Iranian Journal of Seed Research

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid and gibberellic acid on germination characteristics and changes of proline, protein and catalase activity of Brassica napus seedlings under Cu(SO₄) stress. The experimental design was factorial with complete randomized design as a base design with 3 replications. The first factor was 4 levels of Cu(SO₄) stress (0, 10, 20 and 30 mg/l), and the second factor was 4 levels of priming with salicylic acid and gibberellic acid 50 mg/l, hydro prime and control (non-priming). Results showed that with increasing levels of Cu(SO₄) stress, germination characteristics (germination percentage, germination rate, normal seedling percentage, seedling length and seed vigor index) reduced and using of salicylic acid, gibberellic acid and hydro prime increased germination characteristics. The highest germination percentage (94%), germination rate (30.75 seed per day), normal seedling percentage (86.17%) seedling length (10.53 cm) and seed vigor index (9.08) were attained from priming by salicylic acid 50 ppm under non-stress conditions. Cu(SO₄) stress increased proline (35%) and catalase (37%) activity but reduced protein (65%) and priming increased proline, protein and catalase activity as compared to unprimed under stress and control conditions. In this study, using priming treatment salicylic acid had usually higher germination characteristics and catalase activity, total proteins and proline content in comparison with untreated or control seeds.

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. The germination response of six hybrids of the maze to seed deterioration was investigated.
2. The role of antioxidant enzymes in deteriorated seeds of maize hybrids was examined.

Extended abstract
Introduction: Heavy metal pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems. These metals which accumulate in food chain bring about a lot of hazards to both humans and animals. Among heavy metals, lead is considered to be the most dangerous heavy metal in the environment. It contaminates the environment through the lead-acid battery industry, paint and gasoline additives, insecticides, chemical fertilizers, car exhaust pipes and soldering. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Pb(NO₃)₂ on germination characteristics and biochemical changes of two wheat cultivars (Chamran and Kohdasht cultivars).
Materials and Methods: The objective of this research was to evaluate germination and biochemical changes of two wheat cultivars under Pb(NO₃)₂ stress, using three-parameter sigmoid model. The experimental design adopted was factorial with a completely randomized design, as the base design, with 3 replications. The first factor was 2 wheat cultivars (Kohdasht and Chamran), and the second factor was 6 levels of Pb(NO₃)₂ (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.5 mg.L).
Results: The results showed that with increases in levels of Pb(NO₃)₂ stress, germination percentage, germination rate, normal seedling percentage, seedling length, seedling weight and seed vigor index reduced for both wheat cultivars. The results of fitting three-parameter sigmoidal to characteristics indicated that the highest characteristics and X50 were obtained from the Chamran cultivar. The highest germination percentage (96%), germination rate (23 seeds per day), normal seedling percentage (93.33%), seedling length (13.07 cm), seedling weight (0.07) and seedling vigor index (12.18) were obtained from the Chamran cultivar under non-stress conditions. Pb(NO₃)₂ stress increased proline and catalase activity but reduced protein, proline and protein for the Chamran cultivar, as compared with the Kohdasht cultivar.
Conclusion: Generally speaking, the results showed that Pb(NO₃)₂ had a significant effect on germination characteristics and catalase, proline and protein of wheat. Finally, it could be said that in copper-accumulated areas, choosing proper cultivars can slightly mitigate the damages caused by copper. The Chamran cultivar seems to be a better candidate for these conditions.
 
Highlights:

1. Evaluation of the effect of Pb(NO₃)₂ stress on germination characteristics of wheat.
2. Using three-parameter sigmoid model for the evaluation of biochemical changes and germination of wheat under Pb(NO₃)₂ stress.

Extended abstract
Introduction: Crop rotations are practiced to eliminate the effect of monoculture, but the succeeding crop may be influenced by the phytotoxins released by the preceding crop. Among plants, Brassica species contain allelochemical compounds as glucosinolate that is, under special conditions, released to environment and affects seed germination and plant growth. Wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) as a weed of 30 crops in 52 countries which has a series of allelopathic effects that prevent germination of other plants. Products of glucosinolate- like ionic thiocyanate (SCN-) inhibited the root or shoot growth of many crop species. Also volatile compounds like isoprenoid and benzenoid released from Brassica tissue degradation may suppress many crops growth. It was also found in many studies that allelochemicals, which inhibited the growth of some species at certain concentrations, might stimulate the growth of same or different species at lower concentrations. The present research was conducted to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract concentration of various mustard parts on barley seed germination and seedling growth.
Materials and Methods: In order to evaluate the allelopathic effect of mustard in agro ecosystems, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications was carried out in botany laboratory of agriculture faculty, Illam University in 2014. Experimental treatments included five concentrations of mustards foliage and root aqueous extract (0, 10, 30, 50, and 70 percent) that were studied at germination and early growth stage of barley (cv. Abidar) in two separate experiments. In the seed germination section, the effects of aqueous extract of mustard on germination rate and germination percentage of barley seed were measured. In the study of the effect of aqueous extract of mustard on barley seedlings, weight and length of root and shoot, leaf chlorophyll content, proline and soluble sugars content were measured.
Results: Results showed that the highest amount of barley seed germination percentage and germination rate (100 and 19.5, respectively) were observed in control and the lowest amount (40 and 9.5, respectively) belonged to mustard root aqueous treatment with 70 percent concentration. The most decrease in barley seedlings length and weight were observed at the highest concentration of aqueous extract. The amount of chlorophyll a decreased from 2.39 in control to 1.66 mg per fresh weight in 70 percent concentration of aqueous extract treatment. The highest amount of proline (66.8 μM per fresh weight) in barley foliage was observed in 70 percent aqueous extract treatment. The results from this study showed that mustard allelopathic effect may be a possible mechanism controlling the barley germination and early growth stage in agro ecosystems.
Conclusion: Generally, we were able to demonstrate short term auto toxicity and possible short-term allelopathy due to mustard has harmful effects on barley including reduced seed germination and emergence of barley seedling. Depending on the concentrations of Mustard extract, allelopathic activity will vary Mustard. Further investigations are also needed to determine the influence of cultivar variations, and to identify the active compounds involved in mustard auto toxicity and Allelopathy.
  
Highlights:
1-Mustards aqueous extract reduced seed germination percentage and plant growth in barley.
2-Mustards aqueous extract increased proline and soluble sugars in barley, but it reduced amount of chlorophyll in this plant.

1. Introduction of proper storage conditions and initial seed moisture in order to decrease fungal damage and soybean seed deterioration.
2. Determination of different fungal damages during the storage of soybean seeds.
3. Determination of relationship between the degree of soybean seed infection of storage fungi and the seed’s quality, its amount of protein and soluble sugars.