf., Cassia fistula L., and Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. Experimentation was directed as a factorial with a completely randomised block design with three replicates. Salinity at two levels (50 mM and 100 mM NaCl) and hormone (GA3 at 150ppm versus no GA3 were the experimental conditions. Therefore, when the salt level was 50 mM NaCl, priming the seeds of these tree seeds with 150 ppm GA3 suggestively increased germination percentage, declined mean germination time, improved physiological parameters of the seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important oilseed crop well adapted to Mediterranean area. However, increasing drought, due to climate change, impairs its growth and development, mainly when this stress occurs early during germination. This study carried out in vitro conditions aimed to investigate the effect of water deficit on seed germination and seedling growth traits in 12 genotypes to select the most drought-tolerant ones. Drought conditions were created using polyethylene glycol 6000 to induce three osmotic potential levels, namely −0.7 MPa for moderate stress, −0.9 MPa for intermediate stress, and −1.1 MPa for severe stress. Germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), mean germination time (MGT), root length (RL), shoot length (SL), root-to-shoot ratio (RSR), seedling vigor index (SVI), shoot elongation rate (SER), and root elongation rate (RER) were measured/calculated. ANOVA and PCA were performed to analyze the data gathered. Results showed a significant effect of genotype, drought, and drought × genotype interaction on all studied parameters. Under severe drought conditions, overall values of GP, GR, RL, SL, SER, RER, and SVI decreased by 87.15 %, 53.29 %, 9.33 %, 4.73 %, 78 %, 82 %, and 96 %, respectively, while those of MGT and RSR increased by 56 % and 76 %, respectively, when compared to unstressed conditions. However, the genotypes studied reacted differently to the three levels of water stress. Based on PCA results, RL, RER, and GP proved to be the most discriminating of drought-tolerant genotypes. Overall, higher drought tolerance was associated with higher values in RL, SL, and SVI. Accordingly, the variety ‘Nap10’ and, to a lesser extent, ‘Baraka’ and ‘Nap9’ exhibited higher drought tolerance than the rest of genotypes, which makes them potential cultivars for dry areas. However, further studies in real field conditions are needed to confirm their tolerance to drought occurring at germination as well as during other stages, mainly flowering.

Nanoscale geranium waste (GW) and magnesium nanoparticle/GW nanocomposites (Mg NP/GW) were prepared using green synthesis. The Mg NP/GW samples were subjected to characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-FT). The surface morphology of the materials was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and their thermal stability was assessed through thermal gravimetric analysis (TG). The BET-specific surface area, pore volume, and pore size distribution of the prepared materials were determined using the N2 adsorption–desorption method. Additionally, the particle size and zeta potentials of the materials were also measured. The influence of the prepared nanomaterials on seed germination was intensively investigated. The results revealed an increase in seed germination percent at low concentrations of Mg NP/GWs. Upon treatment with Mg NP/GW nanoparticles, a reduction in the mitotic index (MI) was observed, indicating a decrease in cell division. Additionally, an increase in chromosomal abnormalities was detected. The efficacy of GW and Mg NP/GW nanoparticles as new elicitors was evaluated by studying their impact on the expression levels of the farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS1) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GPPS1) genes. These genes play a crucial role in the terpenoid biosynthesis pathway in Sinapis alba (S. alba) and Pelargonium graveolens (P. graveolens) plants. The expression levels were analyzed using reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. The qRT-PCR analysis of FPPS and GPPS gene expression was performed. The outputs of FPPS1 gene expression demonstrated high levels of mRNA in both S. alba and P. graveolens with fold changes of 25.24 and 21.68, respectively. In contrast, the minimum expression levels were observed for the GPPS1 gene, with fold changes of 11.28 and 6.48 in S. alba and P. graveolens, respectively. Thus, this study offers the employment of medicinal plants as an alternative to fertilizer usage resulting in promoting environmental preservation, optimal waste utilization, reducing water consumption, and cost reduction.

Olive mill wastewater (effluents from olive oil extraction during harvest) is a source of environmental pollution due to its high acidity and heavy loads of polyphenols and organics. Our aim is, to study the phytotoxicity of olive mill wastewater (OMW) at different concentrations on the germination and growth of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L). To assess this, we measured the percentage of germination (GP), the germination inhibition rate (GIR), the length of the main stem, the number of leaves, and the biomass of the stem, leaves, and roots. The germination test was carried out by placing 25 tomato seeds on filter paper in Petri dishes and then irrigating with different concentrations of OMW (0%, 1%, 2%, 5%, 7%, 10%). The boxes were placed in an incubator at a temperature of 25 °C for 10 days. The results obtained show that, after 10 days of germination, the GP is maximal (more than 98%) at concentrations of less than 7% (r=-0.98; p

This study evaluated the potential of compost-combusted forest litters as alternative sources of ex-situ organo-mineral products to the direct use of controlled fire for enhanced soil nutrients in forest stands. Floor litters from six (6) delineated standing forest patches of Pterocarpus erinaceus, Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, Bambusa vulgaris, Ceiba pentandra and Mangifera indica were characterized for N, K, P, Ca and Mg; composted for 3, 6, 9 and 12 days and then uniformly combusted to produce organo-minerals for early growth response of Dacryodes edulis in a 6 x 4 split-plot factorial experiment. Analysis of variance was conducted for litter characteristics, calorific values, moisture, ash contents, and germination and growth variables of Dacryodes edulis while significant means were separated with DMRT (p ≥ 0.05). Results showed that Mangifera had the highest P (0.68%) and K (1.15%); Bamboo had the highest N (1.92%). Germination was 6>9>12> 3 days with Bamboo > Ceiba > Teak > Mangifera > Gmelina > Pterocarpus for 6 days organo-minerals, but the highest height (21.56 ± 6.77 cm) by Pterocarpus to implicate litters under microbe-thermal mediation as sustainable organo-mineral ex-situ products to combat incidence of forest fire for fertile forest soil. Thus, in-situ controlled fire in standing forests is no longer needed for nutrient-rich forest-agriculture.

1. Introduction: Cultivation of rhubarb (Rheum ribes) plant is increasing rapidly all over the world. The need to cultivate these plants according to the nutritional value is fully felt. The most important issue for the production of agricultural plants is the choosing appropriate method to propagate them. Germination is one of the critical stages in the growth cycle of plants. Germination plays a major role in determining the final growth and density of the plant. Low and irregular germination is one of the main problems of reproduction of many medicinal plants. Considering that biological stimuli can improve seed germination and minimize soil pollution, they are environmentally friendly and suitable for producing of organic crops. The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of seed priming with some biostimulants such as humic acid and extract of bean and chickpea sprout on germination indices and seedling growth parameters of rhubarb plant. 2. Materials and Methods: An experiment was carried out based on completely randomized design with three replications to investigate the influence of seed priming with some biostimulants such as humic acid and extract of black-eyed bean and chickpea sprout on germination indices (germination percentage, germination speed, seed vigour and allometric coefficient) and seedling growth parameters (length, and dry and fresh weight of plumule and radicle) of rhubarb plant. Black-eyed bean and chickpea sprouts were separately milled in a fresh state and their powder was mixed with distilled water twice in a 50 to 50 weight ratio, and then mixed. The prepared sprout extracts were considered as 100% mother extract and different concentrations (10%, 20% and 30%) of experimental extract were prepared from mother extract. Humic acid was prepared at three different concentrations including 1, 5 and 10 g L-1, and distilled water was also used as control treatment. After soaking the seeds in prepared biostimulants for 24 h, they were sown in the plastic pots. The number of germinated seeds was counted every three days until the end of the period (50 d). At the end of the experiment, the length, and dry and fresh weight of plumule and radicle were measured. 3. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the effect of all three treatments on germination indices of rhubarb seeds was significant. There was significant difference between humic acid 10 g L-1 and bean extract 10% with the control in terms of seed germination percentage. Also, there was a significant difference between chickpea extract 10% and the control in terms of allometric coefficient. Bean extract 30% increased the length of plumule, but on the other hand, this trait decreased in seeds treated with chickpea 10% comparing to control. In terms of radicle length, there was significant difference between humic acid 5 and 10 g L-1 with the control. Application of humic acid 5 and 10 g L-1 increased the radicle length. Using chickpea sprout extract 10% caused a 28% decrease in the germination rate, and using chickpea sprout extract 20% caused 22% decrease in this trait. Priming with bean extract 10% caused 10 and 21% decrease in plumule length and germination speed, and the other treatments of bean and chickpea extracts did not have a significant effect on germination indices. Seed priming with humic acid at a concentration of 10 g L-1 increased the germination rate by 8% and germination speed by 12.5%. Studies have shown that treatment with humic acid can positively affect cellular metabolism, photosynthetic rate, amino acids biosynthesis rate and phyto-hormones content leading to improving growth rate and qualitative and quantitative characteristics of crops. 4. Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, humic acid 10 g L-1 was the best treatment to improve germination indices and growth parameters of rhubarb plant. Therefore, it could be used as a priming solution for better and faster germination of rhubarb seeds. Also, the use of humic acid both in sustainable agriculture and healthy crop production is cost effective. Using this treatment could be introduced as efficient technique to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and reduce environmental pollution. Also, the results demonstrated that priming with bean and chickpea extracts could not significantly affect the most important germination indices and growth parameters of rhubarb plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Effect of NPK on Growth, Yield and Quality of Chilli" presents the findings of an experiment conducted at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences. The experiment aimed to determine the impact of NPK fertilizer on the growth, yield, and quality of chilli plants. The study found that a specific NPK combination (140:90:80) resulted in superior plant height, number of branches, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit girth, yield, gross profit, net profit, and benefit-cost ratio. The research suggests that optimizing NPK levels can enhance yield, improve input-use efficiency, and reduce fertilizer costs for farmers. [Extracted from the article]

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]

One of the most important factors in reducing vigor of seed is the occurrence of water stress during seed development on mother plant. Also, the use of growth regulators in environmental stresses leads to the production of seeds with better germination ability. In order to study the effect of methyl jasmonate on germination indices and vigor of two bread wheat cultivars under different irrigation regimes, an experiment was conducted as a split factorial in a RCBD design in two growing seasons (2015 and 2017). In this experiment, different irrigation regimes including normal irrigation (control), irrigation cut off from bolting stage and irrigation cut off from the grain milking stage were investigated as the main factor, and two wheat cultivars Sirvan and Pishtaz and 0, 50, 100, and 150 μm of methyl as sub plots. The results showed that in both cultivars, germination indices decreased by stress, but application of 100 μM methyl jasmonate increased the germination percentage, germination rate, length and weight vigor, gluten and seed starch content in both years compared to the control. On average, at different levels of irrigation cut off and full irrigation, Sirvan cultivar showed higher germination percentage and rate than Pishtaz cultivar. Also, irrigation cut off from bolting stage had the greatest negative effect on the seed formed in the mother plant in different wheat cultivars. Overall, the results showed that among the treatments, the best methyl jasmonate application with a concentration of 100 mM was able to moderate the effects of drought stress and improve germination and qualitative traits of seed under stress and nonstress conditions and Sirvan had higher seed quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different treatments on seed germination of the Mucuna flagillepes Hook. F (ukpo) species was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri. This experiment consisted of seven(7) treatment levels and was replicated three times, the treatment were O, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72hours, then untreated seeds serve as a control in a completely randomized design. During the germination stage, germination percentage, imbibitions period (IP), germination index(GI), germination speed (GS), and seed vigor index (SVI) were recorded. The result obtained from Plant extract, Piper guineense (uziza), and Xlopia aethiopica (Uda), results showed that uziza extract at 12 and 48hours priming gave the highest germination percentage (99.33%) while 72hours gave the fastest imbibitions period of 7days which was significantly different (P<0.05) from the controls. Also, Uziza extract compared with Uda extract in 72 hours priming duration significantly improved the Germination index (0.4066), germination speed (0.2300), and seed vigor index (5.277). The use of plant extracts at an increased soaking period of 60 hours and 72 hours respectively will enhance germination parameters and seedling growth treatment of the seed of Mucuna flagellipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the germination and seedling development responses of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) varieties under drought stress and identify sensitive/tolerant varieties. The study was conducted at the Laboratory of the Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University. Artificial drought stress was induced using polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) material. The plant material for the study consisted of the following common vetch varieties: Görkem, Kralkızı, Özveren, Dicle, Alper, Doruk, Kubilay-82, D-135, IFVS-715, and Alınoğlu-2001. These varieties were germinated under different drought (PEG-6000) levels (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). The laboratory experiment was conducted with a randomized split-plot design, with four replications. In the research, parameters such as germination percentage, mean germination time, germination index, germination uniformity coefficient, radicle and hypocotyl length, lateral root number and length, seedling fresh and dry weights, and seedling vigor index were examined. Increasing drought levels significantly (p<0.01) affected germination and seedling characteristics of common vetch varieties. The effects of drought stress were observed from the 10% PEG level for germination percentage and from the 5% PEG concentration for all other parameters. According to the research findings, the tolerance of varieties to drought levels also varied. Among the common vetch varieties, Dicle, Alınoğlu-2001, and Kralkızı showed higher tolerance to drought in terms of germination and seedling development parameters compared to other varieties. Considering genotypic differences, the use of drought-resistant varieties is important in common vetch cultivation in drought-affected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive mill wastewater (effluents from olive oil extraction during harvest) is a source of environmental pollution due to its high acidity and heavy loads of polyphenols and organics. Our aim is to study the phytotoxicity of olive mill wastewater (OMW) at different concentrations on the germination and growth of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). To assess this, we measured the percentage of germination (GP), the germination inhibition rate (GIR), the length of the main stem, the number of leaves, and the biomass of the stem, leaves, and roots. The germination test was carried out by placing 25 tomato seeds on filter paper in Petri dishes and then irrigating with different concentrations of OMW (0%, 1%, 2%, 5%, 7%, 10%). The boxes were placed in an incubator at a temperature of 25 °C for 10 days. The results obtained show that, after 10 days of germination, the GP is maximal (more than 98%) at concentrations of less than 7% (r = -0.98; p<0.000) and with an "inhibitory" effect at more than 7% (r = +0.98; p<0.000). However, the growth in length (8.514±2.612 cm) and the number of leaves (4.667±0.866 leaves) were maximum, respectively, at 2% and 1%, after a period of 30 days. However, the dry weight is maximum (0.235±0.049 g) at 5% OMW, however, there is no significant difference in the fresh and dry weights of the stems and leaves for different concentrations. In light of these results, the OMW of crushing units using the continuous three-phase process could be used as an irrigation source at concentrations below 7%, for better tomato yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid flowering of bedding flowers, such as petunia (Petunia hybrida L.) and zinnia (Zinnia elegans L.), increases the uniformity of the seedbed and their simultaneous flowering. In this study, the effect of seed priming on the germination and vigor of petunia and zinnia seedlings has been investigated. A factorial experiment was conducted in the form of a completely randomized design with two factors, the first factor, the plant species, and the second factor, three salts of potassium nitrate, calcium chloride, and sodium chloride along with control in the laboratory of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Qasim-ul-Akhra University of Babol, Iraq. The results showed that in both plants, halopriming treatment with 50 mM potassium nitrate and calcium chloride for 24 hours provided better results in terms of germination and seedling growth. Between the two treatments of potassium nitrate and calcium chloride, there was no significant difference in the characteristics of time to reach 50% germination, average germination time, germination index, final germination, and wet and dry weight of roots and shoots of petunia and dry weight of zinnia shoots. In general, the findings of this study will be important in understanding the direct physiological effect of halopriming in increasing seed germination and seedling establishment in petunia and zinnia and can provide detailed information about the potential effectiveness of priming with potassium nitrate and calcium chloride to the seed industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Seed priming is the simplest and the best method to increase seed germination speed. Methods: To address this, in a study aimed at the effect of priming of different barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars on various germination characteristics, in the form of a factorial experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with four replications in the research greenhouse of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Hamadan province in 2022. Treatments including priming of seeds with fertilizers 1. Biozar, 2. Seafull amino zinc, 3. Sabzine, 4. Royesh, 5. Ecobooster, and 6. control (no fertilizer application), and different barley cultivars including Jolgeh, Bahman, Azaran, Abidar, Ghaflan, and Sahand. Results: The results indicated a significant effect of seed priming on the evaluated characteristics compared to the control treatment. The highest enzyme activities of catalase (0.117 Unit/ml) and peroxidase (85.08 Unit/ml) were obtained in seedlings obtained from seeds priming with Seafull amino zinc, which were 72 and 33% more than control treatments, respectively. The highest seedling vigor index was related to the seeds priming with seafull amino zinc fertilizer (26.55), which was significantly higher than the control treatment (22.84) and other treatments. Also, the germination percentage of seeds priming with seafull amino zinc fertilizer was significantly higher (3.5%) than the control. Conclusion: Considering that seed priming is a cost-effective and easy method and at the same time it is simple and does not require complex technical knowledge, it can be easily implemented by farmers. Therefore, this method is recommended to improve germination, seedling growth, and the quality and strength of barley seeds. [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]

The excavation and utilization of dormancy loci in breeding are effective endeavors for enhancing the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) of wheat varieties. CH1539 is a wheat breeding line with high-level seed dormancy. To clarify the dormant loci carried by CH1539 and obtain linked molecular markers, in this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross of weak dormant SY95-71 and strong dormant CH1539 was genotyped using the Wheat17K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, and a high-density genetic map covering 21 chromosomes and consisting of 2437 SNP markers was constructed. Then, the germination percentage (GP) and germination index (GI) of the seeds from each RIL were estimated. Two QTLs for GP on chromosomes 5A and 6B, and four QTLs for GI on chromosomes 5A, 6B, 6D and 7A were identified. Among them, the QTL on chromosomes 6B controlling both GP and GI, temporarily named QGp/Gi.sxau-6B, is a major QTL for seed dormancy with the maximum phenotypic variance explained of 17.66~34.11%. One PCR-based diagnostic marker Ger6B-3 for QGp/Gi.sxau-6B was developed, and the genetic effect of QGp/Gi.sxau-6B on the RIL population and a set of wheat germplasm comprising 97 accessions was successfully confirmed. QGp/Gi.sxau-6B located in the 28.7~30.9 Mbp physical position is different from all the known dormancy loci on chromosomes 6B, and within the interval, there are 30 high-confidence annotated genes. Our results revealed a novel QTL QGp/Gi.sxau-6B whose CH1539 allele had a strong and broad effect on seed dormancy, which will be useful in further PHS-resistant wheat breeding.

Introduction: Salinity stress is one of the important damaging factors for seed germination which interrupts the uptake of some nutrients by lowering soil water potential and causing ion toxicity due to salt accumulation inside the seeds. Since hyssop seeds are sensitive to salinity stress in the early stages of seed germination, it is necessary to investigate seed enhancement methods to improve seed germination in this species under saline conditions. In this research, the effects of seed priming using iron were studied on hyssop seed germination characteristics under salinity stress conditions. Material and Methods: This research was conducted as two separate factorial experiments in complete random design with three replications. The treatments included five levels of iron nano-chelate and microchelate (zero, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg /l) and six levels of salinity (zero, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM) and two priming durations. It included 12 and 24-hours. Results: The results showed that with the increase in salinity, the germination characteristics declined so that at 200 mM of salinity, seedling growth declined significantly and ceased completely at 250 mM level. Application of iron micro-chelate under non-stress conditions did not have any positive effect on hyssop germination, and the use of distilled water for 12 hours worked better than iron nano-chelate. No significant difference was observed among the different concentrations in micro-iron treatment. Application of nano and micro chelate at 100 and 150 mM salinity stress had a stronger effect so that nano iron chelate concentrations of 200 mg/L for 12 hours and 100 and 200 mg per liter concentrations of iron micro chelate had the highest germination, seedling growth, and seed germination in 24 hours. The amount of soluble protein and peroxidase and catalase activity increased at 50 mg/L salinity but decreased at higher salinities. Also, pretreatment of seeds with an iron micro-chelate and nano iron chelate concentration of 200 mg/liter intensified this process. Conclusion: Conclusion: The results of this study showed that seed germination of hyssop is highly declined due to salinity stress, so the seedlings were unable to grow at a salinity concentration of 200 mg/L. Moreover, germination does not occur at 250 mg/liter salinity. Also, seed pretreatment of this plant is not justifiable under non-stress and mild stress conditions, and pretreatment with iron chelate had negative effects and was ineffective at best. However, iron chelate application at high salinity levels- especially in the nanoscale with a concentration of 200 mg/liter for 12 hours- is effective in reducing the effect of salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The selections of optimum planting date for every climate and mother bulb size are important factors affecting the quantity and quality of seed production in different cultivars. This study was performed in Isfahan province, Frieden, during two growing years 2016-2017 to determine the effect of planting time and mother bulb size on the quantity and quality of short-day onion seed varieties Texas Early Grano 502 Materials and Methods: A split-plot experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The main factor was cultivation dates at four levels: the end of August, the first of September, the end of September and the first of October and mother bulb size at three levels with 3.55, 5.5- 7, 7.5-9cm diameters were assigned as sub-plots. The measured traits were number of umbel per unit area, the number of fertilized capsules in umbel, the number of seeds per capsule, 1000 seed weight, seed yield and germination rate. Results: The results of combined analysis of variance showed that effect of year was only significant on the number of capsules per umbel at p<0.01. The interactions of year× mother bulb diameter and year× planting date× mother bulb diameter was not significant for any of the traits. The traits were not affected by the year. The results showed that the planting date had a significant effect on all traits except for 1000 seed weight, and the first planting date (the end of August) had the highest values in all traits. The highest germination percentage (89.83%) and the highest germination rate (12.8) were obtained on the first planting date, which showed a statistically significant difference with the subsequent planting dates. However, these two traits were not affected by mother bulb diameter treatment. The highest seed yield for onion diameter factor (505.65 kg h-1 in the first year and 465.78 kg h-1 in the second year) was associated with mother bulb size of 7.5-9 cm. Conclusions: The overall result showed that to obtain the highest and most desirable quality of onion seeds of Texas Early Grano 502 cultivar in Friedan of Isfahan, the planting date of the first of September and the size of the mother bulb “between” 7 to 9 cm is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The different species of Amaranthus species are among the most important damaging weeds in the world. Due to the importance of studying the effect of management factors on seed dynamics of different weed species, this experiment aimed to investigate the effect of burial depth and high temperatures on the seed dynamic of different species of Amaranthus in Golestan province including white pigweed (A. albus), prostrate pigweed (A. belitoides), hybrid Amaranthus (A. chlorostachys), redroot pigweed (A. retrofelexus) and green Amaranthus (A. viridis) were performed. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted on five amaranthus species of white pigweed, prostrate pigweed, hybrid Amaranthus, redroot pigweed and green Amaranthus at the seed laboratory and greenhouse of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. In the first experiment, seed emergence of different species of Amaranthus was studied in eight burial depths including 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 10 cm. In the second experiment, seeds were exposed to 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and 110 °C temperatures for 5, 10, and 15 minutes Results: All seeds of A. blitoides and A. viridis germinated in the topsoil (zero depth); But, in A. albus, A. retroflexus, A. chlorostachys, 93%, 83%, and 3% of the seeds were emergence at the soil surface, respectively. By increasing the burial depth to one centimeter, the percentage of seeds emergence in different species of Amaranthus decreased significantly and was negligible at ≥ 2 cm depth. Germination test performed on retrieved seeds showed that zero to 16% of the seeds were able to germinate in petri dishes, and most of the non-germinated seeds were viable. In all species except for A. chlorostachys high temperatures reduced the germination percentage. Conclusion: Due to the reduction of seed germination percentage of different species of Amaranthus from a depth of more than one centimeter of soil, it seems that the use of conservation and conventional tillage methods has a good potential to reduce infestation of fields by these weeds. Also, although high temperatures reduce weed infestation in fields, they do not have a significant effect on depleting the seed bank of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the fineness of parsley seeds, several problems may arise such as the impossibility of using planting machines and the displacement of seeds by water, reduced germination and growth due to increased planting depth or lack of seed establishment in the soil, and consequently, increased seeding rate. Therefore, it is necessary to use methods to increase germination ability and improve the establishment of parsley seeds and seedlings in the soil. This experiment aimed to determine the most effective biopriming and gibberellin treatments for better germination and establishment of parsley seeds. Materials and Methods: In order to determine the best biopriming and gibberellin priming treatments on germination characteristics and establishment of parsley seed, three experiments with four replications were conducted in the seed science and technology laboratory of Yasouj University in 2015 and 2016. The first biopriming experiment was carried out using growth-stimulating bacteria in a completely randomized design with eight treatments including bacterial isolates Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 21, Bacillus biosobetyl strain, Enterobactercus cloac strain 5, also two and three compounds of these bacteria along with control treatment. The second experiment was carried out with five treatments of Trichoderma harziarum (T36, T39, T42, and T43) isolates with control treatment. Finally, the third experiment was performed as a factorial in a completely randomized design with concentrations of gibberellin hormone (0, 50, 100, and 200 ppm) and prime times (6 and 12 hours). The measured traits were seedling length, seedling dry weight, germination percentage, and seedling length vigor index. Results: The results showed that the best treatments for the first experiment were biopriming with Enterobacter + pseudomonas, for the second experiment biopriming with T36 fungus strain, and for the third experiment 50 ppm of gibberellin prime for 6 and 12 hours. The results showed that the majority of biopriming and hormone prime treatments improved the quality of parsley seeds so that the germination percentage in control seeds was 70%. This value increased by 31% compared to control treatment following priming with growth-stimulating bacteria (Pseudomonas+ Enterobacter), which showed the highest rate among all treatments applied in this study. The use of 50 ppm of gibberellin priming for 6 and 12 hours increased germination by 19% and 14% compared to the control treatment, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that biopriming with Pseudomonas + enterobacter had the greatest effect on improving the quality and germination characteristics of parsley seed. In general, biopriming except for T42 fungi, and also gibberellin priming showed improvement in the quality and germination properties of parsley seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi 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 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.)

Bud seedlings were used in this study to overcome the disadvantages of the frequently-used active vegetation restoration methods such as direct seeding and plant seedlings for mining areas. Survival and growth characteristics of Sophora japonica L. by bud seedlings, seedling planting, and direct seeding methods were investigated through field plantation experiments in Changping District of Beijing, China. Nine plots (5 m×1 m) with slope of 25° were conducted and divided into 3 groups according to aspects of west, southwest, as well as south, and seeds were planted by following the three methods in each aspect. Germination, survival, seedling growth, and root parameters of each treatment were analyzed through one-way analysis of variance, paired-sample t test, repeated measures analysis of variance, and multivariate analysis of variance to evaluate the effectiveness of the three seedling methods. The results showed that seedling planting and bud seedlings promoted seeds germination and growth, with a germination percentage of 70.58% and seedling height of 9.97 cm before transplantation, which were 1.48 times and 1.53 times higher than direct seeding, respectively. Moreover, bud seedlings showed the largest survival rate, seedling height, and root biomass under all aspects after transplantation (P<0.05), and at the end of the study, the largest values of the above indicators were 88.33 % in BW (the plot with seedling method of bud seedlings in aspect west), 158.36 cm in BS (the plot with seedling method of bud seedlings in aspect west south), and 131.5 g in BS, respectively. The effect of seedling method on seedling growth was most significant and increased with time, with effect sizes of 0.290 and 0.199 on seedling height and growth rate in 2020, respectively. Overall, bud seedlings could extract the advantages and overcome the disadvantages of seedling planting and direct seeding, which can be considered as a better method for vegetation restoration in the mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]