Iranian Journal of Seed Research

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Bilhar or Mountain Kandall (Dorema aucheri) belongs to Apiacea family that contains flavonoid and coumarine compounds. Since propagation of this plant in natural habitats occurs through seed and due to deep dormancy, the identification of different seed dormancy breaking methods is necessary for the preservation of this species. In this respect, different methods, including chilling, washing and gibberellic acid was studied, on the seeds gathered from Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province. For this reason, a factorial experiment with three factors was done based on a completely randomized design in three replications, in the faculty of agriculture, Yasouj University, in 2012. Experimental factors were included, chilling period (stratification periods of 3 and 4 weeks), gibberellic acid (zero and 1500 ppm) and washing (washing with distilled water and non-washable). Results showed that 4 weeks chilling treatment had maximum germination percentage and germination rate and seedling vigor. Also, maximum root and shoot dry weight were obtained from the seeds of this treatment. Whereas, double and triple interaction effects for germination percentage, epicotyl and hypocotyl length were not significant. Germination percentage was better in 4 weeks prechilled seed than 3 weeks. Obtained results from this research showed that Bilhar seeds have the physiological dormancy.

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Three separate experiments conducted to survey the response of two populations of common purslane weed collected from Karaj and Ahvaz on germination and early growth. The first experiment was based on 4 levels of flooding, including 1, 2, 4, 8 days plus non-flooding treatment as a control. Second experiment addressed the impact of various acidity levels, such as 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and finally third experiment considered the influence of high temperatures of 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220 centigrade on germination rate, germination percentage, radicle length and plumule length as well as fresh weight of the aforementioned population of common purslane (Karaj and Ahvaz). Analysis of variance revealed that in both weed populations, all germination indices were impressed by flooding periods, acidity levels and high temperatures. Extending the flooding periods resulted in reducing all measured parameters in both weed populations, so the growth of common people was completely inhibited less than 8 consecutive days of flooding. Germination rate and percentage improved gradually by increasing the acidity value from 4 up to 7. An adverse relation was observed between the measured parameters and temperature variations in both Karaj and Ahvaz weed population. Germination rate and percentage, radicle and plumule length, as well as the fresh weight of seedling, decreased significantly in response to increasing the oven temperature. Overall, it can be concluded that boosting our knowledge about both ecology and biology aspects of the common person can pave the way for introducing new ways in line with expanding long-term strategies, improving management systems and predicting the mode of germination and growth of this important weed.

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In recent years the use of allopathic effects on weed management seems to have attracted many professionals. In order to investigate the effect of aqueous extracts of Yarrow (Achilla wilhelmsii L.) and Habek mint (Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds) medicinal plant on germination indices of plantain, two experiments were conducted in completely randomized design with three replications in 2014 in the laboratory of seed technology of Yasouj university. Treatments consisted of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% concentrations of aqueous extract of Yarrow and Habek mint aerial parts. The results showed that the extract of Yarrow and Habek mint aerial parts on germination percentage, root and shoot length, root and shoot fresh and dry weight and seed vigor was significant. The maximum percentage and rate of germination have belonged to the control treatment (distilled water) and by decreasing the aqueous extract concentrations of each plant, the percentage and rate of germination increased. The minimum percentage and rate of germination have belonged to 100% concentration of aqueous extract that had no significant difference by 75% concentration. Finally, these results showed allelopathic effects of aqueous extract aerial parts of Yarrow and Habek mint, as a bio-herbicide on growth and germination of plantain.

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Extended Abstract
Introduction: Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonolob) which belongs to fabaceae and leguminosae families is self-pollinating and is indigenous to India and Pakistan. This plant is suitable for growth in dry, damp and sandy soils, and can tolerate saline and relatively alkaline soils. Determining the best time for harvesting seeds and its timing with maximum quality is one of the important issues in the field of seed production management. The changes in the physiological quality of seeds occur during development until seed treatment. The use of high-quality seeds plays an important role in the final yield of crops. The purpose of this study was to determine the most suitable time for harvesting seeds because seed moisture content at harvest time is one of the most important factors affecting seed quality.
Materials and Methods: This research was carried out in July 2013 at Iraqi Research Station in Gorgan, Golestan, Iran in a split-plot design with four replications. The treatments consisted of the time of harvesting the seeds from the mother's base in six stages (with different moisture content) and harvesting places (upper, middle, and bottom pods) so that, starting from the podding, every 7 days, the seeds were removed from the base. The mother was harvested and such traits as germination rate, germination percentage, seedling vigor, seed moisture content, and alpha-amylase activity were calculated. In this research, a logistic model was used to study the changes in germination percentage, germination rate, seedling vigor index and straw index during seed dressing on Guar.
Results: The results of this study showed that the hypothesis that seed reaches its maximum quality at the end of the period of seed filling is confirmed, suggesting that with a moisture content of 30 and 14% in late seed filling period, Guar seeds have the highest quality. In general, the results of the present study confirm that the stages of development and management of Guar seeds on maternal basis have an impact on its quality. In the early stages of growth (humidity 85, 80 and 62 percent), due to prematurity and lack of essential seed structures, the qualitative traits of germination percentage, germination rate, seedling vigor, and strawberry index were low, and with the evolution of essential structures and reduced seed moisture content (58, 30 and 14%), the quality traits increased.
Conclusions: In general, it can be concluded that the best timing for harvesting Guar seeds with the highest quality in Golestan province is when seed moisture reaches 14% or 100 days after planting, and the pods formed at the bottom are the ones with the highest quality.
 
 
Highlights:

1. To investigate the qualitative indices of Guar seed on the mother plant during seed filling period
2. To determine the best harvest time and its adaptation with the highest quality of Guar seed

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Extended abstract
Introduction: The use of nanotechnology is increasing in many fields including agricultural sciences. Concurrently, the release of these particles into the environment is inevitable, which may have adverse effects on plants. Therefore, it is important to understand the interactions between nanoparticles and crops as an essential component of all agricultural ecosystems. In this regard, a study was conducted on the effects of nanoparticles on germination potential and initial growth of F2 seeds by cultivating soybean in soil containing copper oxide nanoparticles.
Materials and Methods: To evaluate the nourishment effects of maternal soybean with copper compounds on its seedlings, two factorial experiments (in a growth chamber and pot) were conducted in a completely randomized design at the Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University in 2021. Treatments in the maternal plant included different copper compounds (copper oxide nanoparticles with sizes of 25, 50 nm and copper chloride) and five concentrations of copper compounds (0, 50, 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg soil), and the seeds produced from these treatments were evaluated under controlled and pot conditions.
Results: An increase in the concentration of copper chloride and copper oxide nanoparticle (25 nm) in maternal plants reduced the germination percentage (25 and 78%), radicle length (56 and 82%), radicle weight (35 and 81%), plumule length (19 and 71%), plumule weight (32 and 73%) and seedling vigor index (49 and 94%) of produced seeds, respectively. The evaluation of soybean seedlings nourished with different copper compounds also showed the nourishment with copper chloride and copper oxide nanoparticle (25 nm) significantly decreased the content of chlorophyll a (10 and 74%), chlorophyll b (38, 49%), carotenoids (136 and 145%), root length (27 and 61%), seedling height (31 and 58%), leaf area (44 and 64%), and shoot weight (34 and 64%) compared to the control, respectively.
Conclusion: In general, it is concluded that the toxicity of copper compounds in the rhizosphere of the maternal plant for the produced seeds is directly related to the concentration. Therefore, the toxic effects are intensified when the maternal plant is nourished with copper oxide nanoparticles, and the seeds produced under these conditions have poor vigor.

Highlights:
1. Nourishment of the maternal soybean plant with copper oxide nanoparticles reduces the seedling growth of the produced seeds.
2. Reducing the size of copper oxide nanoparticles has a more toxic effect on the germination of produced seeds.
3. The toxic effects of copper oxide nanoparticles continue until the seedling stage.

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