نشریه علوم و فناوری بذر ایران
سال یازدهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 26، تابستان 1401)

IIn order to evaluate the potential of germination and initial seedling growth of soybean seeds fed with zinc oxide nanoparticles, two experiments (in growth chamber and soil) were performed at Shahrekord University in 2020. The treatments in the maternal plant included different compounds of zinc (zinc oxide nanoparticles with sizes of 38, 59 nm and zinc chloride) and different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg soil). With increasing the concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles, especially 38 nm nanoparticles at a concentration of 200 mg/kg, germination percentage and germination rate (67 and 89%, respectively), radicle length and weight (133 and 356%, respectively), plumule length and weight (135 and 103%, respectively) and as a result, seedling vigor index increased (291%). Significant increase in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids (28, 333 and 73%, respectively), plant height (41%), leaf area (66%), shoot weight (167%) of seedlings of soybeans fed with 200 mg/kg ZnO 38-nm was observed but at a concentration of 500 mg/kg of zinc compounds the toxic effects on soybean seedlings was observed. In general, it is concluded that feeding soybean plant with zinc oxide nanoparticles can be very effective in increasing the vigor of produced seed.

This experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with four replications and the first factor was Culture medium with two levels: laboratory and Greenhouse, and the second factor was seed pre-treatment with five levels: Control, Leaching for 12 hours, Leaching for 12 hours and Soaking in gibberellic acid for 12 hours, Scarification with sandpaper and Scarification with sandpaper and Soaking in gibberellic acid for 12 hours. The results showed that in Greenhouse vegetative traits of plumule length (78.6 mm), radicle length (109.34 mm), seedling dry weight (102.7 mg), allometric coefficient (0.72) and seedling vigour (95) were higher than the laboratory (p<0.05). The results also showed that leaching and soaking in gibberellic acid pre-treatment increased indices and traits germination rate (5.56), mean daily germination (1.9), peak value (2.48), germination value (6.1), plumule length (61.9 mm), radicle length (86.1 mm), seedling dry weight (82.2 mg) and seedling vigour (94.3) (p<0.05). This pre-treatment also reduced day to beginning germination index (5.6) (p<0.05). The results of mean comparison of the interaction effect of Culture medium and Pre-treatment showed that in Greenhouse leaching and soaking in gibberellic acid pre-treatment reduced day to beginning germination index (4.2) and increased vegetative traits of plumule length (93 mm), radicle length (129.2mm), seedling dry weight (120.8 mg) and seedling vigour (124.9) (p<0.05).

In many studies, the medicinal properties and impact of plantago ovata on mechanisms of human physical activities has been proven. So that one of the most useful, effective and harmless herbal laxative. drought is one of the limiting factors and a serious danger for the successful production of crops. An experiment was conducted to study germination characteristics of plantago ovata under water and drought stress conditions at different temperatures. The experiment was conducted at the University of Tehran lab, Karaj, in 2015. Temperatures regimes included 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C). For each temperature, the treatment for drought and water stress was four potentials (zero, -4, -8 and -12 bar) with sodium chloride. The effects of drouth stress on seed germination of plantago ovata at different temperatures showed the highest resistance to drought at 20 º C. drouth stress at different temperatures reduced germination parameters nad in the potential -12 germination stopped. Increased temperatures resulted in better conditions for seed germination and increase the drought stress tolerance. Increased severity of drought causes the reduction of temperature range in which the seed can germinate.

In order to investigate the effect of different treatments on dormancy breaking of Prickly scorpions weed (Scorpiurus muricatus L), three separate experiments were conducted in 2021 at Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan with four replications. experimental treatments consisted of immersion in boiling water (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 seconds), immersion in sulfuric acid (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 minutes), scarification and soaking (with scarification+ with soaking, with scarification + non soaking, without scarification +with soaking and without scarification and without soaking). The results of boiling water indicated that with increasing soaking time, germination percentage decreased and the highest germination percentage was observed in 30 seconds (85%). under sulfuric acid application conditions, 34% of seeds germinated in 10 minutes and at other times (20 -70 minutes) maximum germination was observed. The highest germination rate in sulfuric acid treatment was predicted to be 52 minutes. The results of scarification and soaking treatments showed that scarification alone led to an increase in germination percentage (92%) and germination decreased to 56% in soaking conditions with scarification. Immersing seeds in sulfuric acid for 50 minutes, application boiling water for 30 seconds and scarification as a solution to braking dormancy of Prickly can be recommended.

In order to investigate the effects of priming with salicylic acid and salinity stress on improvement of germination characteristics, activity of antioxidant enzymes and and membrane lipid peroxidation of wheat cultivar Mihan, an experiment was conducted as factorial in a completely randomized design with three replications in the physiology lab at the Islamic Azad University of Kaleiber Branch in 2018.The treatments consisted of different concentrations of acid salicylic in four levels (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mM) and salt stress was inducted by NaCl solution (0, 50 100, 150 mM). The results analysis of variance showed that the effects of salinity and salicylic acid on germination indices and activity of antioxidant enzymes was significant.Results comparison of data showed that NaCl priming by salicylic acid increased the germination percentage, root growth, root, seedling dry weight and decreasing activity of antioxidant enzymes and seed protein content in the salty environment. Salicylic acid increased the level of cell division of seedlings and roots which caused an increase in plant growth. Enzymes activity assay showed that enzyme activity was increased under salt stress conditions and SA reduced activity of antioxidant enzyme by decreasing the salinity effects. In brief, the SA treatment reduced the damaging action of salinity on seedling growth and accelerated a restoration of growth processes. It seems that Salicylic acid as a plant growth regulator under salinity condition, activated plant tolerance mechanisms to salinity condition and decrease damaging effect of salinity on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat.

Application of fungicides and insecticides in seed coating technology to control pathogen and pest early in the growing season to reduce damage to seedling emergence and plant establishment is essential. In this study, carboxyl tyram, lamardor, and maxim XL 035 fungicides and Cruiser FS 350, Cruiser FS 600 and Gaucho insecticides were used for coating the seed of two maize cultivars. The results showed that the coating maize seed with different fungicides and insecticides has significant effect on germination traits of the seeds. Germination rate, seedling emergence rate and seedling growth and finally dry weight were affected by the interaction of fungicide and insecticide in maize seed coating. In general, fungicidal and insecticidal formulations that have an increasing effect on seedling emergence rate and decrease average seedling emergence time, increased vegetative growth and eventually seedling weight. Maize seeds coating with Maxim XL + Cruiser 600, increased the dry weight of seedlings by 49.7% compared with uncoated seed under laboratory condition. Finally, based on germination traits in laboratory and greenhouse, Maxim XL 035 FS fungicide with Cruiser FS 600 or 350 insecticids, and Vitavax fungicide with Cruiser FS 600 insecticid, as the best combination of fungicide and insecticide are recommended for maize seed coating.

Saffron is propagated exclusively by corm because of sterility. Therefore, choosing the suitable corm for cultivation is one of the important factors in saffron production and the final yield depends on the size of the corm. The research was conducted to investigate the effects of benzyl aminopurine hormone priming, application of bio-fertilizers and maternal corm weight on the germination indices of saffron cormlets. Experimental treatments consisted of large (7.1-10 g) and small (4-7 g) corms, priming with benzyl aminopurine at concentrations of 0, 250, and 500 mg/l and biofertilizer levels (no fertilizer, Mycorrhiza (Funneliformis mossea) and fertilizer, Phosphate Barvar2). The results showed that maternal corms with 7.1 to 10 g compared to 4 to 7 g increased seedling emergence rate by 14% and the seedling vigor length index by 6.3%. Hormonal priming of maternal corms with a concentration of 500 mg/l increased dry weight leaf of main and lateral shoots (34%), dry weight of the main and total shoots (37% ), and also improved emergence rate (56%) and the number of the contractile root of cormlet (77%) with biofertilizer application. The interaction of hormonal priming (250 mg/l) and the use of maternal corms with 7.1 to 10 g increased the weight index of seedling vigor by 72%. Biofertilizer treatment increased 25% of the total dry weight of the shoots. In general, the application of larger corms and the application of biofertilizer and hormonal priming improved cormlet and saffron seedling vigor.

This study was conducted to evaluate the health and quality of onion seeds that were submitted to Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Institute (SPCRI) in 2016-2017 for obtaining a certificate. For this purpose, the germination rate and seed vigor of 9 onion cultivars were evaluated in the seed quality analysis laboratory. Botrytis allii infection was assessed in the second part of onion seed samples based on Blatter method. Third part of onion seeds was cultivated based on a completely randomized block design with 3 replications in two regions (Karaj and Dezfoul) and two years. Gray rot prevalence in field and its effect on seedling emergence and yield was investigated. Results showed that seed germination of different onion cultivars were significantly different from each other. Also, cold and accelerated aging treatment significantly reduced germination of onion seeds. Seeds treated by carboxin thiram fungicide were free of gray rot, but untreated seeds were infected with an average of 1-4% of the causative agent. The level of infection was not related to onion seed germination, seedling field establishment and yield.

In order to investigate the combined effects of temperature and salinity stress on seed germination properties of ziziphus (Ramlik), a factorial experiment conducted at seed technology laboratory of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan in 2019. The experiment was arranged as complete block design with three raplications. First factor was salinity (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 mM) and second factor was temperature (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 oC). Results of the experiment revealed that there was no seed germination in 5 oC, 10 oC at all salinity treatments. Seed germination and seedling growth were declined at all temperature treatments bythe increase in salinity concentrations. Salinity tolerance threshold of Ramlik at 25 OC was 173 mM but as temperature increased to 35 oC, it declined to 150 mM. The highest seed germination properties of Ramlik were observed at 25 oC. An increase in salinity led to a lower seed germination rate. As Ramlik seeds were capable to complete their germination at

One of the technologies used to improve seed germination is use of cold plasma. Cold plasma is created at atmospheric pressure or vacuum by using electrical discharge in low pressure gas. In order to investigate the effect of two cold plasma production systems on improving the germination indices of chickpea seeds from Adel, Mansour and Azad cultivars in three plasma exposure times of 0, 30 and 60 seconds, they were studied in a completely randomized factorial design. The results showed that cold plasma treatment by corona method at 30 seconds exposure caused a significant increase in the root length index compared to the control treatment in Adel and Mansur varieties. Also, cold plasma treatment by corona method in 30 seconds of exposure caused improvement in seed vigor in Adel and Mansour varieties, respectively, by 35% and 41% compared to the control and root length in 30 seconds corona treatment in Adel Mansur and Azad varieties, respectively increased by 38%, 42% and 2% compared to the control. On the other hand, in the barrier method, only in the root length index, in Azad variety and in exposure to cold plasma for 60 seconds, 25% increase was observed compared to the control. Therefore a significant positive effect on increasing seed vigor and root length of chickpea varieties tested in cold plasma treatment by corona method compared to the control, while the barrier dielectric method has more uniformity in the treatments than corona method.