Iranian Journal of Seed Research

In order to study the effect of zinc and magnesium on agronomic and seed germination traits of wheat (Sivand cultivar), the current study was carried out at Mahidasht Agricultural Research Station in Kermanshah over the years 2012 and 2013. The experiment was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of four levels of zinc sulfate (zero, 20, 40 and 60 kg per hectare) and four levels of magnesium (zero, 70, 140 and 210 kg per hectare in the form of magnesium sulfate). The measured parameters included thousand seed weight, hectoliter weight, protein, zinc and magnesium seeds, germination test, growth rate, seed vigor, plant characteristics and grain yield. The results showed the effects of zinc and magnesium factors were significant for most traits at 1 and 5%. The effect of zinc sulfate showed that 60 kg zinc sulfate had the best effect on the traits under investigation. The effect of this treatment on two important traits (i.e., yield and grain protein percent) with 7.10 tons per hectare and 12.05% was higher (about 115 and 103%, respectively), as compared with the control treatment. Effect of magnesium sulfate levels on the traits showed that the treatment of 210 kg per hectare of magnesium sulfate was the superior treatment. The effects of the above-mentioned treatment on yield (7.84 tons per hectare) and grain protein (11.89 percent) were higher than the control treatment, which was 124 and 101.5%, respectively. Given the number of field nutrients and the wheat needs for these elements, the treatments of 20 kg per ha of zinc sulfate and 140 kg per ha of magnesium sulfate were better than other treatments and economically speaking, are very cost-effective and are thus recommended.
 

Gaining insights into the germination and emergence patterns of weeds as well as the factors which have an impact on these patterns is beneficial for weeds management programs. In order to investigate the effect of temperature, waterlogging and salinity on germination and emergence of common lambsquarters, three separate experiments were conducted, adopting a completely randomized design with four replications. The results of the temperature experiment showed that the highest germination percentages, which were 87, 93 and 88%, were obtained in the temperature range of 15, 20 and 25°C, respectively. Maximum values of germination rate, radicle length, plumule length, and seedling dry weight were obtained at 20°C. In addition, optimum seed vigor index of 796.29 was observed at 20°C. The results of the Regression Model showed that germination percentage decreased with an increase in waterlogging duration and halted after 8 and 10 days of consecutive waterlogging. Mean comparisons revealed that radicle and plumule length, seedling dry weight and vigor index decreased significantly by increasing the period of waterlogging. Salinity adversely affected germination percentage, germination rate and seedling dry weight of common lambsquarters. These factors were at their highest amounts in the control and 50 mM NaCl treatments. A downward trend was observed in these factors as NaCl concentrations increased and finally the germination process stopped in concentrations ranging from 300 to 400 mM NaCl. Radicle and plumule length also decreased from 10.51 and 9.23 cm in the control treatment to 3.57 and 2.47 cm at 250 mM NaCl. Overall, the results revealed that the maximum seed vigor index of 851.84 was obtained in the control treatment and seed vigor halted when the salinity level increased to more than 250 mM NaCl. Finally, the results showed that optimum temperature for germination of common lamsquarters was 20 °C and the existence of salinity and waterlogging stress can decrease growth indices of this weed at germination and seedling stages.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Nano TiO₂ and Nano CNT on some germination indices and growth parameters of some hulled barley cultivars. The experiment was conducted in a laboratory at Shahrekord University during 2014. The study was a factorial, adopting a completely randomized design with four replications. Treatments consisted of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotube (CNT) in four concentrations (0, 10, 30 and 60 mg.l^-1) which were applied to seeds of hulled barley cultivars such as Bahman, Makoii and Nosrat. The traits measured were the dry weight of seedling and seedling length, germination percentage, germination rate, mean germination time, the percentage of resistance of radical, seedling vigor length and weight index. The results showed that carbon nanotubes treatments with 60 mg.l^-1 had a significant impact on germination percentage, germination rate, seedling vigor length and weight index and seedling dry weight, as compared with other treatments. In this experiment, the highest percentages of resistance of radicle, seedling vigor weight index and seedling dry weight of Nosrat Cultivar were obtained under 60 mg.l^-1 carbon nanotube treatment, which was 70, 122.2 and 64.9%, respectively, as compared with control treatment. In addition, 60 mg.l^-1 carbon nanotube treatment increased the seedling vigor of Makoii cultivar by 39.8%, as compared with the control treatment. The findings were that in terms of seedling vigor length and weight index, seedling length, seedling dry weight and the percentage of resistance of radical, the Nosrat Cultivar showed better morphological characteristics than Bahman and Makoii cultivars, under laboratory conditions.
 

For the purpose of evaluating the effect of chitosan on seed germination and some biochemical characteristics of the milk thistle herb in the conditions of salinity, an experiment was conducted as factorial in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications in the Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology of Shahed University, Tehran in 2015. Experimental factors comprised salinity levels (0, 4, 8 and 12 dS.m^-1) and different levels of Chitosan (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 percent). The results showed that salt stress reduced germination percentage, germination coefficient, germination speed, weight and length vigor index, radical, plumule and seedling length and total biomass and increased mean germination time. Seed priming with chitosan up to 0.5% concentration increased germination coefficient, weighted index vigor and plumule length. The highest amounts of total chlorophyll and total protein were obtained in seed priming with 0.5% chitosan levels in zero salinity level (control). By increasing salinity levels, the activity level of catalase and peroxidase increased, so that the highest level of the activity of these two enzymes was obtained in the salinity level of 12 dS.m^-1 in pre-treatment with 0.5% Chitosan. The results showed that seed priming with chitosan of 0.5% could reduce harmful effects of salt stress on some traits of milk thistle seedlings and could even improve their growth.
 

1. Salinity had a negative effect whereas methyl jasmonate had a positive effect on germination indices and activity of antioxidant enzymes of Stevia seeds.
2. Application of 5 μM of methyl jasmonate, as a pre-treatment, can be effective in improving the growth of the stevia plant and reducing the negative effects of salinity.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Seeds are a good option for propagation and protection of medicinal plants. Although Seed dormancy is an adaptive strategy for wild medicinal plants, but it is considered as an undesirable trait in domestication and cultivation of them, need to be solved. Echinophora platyloba seed has dormancy despite its remarkable medicinal properties.
Materials and Methods: In order to break seed dormancy, three separate experiment including stratification, hormonal treatment and combination of both were performed. For stratification 10 samples of were placed in a wet bed at 5 ° C for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 Week and were compared using a completely randomized design with three replications. For hormonal treatment, the seeds were placed in GA concentrations of 0, 500 and 1000 ppm for 24 hours and then transferred to germination conditions. However, since the breaking of dormancy did not occur, this experiment was not discussed any more. For combined application of hormone and stratification, seeds were placed at mentioned concentrations of gibberellin for 24 hours at 20 ° C and then gibberellin solutions were removed and the seed transmitted to 5 ° C and compared for 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks with a CRD factorial experiment with three replications. The first factor was concentration of gibberellin in three levels and the second factor was the duration of stratification in 4 levels.
Results: Stratification had a positive effect on seed dormancy breaking and 16 week chilling lead to highest germination percentage and rate and vigor indices. The combined application of hormonal treatments accelerated dormancy release and improved seed germination characteristics, which peaked at 8 weeks. 8-week stratification treatment at 5 ° C with 1000 ppm gibberellic acid was the best treatment to overcoming of dormancy in Echinophora-platyloba seeds.
Conclusion: It seems that seed dormancy of Echinophora seeds is physiological, which broke down by moist chilling and simultaneous application of stratification and gibberellin successfully. Although Gibberellin had no effect on dormancy break, it reduced the need for stratification. Combined application of them showed synergistic effects on dormancy release.
 
 
Highlights:

1. Echinophora seed’s dormancy was broken under stratification conditions, but GA had no effect on it lonely.
2. The application of gibberellin reduced the chilling demands of Echinophora seeds and the combined application of them had a synergistic effect on dormancy break

Extended abstract
Introduction: Nowadays exploitation of hetrotoxic characteristics  of hetrotoxic plants regarding  harmful effects of synthetic herbicides can most important role in weeds management and their control. In fact chemical compounds which is released by root, stem, leaf, flowers, seeds pollen, fruit and seeds can be used as bio herbicides and bio pesticides. The purpose of this srudy was evaluation of hetrotoxicity potential of Datura stramonium L. shoots on germination traits and photosynthetic pigments of wheat cultivars.
Materials and Methods: An experiment was conducted to evaluate hetrotoxicity potential of aqueous extract of different organs of Datura stramonium L. such as stem, leaf, fruit and mixed of them on germination traits and photosynthetic pigments of two cultivars of wheat (Kohdasht and N8720) as factorial experiment based on compeletly randomized design in three replications in Weeds Scince Laboratory of Gonbad-e- Kavous University in 2017. Datura stramonium shoot was collected at fruit formation stage in the Moghan plain and seprated into stem, leaf and fruit firstly. Five ml of studied extracts as well as mixed of them were added on 25 disinfected seeds of studied cultivars separately.
Results: Results showed that wheat cultivars had a different response to organs extract and this difference also were significant for various organs extract as well as interaction effect of cultivars in organs extract. Mean comparison of interaction of cultivars and organs showed that germination percent of Kohdash were decreased under experimental treatments. The highest decrease effect was obtained in the leaf extract about 98.33%. In return, stem, fruit and mixed organs had an increase effect on germination percent of N8720 about 5.72, 5.72 and 1.41% respectively. Result of the germination rate was similar with result of germination percent. Radicle and shoot length of both cultivars under experimental treatments were decreased. Leaf extract had an highest inhibition effect on radicle and shoot length about 96.70 and 89.21% respectively. Content of total chlorophyll of both cultivars of Kohdast and N8720 were increased under aqueous extract of stem (24.64%) and fruit (14.62%). Where as, extract of other organs and mixed of them had a decrease effect on studied trait. The result of carotenoid also was similar with result of total chlorophyll. Persumably, difference in allelochemicals concentration in various organs of Datura stramonium and physiological chracteractics of studied traits in cultivars caused different behavior.
Conclusions: According to the results, use of Datura stramonium biomass esspecially leaf, it is suggested as natural herbicides and strategy of non- chemical management. To accomplish this need to analyze phytochemical compounds of this weed.
 
Highlights:

1. Extract of different parts of Datura stramonium weed had a different effect on germination traits and content of chlorophyll and carotenoids  of both cultivars of Kohdast and N8720.
2. Leaf extract of Datura stramonium significantly decrease germination traits and content of chlorophyll and carotenoids of Kohdasht cultivar seedlings.

3- Use of Datura stramonium can be a good option for appearance of natural herbicides.

1. Effect of salinity on seed germination characteristics of melon.
2. Effect of biofertilizer and salicylic acid on germination and seedling growth of melon under salt stress.

1. Study of germination and biochemical properties of fenugreek seed aged under different level of osmotic potantials and temperatures.
2. In areas with a lower osmotic potential it is better to cultivate Fenugreek seed at temperatures below 20 °C.

1. Addition of iron and zinc sulfate to shallot seeds whose dormancy was broken with sulfuric acid caused higher germination rate of  25.54%, compared with the control.
2. Gibberellin compensated for zinc effect in germination and was able to replace it, but had a slight synergic effect with iron sulfate.
3. Although gibberellin application did not affect germination traits, the seedling length and vigor index showed a positive response to it.

1. Evaluation of germination indices for recent cultivars of rainfed wheat, released by rainfed Research Institute of Iran.
2. Investigating and comparing fertilizers with various multifactorial compounds (fungi and bacteria) and with each other.
3. Conducting research on commercial compounds and comparison of live biochemical and non-organic matters in a single experiment.

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

Extended abstract
Introduction: Due to their aggressive and competitive habits, weeds inhibit the growth of valuable plants. Interference in plants includes environmental competition and allelopathy (Autotoxicity and hetrotoxicity). In hetrotoxicity, chemical compounds released from plants are able to effect the neighboring plants. Proper management of weeds and the exploitation of their hetrotoxicity potential can reduce losses caused by weeds. This could also represent an effective step towards the reduction of the use of herbicides. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hetrotoxicity potential of aqueous extract of various organs of Malva sylvestris L. weed on traits of germination and photosynthetic pigments of Echinochloa crus-galli L.
Material and Methods: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of hetrotoxicity potential of aqueous extract of Malva sylvestris  L. weed including the stem, leaf and flower as well as their mixture on traits of germination and photosynthetic pigments of Echinochloa crus-galli L. as a completely randomized design in three replications in Weeds Science Laboratory of Gonbad Kavous University in 2017. For this experiment, aerial parts of M. sylvestris were first collected at the flowering stage from Ramian field. They were subsequently separated with great care and were powdered. Then from them, 5% suspensions (weight/volume) were prepared, using distilled water. Finally, the extract of each organ of M. sylvestris was added to Petri dishes containing E. crus-galli seeds. After the 7^th day, traits such as rate and percentage of germination, radical and shoot elongation, vigor index, total content of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids were measured.

Results: The results showed that various organs of M. sylvestris and their mixture had different inhibitory effects on traits of germination and seedling length of E. crus-galli weed. The highest inhibition effects on rate and germination percentage and elongation of radical and shoot of E. crus-galli were obtained using leaf extract of M. sylvestris about 64.04, 64.37, 87.69, 62.81%. In this study, radical length is more affected under hetrotoxic compounds of various organs of M. sylvestris, as compared with shoot length. Based on the results, various organs of M. sylvestris and their mixture also have different inhibitory effects on chlorophyll and carotenoid content of E. crus-galli weed. It seems that the differential effects among different organs of M. sylvestris are a function of the threshold concentration of allelochemicals to hetrotoxic compounds of the organs, which causes various response by E. crus-galli.
Conclusion: Given the evidence for the effect of hetrotoxicity potential of various organs of M. sylvestris on traits of germination and pigments of chlorophyll and carotenoid of E. crus-galli and huge biomass generated, it is advisable to exploit allelochemical compounds of this plant as bio-herbicides.
 

 
Highlights:
1- Study of the the effect of hetrotoxic potential of Malva sylvestris weed on germination characteristics and photosynthetic pigments of Echinochloa crus-galli in Ramian field.
2- E. crus-galli weed exhibits great sensitivity to hetrotoxic compounds of various organs of M. sylvestris,  especially the leaves.
3- Allelopathic characteristics of M. sylvestris weed have huge potentials for the production of bio-herbicides.

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Salinity is one of the most serious abiotic stresses, causing instability in germination and seed emergence due to low osmotic potential and ionic toxicity. Development of simple and low-cost biologic methods is essential for short-term management of salt stress. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria increases the rate and uniformity of germination. This research aimed to investigate the effect of bacterial growth-promoting bacteria on the germination and seedling growth indices of alfalfa c.v. Hamedani in different salinity levels.
Materials and Methods: A CRD factorial experiment with four replications was conducted in Seed Science and Technology Laboratory of Shahrekord University in 2016. The first factor consisted of 6 salinity levels 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 dS/m created with sodium chloride, and the second was four levels of bacterial pre-treatment: no inoculation with bacteria and biopriming, inoculation of alfalfa seeds with Acinetrobacter calcoaceticus PTCC 1318, Bacillus megaterium PTCC 1250 and Enterobacter aerogenes PTCC 1221. The seeds were treated with bacteria and placed at a 20 °C growth chamber. They were then irrigated with desired solutions depending on the salinity treatment. Germinated seeds were counted daily and the parameters of germination percentage and rate, seedling length, seedling dry weight, vigour index I, II and allometric coefficient were calculated after 10 days.
Results: Salinity levels higher than 10 dS/m reduced germination indices and seedling growth of alfalfa. The highest reductions were obtained for 12.5 ds/m salinity level versus control for germination percentage (10.81%), germination rate (49.48%), plumule and radicle length (13.30% and 28.88% respectively) and vigor index I and II, which were 30.27% and 6.28%, respectively. The seed treated with A. calcoaceticus was able to tolerate salinity stresses more than others. For example, the reduction for the seed treated with A. calcoaceticus was only 4%, compared with non-stressed control. In salinity conditions 2.5 and 5 dS/m, the highest rate of germination was obtained, using A. calcoaceticus bacteria. In addition, the seeds treated with E. aerogenes showed higher stability at different levels of salinity for seedling length traits. The highest vigour index related to the use of A. calcoaceticus in salinity was 7.5 ds/m.
Conclusions: A. calcoaceticus had a significant role in reducing the negative effects of salinity on germination percentage and rate, vigour index I and II and allometric coefficient while E. aerogenes bacteria were more effective in reducing negative effects of salinity on seedling length and dry weight.
 
 
Highlights:

1. Acinetrobacter calcoaceticus bacterium increased the percentage and rate of germination of alfalfa seeds under salt stress.
2. Enterobacter aerogenes bacteria efficiently adjusted the negative effects of salinity on alfalfa seedlings length and dry weight.