Response in germination and seedling growth in Phaseolus mungo under salt and drought stress

The effect of salt and drought stress at the water potentials of-2, -4,-6and -8 bars induced by NaCl and PEG 6000 (Polyethylene glycol 6000) each, on germination and early seedling growth, were investigated for two varieties (PU-19 and Type-9). Electrical conductivity (EC) value of the NaCl solutions were 4.5, 8.8, 12.7 and 16.3 dS m(-1). Germination percentage, root and shoot length, and seedling fresh and dry weight were measured in the study. The objective was to determine genotypic differences among P. mungo varieties in terms of salt and drought stress and to determine factors (salt toxicity or osmotic stress due to PEG) inhibiting seed germination. The germination results revealed that the genotypes significantly differed for salt and drought stress. PU-19 appeared to be more tolerant to salt and drought stress comparable to var Type-9. Both NaCl and PEG inhibited germination and seedling growth in both the varieties, but the effects of NaCI compared to PEG was less on germination and seedling growth. All varieties were able to germinate at all NaCl levels without significant decrease in germination, while a drastic decrease in germination was recorded at -6 and -8 bars of PEG. It was concluded that inhibition in germination at equivalent water potential of NaCl and PEG was mainly due to an osmotic effect rather than salt toxicity.     

Activity of insect juvenile hormone III: seed germination and seedling growth studies

Summary. Juvenile hormones are sesquiterpenoids that regulate developmental processses such as metamorphosis and reproduction in insects. Insect juvenile hormone III (JH III), methyl-10R,11-epoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2E,6E-dodecadienoate, has also been identified in two sedge species, Cyperus iria and C. aromaticus (Toong et al. 1988). Potential allelopathic activity of this compound and the structurally related sesquiterpenoid farnesol was investigated using seed germination and seedling growth assays with radish, lettuce and rice. Treatment of seeds with JH III delayed lettuce seed germination and potently inhibited rice shoot growth. Both farnesol and JH III inhibited the growth of C. iria seedlings. The antimicrobial activity of JH III was also tested on a taxonomic and ecologically diverse range of fungi. Using the classic cytotoxic disk assay, JH III did not effect growth of the fungal species tested. We believe that JH III may contribute to the aggressive nature of this invasive weed species. Received 11 October 1999; accepted 26 February 2000     

模拟氮沉降对大豆萌发和幼苗生长的影响

氮沉降是当今倍受关注的全球性环境问题.采用大田试验和室内培养的方法,研究大豆种子萌发和幼苗生长对氮沉降的响应.实验设4组处理(CK、T1、T2、T3),所施氮肥为NH4NO3,在室内培养实验中,4组处理的浓度分别为0、0.08、0.16、0.24mol/L.大田实验中,4组处理的氮施入量分别为0,50,100,150 kg·hm-2·a-1.结果表明:过量氮沉降对种子萌发有一定的抑制作用,降低了种子的发芽速度和发芽率;抑制了幼苗的生长速度,降低了植株的株高、叶面积和生物量,并减小了根冠比;随着氮施入量的增加幼苗的蒸腾速率逐渐降低,但叶片叶绿素含量逐渐增加.     

连续两年紫外线-B辐射增强对玉米种子发芽及幼苗生长的影响

研究了在紫外线 (UV -B)辐射增强条件下与自然光下生长的玉米种子的发芽和幼苗生长特性以及对UV -B反应的变化。结果表明 :与自然光下生长的玉米种子相比 ,UV -B辐射增强条件下生长的玉米种子的发芽率和幼苗生长指标有不同程度的下降 ,但在连续两年UV -B强度增加条件下 ,其种子发芽和幼苗生长指标受高强度UV -B影响的程度显著下降。在连续两年UV -B辐射增强条件下生长的玉米种子萌发的幼苗叶片类黄酮含量显著高于在自然光下生长的玉米种子萌发的幼苗 ,这可能是在UV -B辐射增强条件下生长的玉米对UV -B辐射增强产生适应性的重要原因之一。     

Effect of rubber factory effluent on seed germination and seedling growth of Vigna radiatus L

Physico-chemical analysis of the rubber factory effluents revealed high amounts of total suspended and dissolved solids. Sulphate, phosphate, total nitrogen were also present in significant amounts. At higher concentration (above 50%) of effluent, the seed germination percentage was retarded. Diluted effluent (upto 50%) favoured seedling growth. Length of root system, shoot system and number of lateral roots were increased by low concentrations of effluent.     

Impact of osmotic stress on seed germination and seedling growth in black gram (Phaseolus mungo)

An experiment was conducted to see the impact of osmotic stress as it is one of the main cause in various soil and water disorders in agricultural field crops, speciallythe seed germination and seedling growth. The osmotic stress was generated using PEG-6000 and the seed germination, seedling growth were evaluated including the status of pigments i.e. chlorophyll (a, b and total), total carotenoids, pheophytin (a, b and total) and different enzymes like amylase, peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. The various osmotic potentials generated (-2, -5 and -10 bars) showed significant decrease in germination percentage as at the osmotic potential of -10 bars it was observed 70 in comparison to 90% of control. All the seedling growth parameter also showed inhibition with increase in osmotic potential. Increase in osmotic stress decreased Chlorophyll 'a', while Chlorophyll 'b' was increased in -5 bars while total chlorophyll showed decrease in -5 bars osmotic potential. Total carotenoids and pheophytin (a, b and total) were highly increased in -5 bars and decreased in -10 bars osmotic concentration. Enzymatic activity was found to be decreased in amylase while peroixidase, catalase and SOD were increased at different osmotic gradients in comparison to control. The data observed in the experiment can be helpful to assess the impact of any kind of osmotic stress on plant growth and development in crops.     

不同pH与重金属Cd胁迫对紫穗槐萌发和幼苗生长的影响

为了探索紫穗槐修复酸性矸石山的机制,研究了含有0—20μmol.L-1CdCl2的不同pH(3.0—7.5)溶液对紫穗槐种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.种子萌发结果表明,不同pH溶液处理对紫穗槐萌发率(约62%)和发芽势(约48%)无显著影响;当在不同pH(3.0—7.5)溶液中添加10—20μmol.L-1CdCl2时,10μmol.L-1Cd2+可促进种子萌发,20μmol.L-1Cd2+则抑制种子萌发.萌发露白的紫穗槐种子在不同pH溶液处理10 d时,幼苗的根长和株高在pH 4.5—5.0的酸性溶液最大,而在pH 3.0溶液中最小.添加CdCl2后,幼苗的根长变化趋势与单一pH结果一致,但均低于相应的pH.紫穗槐幼苗在单一pH与pH+10μmol.L-1CdCl2联合处理20 d时,株高和根长在pH 4.5—5.0溶液中最大,Cd可显著抑制幼苗根的生长.研究结果说明,pH 3.0—5.0酸性水不影响紫穗槐种子萌发,20μmol.L-1Cd显著抑制种子萌发;紫穗槐幼苗能耐pH 3.5—5.0酸性和10μmol.L-1Cd胁迫,为紫穗槐修复酸性矸石山提供了理论依据.     

UV-B增加与酸雨复合处理对大豆种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

研究了UV-B辐射增加与酸雨的复合处理对大豆种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：UV-B辐射增加对大豆种子的萌发没有影响，酸雨处理降低了大豆种子的发芽率。UV-B辐射增加与酸雨的复合处理，降低了幼苗的株高、绿叶数、叶面积、干质量、叶绿素和蒸腾速率，复合胁迫的下降幅度明显高于单一因子胁迫，并且下降幅度受UV-B辐射强度与酸雨pH的影响。UV-B辐射增加与酸雨处理在抑制幼苗生长上具有协同作用。     

UVR-induced toxicity of sludge and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on seed germination and seedling growth of Triticum aestivum L.

The depletion of the ozone layer and enhancement of solar radiation may exert an adverse influence on the ecosystem. Phototoxicity of sludge and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) under ultraviolet radiation (UVR) to seedling was studied. Seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum) were planted in sludge and PAHs (anthracene (An), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and pyrene (Py)) with and without UVR. Toxicity of sludge increased in the presence of UVR in wheat. UVB radiation was found to be more hazardous than UVA radiation. Results demonstrated that An, BaP and Py induced phototoxicity at various concentrations (1–10?µg/mL) under UVA (1.5?mW/cm²) or UVB (1.08?J/cm²) exposure. The pattern of phototoxicity was An?>?Py?>?BaP to shoot length, root length, and fresh weight; chlorophyll, protein content, enzyme activity of catalase and α-amylase were reduced while the activity of superoxide dismutase and starch was enhanced. Reduction in seedling growth and biochemical parameters may be related to less photosynthesis, less nutritional uptake, and distortion of root cap. Thus, the synergistic effect may be due to alterations in photosynthesis, phytohormones, or nutritional uptake.     

Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in Brassica napus L. during seed germination and seedling growth stages

● Higher concentrations of PS, PS-NH₂ and PS-SO₃H inhibited seed germination. ● PS, PS-NH₂ and PS-SO₃H influenced seedling growth in a dose-dependent manner. ● PS, PS-NH₂ and PS-SO₃H reduced essential nutrients uptake and plant quality. ● PS, PS-NH₂ and PS-SO₃H increased antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA content. ● Nanoplastic toxicity was related to surface charges. Nanoplastic pollution has become a significant problem in farmland systems worldwide. However, research on the effects of nanoplastics (NPs) with different charges on field crops is still limited. In our study, NPs with different charges, including unmodified polystyrene nanoplastics (PS), positively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NH₂), and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-SO₃H), were investigated for their impacts on seed germination and seedling growth of rape. The results showed that seed water uptake (after 12 h), seed germination, seed vigour, and relative root elongation were all significantly reduced under exposure to NPs (200 mg/L). Similarly, remarkable decreases in plant biomass (root weight, shoot weight), growth (root length, plant height), photosynthesis ability (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids), essential nutrient uptake (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu), and plant quality (soluble protein, soluble sugar, crude fibre content) of rape seedlings were also observed after exposure to NPs. Among the three kinds of NPs, PS-NH₂ showed stronger effects. Moreover, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities of rape seedlings were changed, and the content of malondialdehyde was significantly increased under exposure to NPs. Furthermore, positively charged PS-NH₂ showed stronger effects on the phenotype, physiology, biochemistry, nutrient uptake, and plant quality of rape. Notably, a comprehensive toxicity evaluation revealed that PS-NH₂ had the strongest toxicity to rape. The present study provides important implications for the interaction and risk assessment of NPs and crops in soil-plant systems.     

模拟酸雨对薇甘菊种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

薇甘菊是入侵性杂草,已在我国华南地区及云南部分地区造成严重危害。我国华南地区同时也是强酸雨分布区域。采用不同pH值的模拟酸雨对薇甘菊种子及幼苗进行处理,测定其对种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。测定了不同pH值下薇甘菊幼苗叶绿素含量、丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量、超氧阴离子产生速率、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶活性。结果表明,薇甘菊种子具有较强的耐酸能力,pH≥3．5时均能正常萌发,pH≤3．0时不能萌发。不同pH值模拟酸雨对薇甘菊幼苗叶绿素含量影响不显著。随着模拟酸雨pH值下降,超氧阴离子产生速率上升,丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量、超氧化物歧化酶活性和过氧化物酶活性呈先上升后下降。pH3．5时,丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量、过氧化物酶活性均达最大值;pH4．0时超氧化物歧化酶活性达最大值。结果表明薇甘菊对华南地区酸雨胁迫表现出适应。     

Impact of fertilizer factory effluent on seed germination, seedling growth and chlorophyll content of gram (Cicer aeritenum)

In the present study effect of fertilizer factory effluent on seed germination, seedling growth and chlorophyll content of gram (Cicer aeritenum) has been carried out, at different concentration of the effluent and time intervals. The effluent is alkaline in nature with strong ammonia odour. The germination percentage of seed, seedling growth and chlorophyll content showed a gradual decline with increase in effluent concentration. At 25% concentration of the effluent, growth promotion in terms of root, shoot length and increase in chlorophyll content recorded at 21 days. However, at higher concentrations of the effluent toxic effects were observed at 21 days. The study suggests that the effluent can be used safely for Cicer aeritenum cultivation, only after proper treatment and dilution.     

Seed predation by Neotropical rain forest mammals increases diversity in seedling recruitment

Seed dispersal and seedling recruitment (the transition of seeds to seedlings) set the spatiotemporal distribution of new individuals in plant communities. Many terrestrial rain forest mammals consume post-dispersal seeds and seedlings, often inflicting density-dependent mortality. In part because of density-dependent mortality, diversity often increases during seedling recruitment, making it a critical stage for species coexistence. We determined how mammalian predators, adult tree abundance, and seed mass interact to affect seedling recruitment in a western Amazonian rain forest. We used exclosures that were selectively permeable to three size classes of mammals: mice and spiny rats (weighing <1 kg), medium-sized rodents (1-12 kg), and large mammals (20-200 kg). Into each exclosure, we placed seeds of 13 tree species and one canopy liana, which varied by an order of magnitude in adult abundance and seed mass. We followed the fates of the seeds and resulting seedlings for at least 17 months. We assessed the effect of each mammalian size class on seed survival, seedling survival and growth, and the density and diversity of the seedlings that survived to the end of the experiment. Surprisingly, large mammals had no detectable effect at any stage of seedling recruitment. In contrast, small- and medium-sized mammals significantly reduced seed survival, seedling survival, and seedling density. Furthermore, predation by small mammals increased species richness on a per-stem basis. This increase in diversity resulted from their disproportionately intense predation on common species and large-seeded species. Small mammals thereby generated a rare-species advantage in seedling recruitment, the critical ingredient for frequency dependence. Predation by small (and to a lesser extent, medium-sized) mammals on seeds and seedlings significantly increases tree species diversity in tropical forests. This is the first long-term study to dissect the effects of various mammalian predators on the recruitment of a diverse set of tree species.     

外来入侵杂草银胶菊种子萌发特性及无性繁殖能力研究

银胶菊Parthenium hysterophorus L.是一种危害性很强的外来入侵杂草,在我国南方多省均有分布,在山东省莒南县也大面积分布,目前已对发生地生态环境造成巨大影响。文章于2011年采用人工气候箱培养皿法和温室土壤盆栽相结合的方法,研究银胶菊的种子在不同pH、盐浓度、湿度、营养条件、不同埋藏深度等条件下种子萌发特性及其无性繁殖能力,以期为明确其入侵机制和适生环境提供依据。结果表明,银胶菊种子适宜的萌发环境为酸性,pH=6.0时发芽率最好,到pH=8.0时,种子不能萌发;盐对银胶菊种子的萌发影响很大,随着盐浓度的提高,发芽率下降明显,当盐浓度达到0.12 mol·Lˉ1时,种子不再萌发;但不同的营养条件和不同P水平对种子的萌发无显著影响;干旱或水涝均能降低种子发芽率;种子埋藏土层越深,其发芽率越低,土层深度达3.0 cm以上,银胶菊种子几乎无发芽率。银胶菊有较强的无性繁殖能力,根部、基部茎和上部茎等不同部位埋入土壤后均能发芽,基部茎的发芽率最高(为66.7%-88.9%),根部和上部茎发芽率较低(为22.2%-44.4%)。另外,从发芽后的生长来看,茎部(包括基部茎和上部茎)发芽后均能正常生长,但根部发出新芽后逐渐黄化死亡。由此可以看出,银胶菊种子适应力、耐贫瘠能力强,一般的农田、荒地环境均能萌发生长,但盐碱地的环境下不能萌发生长;散落在土壤表层的银胶菊种子萌发率最高,因此,没有人类扰动的荒地、沟渠更适宜其萌发和生长;由于其很强的无性繁殖能力,人工砍伐的防除措施不能将其彻底防除。这些都是银胶菊入侵后,能够在短时间内暴发成灾,且不易彻底防除的原因。     

Seed germination in response to chemicals: effect of nitrogen and pH in the media

Seed germination generally presents a peak in the next growing season after a fire. Among other factors associated with fire are the increase of soil nitrogen and changes in the pH of the soil. In this study, we addressed the question, whether or not the germination response of eight species is linked with the increase in pH and nitrogenous compounds in the germination media? We assessed the separate and combined effects of nitrogenous compounds and pH on the percentage and rate of germination of seeds of Medicago arabica (L.) Hudson, Epilobium hirsutum L., Foeniculum vulgare Miller, Daucus carota L., Thapsia villosa L., Cynosurus cristatus L., Dactylis glomerata L. and Rumex crispus L. All these species are well represented in the Mediterranean ecosystems of the central-west Spain. Water and CaCl2 were used as controls. Nitrogenous compounds increased percent germination (level) and rate in three of the species studied. High pH negatively affected the germination rate of seeds from most species, but had no effect on the per cent germination of any of the species. The higher concentration of the nutritious solutions affected negatively the germination level and rate. The different germination responses of seeds of the studied species could not be exclusively attributed to pH values in the media, whereas the amount and form of Nitrogen in the media has a greater effect on it. These differences in germination are species dependent.     

Distillery effluent effect on seed germination,early seedling growth and pigment content of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris Linn. var. mezzanau-poly)

Bioassay studies were carried out to assess the toxicity of distillery effluent on seed germination, seedling growth and pigment contents. Higher concentrations (> 5%) of effluent were found to be toxic but however, can be used for irrigational purpose after proper dilution.     

Causes and consequences of unequal seedling production in forest trees: a case study in red oaks

Inequality in reproductive success has important implications for ecological and evolutionary dynamics, but lifetime reproductive success is challenging to measure in long-lived species such as forest trees. While seed production is often used as a proxy for overall reproductive success, high mortality of seeds and the potential for trade-offs between seed number and quality draw this assumption into question. Parentage analyses of established seedlings can bring us one step closer to understanding the causes and consequences of variation in reproductive success. In this paper we demonstrate a new method for estimating individual seedling production and average percentage germination, using data from two mixed-species populations of red oaks (Quercus rubra, Q. velutina, Q. falcata, and Q. coccinea). We use these estimates to examine the distribution of female reproductive success and to test the relationship between seedling number and individual seed production, age, and growth rate. We show that both seed and seedling production are highly skewed, roughly conforming to zero-inflated lognormal distributions, rather than to the Poisson or negative-binomial distributions often assumed by population genetics analyses. While the number of established offspring is positively associated with mean annual seed production, a lower proportion of seeds from highly fecund individuals become seedlings. Our red oak populations also show evidence of trade-offs between growth rate and reproductive success. The high degree of inequality in seedling production shown here for red oaks, and by previous studies in other species, suggests that many trees may be more vulnerable to genetic drift than previously thought, if immigration in limited by fragmentation or other environmental changes.     

镉胁迫对莴苣幼苗生长及抗氧化酶系统的影响

以笋王一号(Lactucasativa L. sativa var.Angustata Irish.cv Sunwang NO.1)为材料,通过营养液水培试验,研究了不同浓度的Cd胁迫对莴苣幼苗生长和抗氧化酶的影响.试验结果表明:10～100 μmol·L-1Cd2+对幼苗株高、根长、叶面积和叶数的增加具有明显的抑制作用,且随着浓度的增加抑制程度加重,但低浓度的Cd2+(1 μmol·L-1)却产生了一定的促进作用;幼苗根、叶中MDA含量和G-POD、叶中SOD活性随着Cd处理浓度的增加明显增加,但根中的SOD在100 μmol·L-1Cd胁迫下明显低于对照,同时,1 μmol·L-1Cd对根和叶片中的APX和CAT活性有一定的激活效应,以后随着Cd处理浓度的提高表现为抑制效应,且随着Cd浓度的增加抑制效应逐渐增强.     

Studies on seed germination and growth in weed species of rice field under salinity stress

An investigation was made to see the salt tolerance of 10 weed species of rice. Properly dried and treated seeds of weed species were placed on 9 cm diameter petridishes lined with Whatman No. 1 filter paper under 6 salinity regimes, viz. 0 (control), 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 dS m(-1). The petri dishes were then kept in germinator at 25 +/- 1.0 degrees C and 12 hr light. The number of germinated seeds were recorded daily. The final germination percentage, germination index (GI), seedling vigour index, mean germination time and time for 50% germination were estimated. Root and shoot lengths of the weed seedlings were measured at 20 days after salt application and relative growth values were calculated. Results revealed that salinity decreased final germination percentage, seed of germination as measured by GI, and shoot and root length in all the species. Germination of most of the weed seeds was completely arrested (0) at 32 dS m(-1) salinity except in E. colona (12%) and C. iria (13.9%). The species C. iria, E. colona, J. linifolia and E. crusgalli showed better germination (above 30%) upto 24 dS m(-1) salinity level and were regarded as salt-tolerant weed species. J. linifolia, F. miliacea, L. chinensis and O. sativa L. (weedy rice) were graded as moderately tolerant and S. zeylanica, S. grosus and C. difformis were regarded as least tolerant weed species.     

Effects of gamma rays irradiation on seed germination and growth of hard wheat

The effects of irradiation with low doses (0, 10, 20 and 30 Gy) of radioactive cobalt (⁶⁰Co) γ rays on seed germination, shoot and epicotyl growth of hard wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) were investigated under laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Irradiated wheat seeds kept their germination speed and capacity levels compared to the control. However, improvements of +18 and +32% were, respectively obtained in root number and root length at the 20-Gy dose. Moreover, the 20-Gy-irradiation dose generated an increase of +33% in epicotyl length. The 20-Gy-irradiation dose improved the root length by +32% and root number by +75% in plants grown on liquid medium. A lower root length increase of +23% was obtained with the same treatment under glasshouse growing conditions. These results show that the in depth development stimulation of hard wheat roots following gamma ray treatment may be used for drought control.