Iranian Journal of Seed Research

Introduction: Niger with the scientific name of Guizotia abyssinica (L.F.) Cass. belongs to the Asteraceae family. Niger seed contains 50-75 percentage of oil which is used in the treatment of rheumatism and burns, and as a substitute for olive oil. Its meal is also used for animal feeding. Environmental crises sustained by living systems are considered as stress. Drought stress is one of the non-biological stresses. Yield reduction due to this type of stress is reported to be higher than that related to other stresses. Since plant development starts from germination and for survival, the seeds should germinate to adapt themselves to the environmental conditions and establish themselves in the soil, the success of passing the germination stage will play an important role in other stages of plant establishment. Different studies have shown the positive effect of magnetic field on increasing germination characteristics. In this regard, applying a magnetic field before planting is a safe and inexpensive method for increasing germination and seedling growth. Seed priming is useful for a faster and more powerful response to drought stress and among different types of priming, physical priming is of particular importance for ecological reasons and for not having a negative impact on the environment.

Materials and Methods: In order to study the effect of seed physical pre-treatment and drought stress on seed germination characteristics of Niger, an experiment was conducted as factorial in a completely randomized design with three replications at the Research Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology at Shahrekord University. Different magnetic field intensities at five levels including (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mT (at 5 minutes period)) as the first factor and drought stress at five levels (0, -4, -5, -6 and -7 bar Polyethylene Glycol₆₀₀₀) as the second factor were considered.

Results: The results of variance analysis showed that the effect of drought stress, magnetic field intensity and their interaction were significant on all of the evaluated characteristics. The maximum germination percentage and rate and the minimum of T₁₀ and T₅₀ were observed in 50 mT field intensity under normal conditions. The minimum germination index under normal conditions and the maximum length and shoot dry weight under non-treatment conditions and the maximum root and shoot fresh weight in 200 mT field intensity under normal conditions were obtained. The maximum root length and dry weight were observed in 50 and 100 mT field intensity under normal conditions, respectively. 

Conclusions: Seeds which cross through a magnetic field, become swollen and probably as a result, the activity of auxin hormone in these seeds increases. In addition, the respiration level also increases in them and they have higher levels of energy and activity, which results in faster and more uniform germination and the creation of stress-resistant plants. In this study, although by increasing drought stress intensity, negative effects were observed on germination characteristics, the magnetic field under these conditions improved some germination characteristics. In general, for the purpose of improving germination and alleviating drought stress conditions, for 0, -5 and -7 bar potentials, the field intensity of 50 mT and for -4 and -6 bar potentials, the field intensity of 150 mT are recommended.

Introduction: Production of nanoparticles and their use are on the rise in different areas of plant science. However, in spite of their increasing production, there is limited information about their effects on plant biology. In the current study, the potential of TiO₂ nanoparticles was investigated for the purpose of improving seed germination of Sorbus luristanica and then subsequent effects of nanoparticles on the growth and biomass of the plants were determined.

Materials and Methods: Seeds of S. luristanica were collected from its natural stands. The seeds were primed with different concentrations of 0, 75, 150, 250, 350 and 500 TiO₂ nanoparticles miligeram per liter for 24 h. The treated seeds were placed in wet sand at room temperature for 2 weeks and then in cold for 3 months. The expriment was set as a completely randimized design with 4 replications. Aftre 3 months of stratification in moistened sand, the stratified seeds were put in the germinator and with the appearance of seed germination signs, germination data were recorded daily during 22 days. At the end of the seed germination experiment, some germination parameters such as seed germination percentage, seed vigority and mean time to germination were calculated. Moreover, some growth and biomass parameters including leaf number, plant height and dry and fresh biomass of leaf, stem as well as roots were measured. In addition, scaning electron microscopic (SEM) was used for observation of presence and adhesiveness of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the seed coat.

Results: Based on the results, all the germination parametres including seed germination percentage, seed vigoroty and mean germination time were improved by the TiO₂ nanoparticles treatments. In addition, 500 mg.L^-1 treatment considerably improved seed germination characteristics. The peresence of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the treated seeds and lack of the nanomatreials on the conrtol seeds were obsereved by scaning electron microscopic pictures. The One-way ANOVA showed that 75 mg.L^-1 treatment was more succesful for improving the grwoth (such as shoot length) and biomass production (fresh and dry biomass of leaf, stem and root and total biomass as well).  

Conclusion: It can be concluded that priming of the seeds of this species with different concentrations of TiO₂ nanoparticles leads to improvement of seed germination and growth and biomass parameters. However, the patterns of effects were different in each phase. Therefore, the objectives should be formulated first and then the best concentration should be chosen. It seems that with appropriate concentrations, nanoparticles can be useful for breaking seed dormancy and production of the species. Given the promising resutls of 150 mg.L^-1 treatment, it can represent a successful treatment for breaking seed dormancy and seedling production of S. luristanica.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Priming is one of the most commonly used seed enhancement techniques. Events such as increased synthesis of nucleic acids, activation of repair processes, increased respiratory activity, and improved antioxidant capacity during priming lead to advanced metabolism in seeds. The most important effects of priming include increased percentage, speed and uniformity of germination and emergence. However, the longevity of primed seeds in storage is the major concern for researchers as it restricts widespread use of this technique. Some researchers believe that priming reduces the storage capacity of seeds, while others have reported increased seed shelf life after using priming treatments. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the effects of priming on the storage capacity of the seeds of canola cultivars under different storage conditions.
Material and Methods: In this study, the effects of priming on the shelf life of seeds of three canola cultivars including Dk-xpower, Traper and Hayola50 were investigated. For this purpose, the seeds were first treated with hydropriming and osmopriming methods. Then primed and control seeds with 6, 9, 12 and 15% moisture content were stored for 8 months at 15, 25, 35 and 45 °C. Sampling from different seed treatments was carried out at intervals of 1 to 30 days to assess germination. Finally, by fitting a three-parameter logistic model to cumulative germination data versus the day after storage, the time to germination loss to 50% was calculated and used to compare seed storage behavior between the treatments.
Results: The results showed that the storage behavior of canola seed varies greatly depending on the cultivar, and each cultivar showed a distinct behavior. Priming effects on the shelf life of seeds were different depending on the storage conditions, cultivars and also the priming methods. Comparison of the effects of priming on the seeds’ shelf life under different storage conditions showed that priming treatments were more efficient under higher seed moisture content and storage temperatures than those with lower seed moisture content and storage temperatures. In addition, priming treatments in Dk-xpower cultivar often increased the seeds’ shelf life. However, in the Traper and Hayola 50 cultivars, hydropriming often improved the seeds’ shelf life, and in contrast to osmopriming, it led to a decrease in the shelf life of the seeds.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it was shown that priming effects on canola seed viability can be a function of various factors such as cultivar, storage conditions, and also the type of priming treatment. Moreover, in this study, hydropriming often increased seed longevity whereas osmopriming often increased the deterioration rate and reduced seed longevity.
 
 
Highlights:

1. Seed storage behavior of canola cultivars was compared under natural storage conditions.
2. Priming effects on seed longevity of canola cultivars was investigated under different storage conditions.

Extended abstract
Introduction: Temperature is one of the primary environmental regulators of seed germination. Seed priming technique has been known as a challenge to improving germination and seedling emergence under different environmental stresses. Quantification of germination response to temperature and priming is possible, using non-liner regression models. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperature and priming on germination and determination of cardinal temperatures (base, optimum and maximum) of Brassica napus L.
Material and Methods: Treatments included priming levels (non-priming, priming with water, gibberellin 50 and 100 mg/l) and temperature (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 35 and 40 °C). Germination percentage and time to 50% maximum seed germination of Brassica napus L. were calculated for different temperatures and priming by fitting 3-parameter logistic functions to cumulative germination data. For the purpose of quantifying the response of germination rate to temperature, use was made of 3 nonlinear regression models (segmented, dent-like and beta). The root mean square of errors (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R²), CV and SE for the relationship between the observed and the predicted germination percentage were used to compare the models and select the superior model from among the methods employed.
Results: The results indicated that temperature and priming were effective in both germination percentage and germination rate. In addition, the results showed that germination percentage and rate increase with increasing temperature to the optimum level and using priming. As for the comparison of the 3 models, according to the root mean square of errors (RMSE) of germination time, the coefficient of determination (R²), CV and SE, the best model for the determination of cardinal temperatures of Brassica napus L. for non-primed seeds was the segmented model. For hydro-priming and hormone-priming with 50 mg/l GA, the best models were segmented and dent-like models and for hormone-priming with 100 mg/l GA,  the dent-like model was the best. The results showed that for non-priming, hydropriming with water, gibberellin 50 and 100 mg/l treatments, the segmented model estimated base temperature as 3.54, 2.57, 2.34 and 2.34 °C and dent-model estimated base temperature as 3.34, 2.45, 2.21 and 2.83 °C, respectively. The segmented model estimated optimum temperature as 24.62, 23.23, 23.69 and 24.38 °C. The dent-model estimated lower limit of optimum temperature and upper limit of optimum temperature as 20.01, 19.62, 16.25, 19.87 and 28.81, 27.38, 29.58 and 27.31 °C.
Conclusion: Utilizing non-liner models (segmented, dent-like and beta) for quantification of germination of Brassica napus L. response to different temperatures and priming produced desirable results. Therefore, utilizing the output of these models at different temperatures can be useful in the prediction of germination rate in different treatments.
 
 
Highlights:
1-The effect of priming on germination of Brassica napuswas investigated.
2-The temperature range of rapeseed germination of Brassica napus changes with the use of seed priming.

Extended abstract
Introduction: Seed germination is a complex and dynamic stage of plant growth, and seed priming is a technique by which the seeds obtain germination potential physiologically and biochemically before being placed on growth media and facing the ecological conditions of the environment. Seed priming increases yield and antioxidant enzymes in plants by increasing germination and seed vigor and as a result, increases percentage of germination. Several studies have investigated the effect of seed priming with organic materials including salicylic acid on improving seed germination in various plant species. Research results have shown that salicylic acid can be used as a growth regulator to increase the germination of plants. Tomato, with scientific name of Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill), belongs to the Solanaceae family and is widely adapted to different climatic and soil conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of Salicylic acid on seed germination and some factors of morphophysiologic and biochemical traits of tomato seedlings.
Materials and methods: This research was conducted as factorial in a completely randomized design, including priming treatment in 3 time frames (12, 18 and 24 hours) with three replications. Priming treatments consisted of salicylic acid (2, 2.5 and 3 mg/l) and distilled water. The measured traits were germination parameters including percentage, time, rate, and uniformity of germination and morphological traits including transplant height, crown diameter, root length, leaf number, and leaf area, shoot and root fresh and dry weight and biochemical traits including chlorophyll, peroxidase enzyme, proline, total nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium.
 Results: The favorable effect of salicylic acid was obtained at the concentration of 3 mg/l on mean germination time compared to the distilled water. The positive effect of salicylic acid was observed on transplant height and leaf area (at the concentration of 3 mg/l at 18 and 24 hours’ time frame), shoot and root fresh and dry weight (at 24 hours) compared to the control. Immersion in distilled water for a period of 12 and 24 hours resulted in the highest root length, while salicylic acid treatment reduced root length significantly. The highest transplant height (14.3 cm), leaf number (34), chlorophyll index (59), peroxidase enzyme (10873 unit/g.min^-1), total nitrogen (2.89%), potassium (9.81%), and proline content (14.80 µM/g fresh weight) were observed in 24 hours treatment with concentration of 3 mg / l salicylic acid.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, salicylic acid at certain concentration improves seeds germination of tomato plants through the regulation of physiologic and biochemical processes. It seems that salicylic acid led to increase in plant growth and improvement of seed germination and morphophysiological parameters of the tomato via affecting cell growth and division. Seed priming with salicylic acid at the concentration of 3 mg/l and in longer time frames had positive effect on most traits, whereas the results for each trait were different in relation to priming time.

 
Highlights:

1-Priming of tomato seed in distilled water for 18 hours reduces the time of seed germination.

2-Salicylic acid can be used as an appropriate pretreatment for producing seedlings with better quantitative and qualitative characteristics by affecting the morpho-physiologic and biochemical properties of tomato seedlings.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Catharanthus roseus is regarded as a medicinal ornamental plant. This plant has anti-cancer, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetes, and antimicrobial properties. Catharanthus has a fairly long vegetative period due to its slow initial growth. The long growth period of the plant is considered one of the limitations in its cultivation on a larger scale. By using plant growth regulators such as salicylic acid (SA) in the imbibition phase and pre-treatment, an increase in seed activity and the seedling growth of many crops is observable. Also, jasmonic acid (JA) plant growth regulators play an important role in seed germination and plant growth. Regarding the long growth period of this plant, the small size of the seed, and poor establishment in the field with semi-heavy and heavy textured soils, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of seed priming with SA and JA in different concentrations and periods on improving Catharanthus roseus seed germination indices.
Materials and Methods: The studies were conducted as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications at the Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology of Shahed University, Tehran, in 2017. Treatments included five different concentrations of SA (0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM), concentrations of JA (0, 1, 10, and 100 µM) and five periods of time (0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours). At the end of the experiment (10 days) traits such as germination percentage, germination rate, mean germination time, mean daily germination, germination value, seed length vigor index, seed weight vigor index, seedling dry weight, shoot dry weight, radicle dry weight, radicle length, shoot length, and seedling length were measured.
Results: The results indicated that the effect SA, JA, and time were significant on germination percentage, germination speed, mean germination time, mean daily germination, germination value, seedling length, seedling length vigor index, seedling weight vigor index, and radicle dry weight. The best times for pre-treatment with SA were 24 and 48 hours. Among the applied concentrations of SA, 0.5 and 1 mM concentrations showed the best results. Also, the best time and concentration for pre-treatment with JA were 12 and 24 hours and 10 µM.
Conclusions: The results of this study showed that using SA and JA for seed priming improved seed germination components. In addition to the pre-treatment concentrations of SA and JA, the duration of seed contact with growth regulators is important. It was observed that there was a significant difference among the different priming times, therefore, it can be stated that seed pre-treatment time is one of the important factors of seed priming, and the determination of proper priming time prevented the negative effect of pretreatment on germination and seedling growth in primed seeds.

Highlights:
1- The optimum concentrations of salicylic acid and the priming time of the seed were determined.
2- The appropriate concentrations of jasmonic acid and the optimum time for pretreatment of seed were determined.
3- The effect of growth regulators of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid on seed germination indices was evaluated.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Medicinal herbs are of particular importance in the treatment and prevention of diseases. Indian Cheese Maker has strengthening, liver repair, anti-inflammatory properties and is useful in the treatment of bronchitis, asthma, wounds, neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Evaluation of seed quality as a propagating organ and the most important input for crop production and medicinal products has a special place in seed production, control and certification. Studying germination and biological properties of seeds of medicinal plants and methods of breaking dormancy in them are among basic and primary studies of domestication of medicinal plants. In the meantime, scrubbing with abrasives changes the integrity of the seed shell and allows the seeds to be permeable to water and gases. The researchers stated that the dormancy of seeds containing inhibitory metabolic materials can be reduced by removing the seed shell through mechanical scarification and osmopriming. For this purpose, the effect of scarification and potassium nitrate on germination and enzymatic properties of Indian Cheese Maker was evaluated.
Material and Method: This study was conducted as factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications during 2015-16 at the laboratory of Department of Agronomy, Tarbiat Modares University. Potassium nitrate solution (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg.l^-1 from KNO₃), scarification (un-use and scarification with soft sanding) and osmopriming durations (8, 16, 24 and 32 hour) were experimental factors. The experiment was performed on Indian Cheese Maker seeds, landrace of Khash. Petri dishes were placed in a germinator at 25 ° C and in full lighting for 14 days. In this experiment, germination rate and percentage of germination, mean of germination time and daily germination, seed vigority, alpha and beta amylase were measured.
Results: The results of the experiment showed that in scarification, the highest germination percentage (69.47%) was obtained by seed priming at a concentration of 1.5 mg.l^-1 potassium nitrate for 19 hours under abrasion. In scarification, germination rate increased at 16 and 32 hour, 0.62 and 1.17 No.day^-1 for each mg.l^-1 of potassium nitrate. The highest daily mean germination (0.15) was observed at 1.5 mg.l^-1 potassium nitrate and 24 hour time and decreased to 8 hours mean germination time (7.39 days) by reducing pretreatment time. Also, the highest mean germination time (9.35 days) was observed in 32 hours pretreatment with potassium nitrate and the highest mean germination time in non-scarification condition (9.13 days) and in scarification condition decreased with mean of germination time (8.04 days). The activity of alpha and beta-amylase germination enzymes was affected by different concentrations of potassium nitrate and scarification and at high concentrations of potassium nitrate the activity of these enzymes decreased.
Conclusions: In general, application of potassium nitrate osmopriming, by improving the activity of germination enzymes and increasing seed germination properties of Indian Cheese Maker, increased the activity of hydrolyzing enzymes in the endosperm of germinated seeds, which reduced the mean germination time, increased germination rate and germination percentage. In general, seed scarification with low concentrations of potassium nitrate at 16 to 24 hours is recommended for breaking seed dormancy of Indian Cheese Maker.

 
Highlights:

1. Germination rate and percentage of Indian Cheese Maker seed were monitored by osmopriming and scarification.
2. The role of α and β amylase germination enzymes in accelerating dormancy breaking of Indian Cheese Maker was studied.
3. Mean time and mean daily germination during the dormancy breaking process of Indian Cheese Maker were estimated.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Iranian oak has the largest forest habitat in the country and has a high position in terms of economy and protection. Recent studies have confirmed the positive effects of carbon nanotubes on the germination and organ growth of herbaceous and woody species. Nanotechnology is an evolving field in all periods of human life and various research is done to use nanomaterials in different fields. Nanotechnology can provide a good medium for the production of plants with suitable characteristics or provide better growth conditions for plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of carbon nanotube treatments, calcium chloride 1% and potassium nitrate 1% on the germination traits of Iranian oak seed (Quercus brantii Lindl).
Materials and Methods: Treatments included carbon nanotubes at five levels (concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/l) for six hours, 1% calcium chloride for 48 hours, potassium nitrate for hours 24 hours and control treatment, which were primed without using any materials and germination traits were tested on them.
Results: According to the results, carbon nanotubes affected germination traits, so that Iranian oak seeds at a concentration of 75 mg/l had the highest germination percentage and rate, and primed seeds with a concentration of 100 mg/l had the highest mean germination time. The lowest germination percentage, speed and mean germination time were related to control seeds.
Conclusion: The results showed that carbon nanotubes with 75 mg/l had the most positive effect on germination traits. Therefore, from an economic point of view, the use of this concentration is recommended for priming oak seeds.

Highlights:

Extended abstract
Introduction: Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an annual oilseed crop that is adapted to arid and semi-arid regions and is considered an indigenous plant of Iran. Germination and seedling stage in the soil is one of the most important stages in the life cycle of plants. High germination rate and percentage increase the number of seedlings and the rapid successful establishment of seedlings in the soil also contributes to the suitable vegetative growth of the seedlings in later stages of life. Therefore, evaluation of germination indices and seedling establishment in the soil and finding more suitable conditions to improve these indices can have a direct impact on more successful plant cultivation. One of the methods used in this regard is priming.
Materials and Methods: In order to study the effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria and temperature treatments on germination indices and seedling growth of the safflower, this investigation was conducted based on a completely randomized block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Laboratory of Yasouj University in 2016. Experimental factors were seven levels of temperature treatments (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35°C) and seed priming with three strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens such as Pf 2, Pf 25 and CHA 0 and one strain of Bacillus subtilis and control (without inoculation).
Results: The results showed that 20°C temperature caused the highest germination percentage, germination rate and vigor length. Also, seeds inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens growth-promoting bacteria strain CHA0 had the highest germination percentage (68.74), germination rate (3.49 seeds per day) and vigor length vigor (6.22). Seedling length, dry weight and vigor weight were the other parameters that showed the best results at 20 and 25°C. Also, germination and seedling growth indices decreased by an increase or decrease in the optimum temperature. The use of plant growth-promoting bacteria causes increased activity of ascorbate and catalase enzymes, which leads to a decrease in injuries related to non-optimum temperature and improved germination indices.
Conclusion: According to our results, to accelerate the germination rate and other parameters, it is better to inoculate seeds with bacteria strains CHA0 and 25 in the temperature range of 20-25°C.

Highlights:

1. The germination behaviour of safflower primed with bacteria varies at different temperatures.
2. Seeds inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens growth-promoting bacteria of CHA0 strain had better germination conditions.

Using the 20-25°C temperature improves germination indices.

Introduction: Today, population growth has placed a significant burden on global agricultural resources. As a result, meeting global food demand and increasing farmers' incomes has become a challenging task. Salinity is one of the most harmful factors in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world that influences crop production. Seed priming is a technology by which seeds are physiologically and biochemically prepared for germination before being placed in their bed and exposed to the ecological conditions of the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the effect of chitosan on bean germination indices under salt stress.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted as factorial based on a completely randomized design with four replications in a row (tube or sandwich culture) between filter paper at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in 2021. Treatments included four salinity levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 Mm) and four chitosan levels (0, 25, 50, and 75% by weight volume), all of which had been dissolved in 1% acetic acid. The studied traits included germination coefficient, allometric coefficient, daily germination rate, mean daily germination, seedling length and weight index, radicle length, plumule length, seedling length, radicle fresh and dry weight, plumule fresh and dry weight and residual dry weight. Data analysis was performed using the SAS 9.2 software and Duncan's test at p<0.05 probability level was used for mean comparison.
Results: The results showed that salinity stress decreased allometric coefficient (AC), seedling length vigor index (SLVI), radicle and seedling length (RL and SL), and radicle fresh and dry weight (RFW and RDW) and increased daily germination rate (DGS) and residual dry weight (RDW). Seed pretreatment with chitosan increased AC, SLVI, RL, SL, RFW, and RDW. The comparison of the means showed that there was a significant difference between the levels of chitosan so that the highest number of traits was obtained from the use of 75% chitosan and the lowest was obtained from the chitosan-free treatment. SLVI, SL, and RDW in 75% chitosan pre-treatment were higher at about 31, 26, and 27% compared to the control (priming with distilled water), respectively. The highest AC was observed in priming with 50% chitosan. Comparison of the mean for salinity stress also showed that the highest and lowest values of the measured traits respectively were obtained from the application of 0 and 150 Mm salinity levels. Also, with increasing salinity, chitosan increased germination coefficient (GC), seedling weight vigor index (SWVI), plumule length (PL), and plumule fresh and dry weight (PFW and PDW).
Conclusions: The results of this study show that among the different treatments, pre-treatment of seeds with 75 % Chitosan may be considered an effective way to improve seed germination of bean. It also can reduce the harmful effects of salinity stress on some traits in bean seedlings and improve seedling growth. Also, pretreatment with distilled water is an easy, low-cost and effective way to increase bean seedling germination and growth indices. Farmers can use this method for fast germination and better seedling growth under salt stress conditions.

Highlights:

Extended Abstract
Introduction: One of the major reasons behind the unstable yield of chickpea, is the simultaneity of the reproductive stage with drought and late-season heat. Autumn sowing of chickpea is among the suitable approaches to improve chickpea yield. On the other hand, freezing stress is a limiting factor in the autumn sowing of chickpea. Recently, seed priming has been developed as an essential method to induce plant tolerance to environmental stress. The priming will result in a rapid response of the plant to stress. Freezing, as an environmental stress, limits the growth and development of many plants in different parts of the world. Studies show that in addition to acclimation, short-term biotic and abiotic stresses as pretreatment could also increase the plant's tolerance to cold stress. This process alters the freezing response positively.
Material and Methods: This experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely randomized design with three replicates at the greenhouse of the Research Center for Plant Sciences of Ferdowsi University, Mashhad Iran, in 2018. The experimental factors consisted of various temperatures (0, -12, -15, and -17 °C), seed priming at 10 levels (control (without priming), hydropriming, priming with sodium chloride, salicylic acid, sodium nitroprusside, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacteria, amino acids, potassium nitrate, and zinc sulfate) and different chickpea genotypes (MCC505, ILC8617, MCC495, and Saral cultivar). In this experiment, the measured parameters included survival percentage, electrolyte leakage percentage, and lethal temperature resulting in 50% mortality according to the electrolyte leakage and survival percentage.
Results: The results showed that the application of hydropriming, priming with sodium nitroprusside and zinc sulfate had favorable effects on the survival rate and electrolyte leakage. Among these, priming with sodium nitroprusside increased the survival percentage compared to the control (23%) at the -15 and -17 °C in the Saral cultivar, at -15 °C in the ILC8617 genotype, and at -12 and -15 °C in the MCC495 genotype treatment to 68, 58, 85 and 55 percent, respectively. In addition, this treatment reduced the electrolyte leakage by 13% at -15 °C in the ILC8617 genotype compared to the control treatment. Further, the mentioned treatment resulted in a 40% reduction in lethal temperature resulting in 50% mortality according to the survival percentage. In the MCC495 genotype compared to the control treatment.
Conclusion: Overall, the cold stress in the chickpea plants resulted in an increase in electrolyte leakage and a decrease in the survival percentage. Application of sodium nitroprusside priming by improving cold stress tolerance resulted in a reduction of lethal temperature resulting in 50% mortality based on electrolyte leakage and survival percentage results. Additionally, the applied priming in improving the cold stress tolerance mainly improved the survival percentage compared to the improvement in the electrolyte leakage.

Highlights:

1. The effect of different primings on the freezing tolerance of chickpeas was investigated and determined.
2. The freezing tolerance threshold of chickpea seedlings was determined at the laboratory under different primings.
3. The respondents of genotypes to priming and the behavior of genotypes towards each other were investigated.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Seed aging is a phenomenon that occurs during the life of any seed. Changes that occur during aging affect seed quality. Through the process of aging, seed vigor is the first trait of the seed quality that decreases, followed by a decrease in germination capacity, seedling growth and establishment. Hence, one way to stimulate germination and increase the establishment of seedlings from aging seeds is seed pre-treatment using different materials such as brown seaweed extract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of seaweed extract pretreatment on germination traits and heterotrophic growth of un-aged and aged soybean seeds.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was designed and implemented at a laboratory in the faculty of agriculture of Shahrood University of Technology in 2019. Treatments included seed aging at two levels (un-aged seeds and aged seeds) and pretreatment with seaweed extract at seven levels (zero, distilled water, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 %). The experiment was carried out as a factorial in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications in the germinator environment. The seeds were aged by being placed at 41°C and 95% relative humidity for 72 hours. Seed pretreatment seaweed extract was done for 6 hours in accordance with the principles of seed aeration.
Results: Aging reduced germination percentage and germination rate, allometric growth ratio, seedling length vigor index, seed reserves use efficiency and seed vigor index. Malondialdehyde content and electrical conductivity of aged seeds were 37.68% and 38.32% higher than un-aged seeds respectively. Seed pretreatment with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% of seaweed extract significantly increased germination rate, germination index and seed reserves use efficiency. Slicing interactions of aging and seaweed extract showed that seed pretreatment with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% of seaweed extract significantly increased germination rate and germination index in un-age seeds. Pretreatment of aged seeds with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% seaweed extract increased germination percentage by 8.73%, 8% and 15% compared to the control (aged seeds without pretreatment), respectively. The use of distilled water and all levels of seaweed extract in this study increased the seed vigor index and decreased the electrical conductivity. The amount of malondialdehyde in aged seeds was reduced by using all levels of seaweed extract. The use of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% of the extract increased the amount of seed reserves use rate and fraction of seed reserves mobilization in aged seeds.
Conclusions: Finally, in the scope of this research between the concentrations used, the concentration of 0.3% seaweed extract was better than the others. It can also be suggested that the use of seaweed extract as a seed pretreatment improves the effects of seed aging on soybeans.

Highlights:
1-The effect of pretreatment with seaweed extract with concentrations of 0.1 to 0.5% on un-aged and aged soybean seeds was investigated for the first time.
2-Using a concentration of 0.3% seaweed extract for the pretreatment of soybean seeds was introduced as the best concentration.
3- Seaweed extract was introduced as an important antioxidant to improve physiological traits in soybean seeds.

Extended Abstract
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.

Highlights:
1. The effects of using biopriming and hormone prime are common, while it is not clear for parsley.
2. Biopriming with Pseudomonas+ enterobacter had the greatest effect on improving the quality and germination characteristics of parsley seeds.
3. Priming with T42 fungus reduced the quality and germination characteristics of parsley seeds.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: The use of seed priming technology to accelerate the germination and seedling emergence of multi-purpose plants such as halophytes (Alhagi) with the ability to produce medicine and forage under environmental stress conditions or use of saline water (such as seawater of Persian Gulf) has received much attention today. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate seed priming methods and different salinity levels on germination, seedling emergence, and some growth responses of Alhagi plant.
Material and Methods: Two separate split-factorial experiments were conducted based on a randomized complete block design with four replications as a petri dish culture (first experiment) and a pot experiment in the field was performed in the Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University (Ahwaz, Iran) during 2020-21. In both experiments, different levels of salinity (municipal water source with EC=0.96 dS.m-1, 8 and 16 dS.m-1 using seawater of Persian Gulf) were assigned as the main plot, and different methods of seed priming (non-priming, hydro priming, hormonal priming with 50 ppm gibberellin and hydro priming+hormonal priming with 50 ppm gibberellin) and species (A. maurorum and A. graecorum) were assigned as sub-factors.
Results: The results showed the significance of salinity × species × priming interaction on all studied traits. According to the mean comparison results, the highest values of germination percentage, seed vigor index, seedling emergence, plant height, number of branches, total dry matter and stomatal conductance were obtained from a municipal water source with EC=0.96 dS.m-1 and hydro priming+hormonal priming with 50 ppm gibberellin for A. graecorum (29.1, 90.2, 24.0, 32.3, 52.5, 52.1 and 32.4% increase compared to non-priming and control salinity stress on this species, respectively). The output of the fitted logistic model to seedling emergence percentage showed that this model well explained the relationship between seedling emergence of two Alhagi species in responses to salinity and seed priming (R² adj≥0.98 and RMSE≤3.38). Therefore, in both studied species, the decline in seedling emergence started from the 8 dS/m salinity level. However, at the 16 dS/m salinity level, the slope of increase in seedling emergence percentage was slower per time unit.
Conclusion: To cultivate and exploit the saline coastal lands and also to restore the pastures in the country, A. graecorum species under the combined treatment of hydro priming + hormonal priming with 50 ppm gibberellin are recommended in comparison with other treatment levels.

Highlights:
1- Germination and growth responses of two Iranian Alhagi species and the possibility of production by irrigation of seawater of Persian Gulf were investigated.
2- Seed priming technique was used to accelerate seedling emergence and improve some traits in two Alhagi species.

Extended abstract
Introduction: Seed germination and emergence are the most sensitive stages of growth and development of rice plants. In this regard, the use of growth-promoting fungi in the form of seed biological pretreatment (bio-priming) for germination and optimal growth of seedlings can be feasible. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of isolated root symbiotic fungi on the improvement of germination and growth components of two traditional and bred rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was done as a factorial-based completely randomized design with three replicates at Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University in the summer of 2021. Experimental treatments included 22 isolates of root symbiotic fungi (isolated and identified from previous experiments) and control (without inoculation) and two native (Hashemi) and bred (Roshan) rice cultivars. After the end of the germination period, the number of normal seedlings was counted and five normal seedlings were randomly selected to measure the length of the root, stem, and seedling as well as the fresh and dry weight of the root, stem, and seedling.
Results: Based on the results of cluster analysis the fungi were divided into four and three groups in Roshan and Hashemi cultivars, respectively. In both cultivars, group I was selected as the best group. In this group, the highest positive effect on vegetative traits varied from 5 to 59% compared to the control in fungal treatments was related to Bjerkandera adusta (ST1), Trichoderma atroviride (SF1), Monosporascus cannonballus (B3) and Trichoderma atroviride (SN1) in Roshan cultivar and Bjerkand adusta (ST1) in Hashemi cultivar. The best fungal treatments in germination traits of Roshan and Hashemi cultivars were Chaetomium globosum (SE2) and Bjerkandera adusta (ST1), respectively.
Conclusions: Overall, the results indicated the positive effect of most symbiotic fungi on the growth and germination characteristics of rice in both Roshan and Hashemi cultivars. These results show that symbiotic fungi use different mechanisms to increase growth and improve germination indicators in plants.

Highlights:
1- Growth-promoting fungi in the form of seed biological pretreatment were used (bio-priming) for optimal growth and germination and of rice seedlings.
2- The effect of native fungi isolated was investigated for the first time in two native (Hashemi) and bred (Roshan) rice cultivars.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: At present, the drastic increase in population has created an additional burden on the world's agricultural resources. As a result, meeting global food demand and increasing farmers' incomes has become a challenging task. Salinity is one of the abiotic stresses that strongly affect the germination, growth, and yield of crops. Seed priming is a simple technology that hydrates seeds to the point where the metabolic activity for germination is initiated without radicle emergence. In fact, the seeds are physiologically and biochemically prepared to germinate before being placed in their bed and exposed to environmental conditions. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of seed priming with chitosan on germination indices and biochemical traits of beans under salt stress.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in 2021 as a factorial in the form of a completely randomized design with four repetitions. The treatments included four levels of salinity (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM) and four levels of chitosan (0, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75% w/v), all of which were dissolved in 1% acetic acid.
Results: The results showed that salinity stress decreased germination percentage (GP), peak value (PV), and germination value (GV). However, seed priming with different levels of chitosan, especially 0.75% chitosan, improved GP, PV, and GV by 7, 21, and 17%, respectively, compared to the control. Proline content and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity went up with increasing salinity. However, the application of chitosan 0.75% increased these traits by 34% and 43%, respectively, compared to the control (priming with distilled water). Electrolyte leakage in priming with 0.75% chitosan decreased by 31% compared to the control, which indicates the maintenance of the cell membrane stability. The content of soluble sugars in the treatment with 0.75% chitosan and 150 mM salinity showed an increase of about 78% compared to the control. The highest correlation among traits was observed between peak value and germination coefficient (r²=0.99) and between proline and polyphenol oxidase enzyme (r²=0.92).
Conclusions: The results of this study show that among the different treatments, pre-treatment of seeds with 75 % Chitosan may be considered an effective way to improve germination indices and biochemical characteristics of beans and it can be used as a treatment to deal with salinity conditions in bean seedlings and improve their seedling growth.

Highlights:

1. Seed priming using chitosan improved germination indices of common bean seeds under salt stress.
2. Priming with chitosan increased proline and polyphenol oxidase enzyme.
3. A chitosan concentration of 0.75 V/W showed a better effect on germination indices and biochemical characteristics.
4. Priming with chitosan can be a suitable method to mitigate the negative effects of salinity, increase germination indices, and improve the biochemical characteristics of beans.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Safflower seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids with a high capacity for peroxidation, which have a high potential to reduce germination and seed vigor during the storage period. Therefore, Introducing appropriate methods to preserve or improve their germplasm during storage would be advantageous. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seed priming on germination and vigor of safflower seeds (Sofeh and Sina cultivars).
Materials and Methods: A three-factor experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications before and after artificial deterioration. The experimental factors included controlled deterioration of seeds at 45°C in six levels (no deterioration, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 days) and priming in four levels (no prime, hydropriming, salicylic acid 50 mg/l and sodium chloride 5 percent).
Results: Artificial aging strongly and linearly reduced the germination ability of safflower seeds, and germinability and seed vigor reach zero in a time interval which lasts between 2.5 to 4.5 days (depending on the treatment and the investigated trait). The use of priming prior to artificial aging was more advantageous than priming after artificial aging. In addition, priming with salicylic acid was more useful compared to other priming treatments.
Conclusion: Priming of safflower seeds before storage would result in the extended shelf-life of the stored seeds while also preserving the seed germination potential. 

Highlights:

1. The effect of priming on germination and vigor of safflower seeds before and after artificial deterioration was compared and investigated.
2. The effect of priming before and after artificial deterioration on the improvement of safflower seed quality varied in different cultivars.

Extended abstract
Introduction: Soybean is among the most important oil crops of the world. Currently, 55% of the world's oil is supplied by soybean. Seed aging, an undesirable feature of agriculture, is one of the main problems in agriculture that leads to economic losses. Although aging is an irreversible process, its speed is delayed by proper storage and optimal storage methods. While kept under inappropriate conditions after harvesting, its quality during storage declines. Priming has a direct and indirect effect on the growth and development of plants, and its indirect effects are more beneficial than its direct effects. Priming improves the longevity of low-vigor seeds. During the priming of these seeds, a long time can occur to repair metabolic damage before any progress in germination, which ultimately prevents further deterioration. Several studies have shown that seed treatment with sodium nitroprusside during reaction with reactive oxygen species and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes is essential to protecting plants against stress. The aim of this study was to the investigate the effect of sodium nitroprusside levels on germination indices and antioxidant enzyme activity in soybean seedlings under accelerated aging test.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted in 2023 as a factorial in the form of a completely randomized design with 3 replications at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili. Experimental treatments included accelerated aging treatment at three levels (0, 24, and 48 hours) and three levels of sodium nitroprusside (0, 100, and 200 ppm).
Results: The results showed that aging reduced germination indices including germination percentage (GP), germination value (GV), and mean daily germination (MDG). Also, priming with different levels of sodium nitroprusside, especially the 200 ppm level, improved these traits, but priming with sodium nitroprusside decreased the mean germination rate (MGR) and the mean germination time (MGT). The superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase enzyme activity due to priming with sodium nitroprusside 200 ppm compared to the control showed an increase of 22 and 26%, respectively. Also, the content of peroxidase enzyme activity showed an increase of about 34% compared to the control in priming with sodium nitroprusside 200 ppm and 48 hours aging compared to the control. The lowest catalase enzyme (7.7 units mg protein^-1 min^-1) was in pretreatment with sodium nitroprusside 100 ppm and without aging.
Conclusions: The results of this study show that among the different treatments, pre-treatment of seeds with sodium nitroprusside 200 ppm may be considered an effective way to improve germination indices and antioxidant enzymes activity of soybean and can be used as a treatment to deal with salinity conditions in soybean seedlings and improve their growth.

Highlights:

1. Seed priming using sodium nitroprusside improved germination indices of seed common soybean under aging.
2. Priming with sodium nitroprusside increased antioxidant enzyme activity.
3. The concentration of 200 ppm sodium nitroprusside showed a better effect on germination indices and biochemical characteristics.

Extended abstract
Introduction: Deterioration reduces the quality of seeds. Oilseeds like Nigella are highly susceptible to seed aging. Seed priming enhances the quality of deteriorated seeds by improving germination indices and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This research aimed to investigate the extent of damage caused by accelerated aging treatment on the germination characteristics and antioxidant enzyme activity of Nigella seeds and the possibility of mitigating the adverse effects of aging through hormonal priming with cytokinin.
Materials and methods: This research was carried out in the form of a completely random basic design with four replications in the seed technology laboratory of Khuzestan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in 2017. The treatments included hormonal priming with cytokinin at five levels (0 (control), 10, 20, 40, and 80 m/l) for two durations (12 and 24 hours), and aging under 100% relative humidity and a temperature of 45 °C at five levels (no aging, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h).
Results: The analysis of variance results indicated that germination indices were only influenced by main and two-way effects at the 5% and 1% probability levels, while the three-way interactions, including aging, hormone concentration, and priming duration, were significant for plant growth and longitudinal and weight indices at the 1% probability level. Furthermore, it was evident that the priming treatment mitigated the negative effects of aging, with the concentration of 10 milligrams per liter of cytokinin for a duration of 12 h having the most significant impact among the hormone concentrations used on the measured traits. The highest germination percentage (88%) and the lowest germination percentage (63.33%) were observed at concentrations of 10 and 80 mg/l, respectively. The use of cytokinin at optimal concentration improved catalase activity and protein levels. The results showed that in the control conditions, the activity of the catalase enzyme was 0.76 units per mg of protein and the amount of protein was 0.51 mg/g, which reached 0.97 units per mg of protein and 0.79 mg/g with seed priming.
Conclusion: Based on the results obtained from this research, aging led to a reduction in germination indices, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and seed protein content. The best treatment applied was cytokinin hormone priming for aged Nigella seeds at a concentration of 10 mg/l for 12 h. According to the results, the application of cytokinin at its optimal concentration (10 mg/l) improved the catalase enzyme activity and protein content. Therefore, it can be suggested that hormonal priming with cytokinin helps mitigate the adverse effects of aging in Nigella plants.

Highlights:

1. The impact of hormonal priming with cytokinin at concentrations of 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L on aged Nigella seeds was investigated.
2. The use of a concentration of 10 mg/l of cytokinin hormone for 12 hours was introduced as the best treatment.
3. Cytokinin was introduced as a significant hormone that enhances the activity of antioxidant enzymes and physiological traits in aged Nigella seeds.