Iranian Journal of Seed Research

The effect of seed rate of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and efficiency of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) that facilitates phosphorus uptake with different doses of phosphate fertilizer was evaluated on seed quality. For this purpose, the germination and seed vigor tests before and after accelerated aging were performed in a split split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications in 2010 in the field of education and research in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran University, Karaj. Phosphorus factor at 4 levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg Phosphorus.ha-1) in main plots, PGPR (Pseudomonas) in three levels (no bacteria, bacterial strains, No. 9 and bacterial strains No. 41) in subplots and rate of seed factors on three levels (2, 6, and 10 kg of seed per hectare) were the sub-subplots. The results showed the highest rate of germination and seed vigor obtained by use of 6 kg seeds per hectare, PGPR No.41 strains with 30 kg Phosphorus per hectare and after accelerated aging. The highest rate of germination and seed vigor at 10 kg of seed per hectare were found for PGPR No.41 strains, with 60 kg Phosphorus ha-1 treatments. After accelerated aging practices to achieve maximum germination index and vigor, seed rates and phosphorus requirement were more than standard conditions. Based on obtained results for the storage conditions, bacterial strains No. 41 had a better effect on increasing seed vigor than bacterial strains No. 9. To produce alfalfa seed with high vigor and obtain better results, use of optimum seed rates and phosphorus (6 and 30 kg.ha-1, respectively) along with PGPR (strain No. 41) could be considered in crop plants.

To evaluate the interaction of Cd and SA on seed germination of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. cv. Soffe), this experiment was carried out as a factorial based on CRD with four replications in 2012, in Yasouj University seed lab. Factors included of four levels of seed priming with SA (0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mM) and eight levels of cadmium nitrate (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mM). In all Cd treatments, SA 0.9 mM had maximum germination percentage (84% in 0 mM Cd) and rate (6.58 seed day^-1 in 5 mM Cd), radical length (4.21 cm in 0 mM Cd) and stem (3.29 cm in 0 mM Cd), radical dry mater (2.25 mg in 0 mM Cd), shoot dry matter (0.94 mg in 0 mM Cd) and seed vigor index (6.30 in 0 mM Cd). Generally, seed priming with SA decreased the impact of Cd on seed germination and SA 0.9 mM was the best treatment.

A vast area of Iran is covered by sand dunes. Biological control is an appropriate method for sand dune fixation. So, it is essential to recognize characteristics of psammophyte plant species and introducing suitable species for sand dunes. Ammodendron persicum is one of the important and compatible species in desert ecosystems. The current research was carried out to investigate the effect of different treatments on seed dormancy breaking and germination stimulation of Ammodendron persicum in order to determine the most effective treatment in enhancing of germination and primary growth of seedlings. The experiment was done in a completely Randomized Design. Our experimental design was included10 random attendance namely: soaking of Ammodendron persicum seeds in gibberellic acid (300ppm) for 48 hr, seed scratching scarification with acid in two interval times of 20&30 min, incorporation of later with sand paper scratching scarification, seed scratching with gibberellic acid (300ppm) and time period of 48hr Ammodendron persicum seed sand papering combined with gibberellic acid soaking, wetting Ammodendron persicum seeds with high temperature water (80°C) for 5&10 min then scratching them by sand paper and also using distillated water as control treatment evidence. Experimental results showed, 30 minutes sulfuric acid soaking combined with sand papering can increase germination to 90% of the laboratory. In addition, seed scratching with gibberellic acid (300ppm) and time period of 48hr Ammodendron persicum seed sand papering combined, wetting Ammodendron persicum seeds with high-temperature water (80°C) for 5&10 min, the percentage of germination, respectively, 45/15, 45/8, 17/10 and 68/28 respectively. Moreover, 30min high-density sulfuric acid caring improves Ammodendron persicum, seed vigor, the power of greenhouse and lab samples to 450 and 510 respectively. Finally, authors reported scratching and acid soaking combination as an efficient, caring method in this research.

In this study, the effect of different doses of gamma radiation was investigated on seed germination factors of Caper species. Gamma irradiation was performed using a cobalt-60 radiation with the radiation speed of 0.018 Gray/second and five doses of gamma radiation (0, 20, 40, 60 and 100 Gray) in a completely randomized design with 4 replication. The results showed that gamma radiation significantly affects some of the seed germination factors. So that the 100 Gray treatment increased the germination percentage up to 43.2% as compared with other treatments. The average time of germination in seeds treated with gamma decreased 0.91 days rather than control. Length of the stem let in gamma treatments increased 62.3% rather than control; so that the fresh and dry weight of stem let at 100 Gray were respectively increased 171.4 and 27.3% in comparison with the control. The fresh and dry weight of rootlets were respectively increased 417.9% and 668% rather than the control one. Seed vigor at 100 Gray was 32.3% higher than the control. From among the different studied doses, 100 Gray showed the highest influence on the seed germination and physiology although the induced changes were in low amounts. This study revealed that gamma irradiation has not major influences on improving seed germination characteristics of Caper shrubs.

One of the important strategies for increasing germination speed and germination percentage, to produce high-quality seedling and plant optimal establishment is seed priming. In order to evaluate reactions of a lentil seed to priming duration and concentrations of the applied material as priming, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications was done in the agronomy laboratory of agriculture and Natural Resources College of Gonbad Kavous University in 2013. Factors included priming duration (4, 8 and 12 h) and various concentrations of the priming (hydro priming, hormonal priming by gibberellic acid and salicylic acid with the concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 ppm and non primed seeds). Results showed that the interaction effect of the concentrations and duration of the priming was significant on whole measured traits except the seed vigor index, germination percentage and seedling dry weight at 1% probability level. The lowest duration of germination (5, 10, 90 and 95%) obtained in the hydropriming treatment (2.72, 5.43 and 18.17 hour). The highest radicle fresh weight was observed in hydropriming treatment in three studied durations priming. In this study; the highest rate of germination obtained from GA_50ppm during 12 hours. GA_50ppm increased Germination percentage (98%). The greatest radicle length, shoot length and relative growth rate was obtained in the treatment of the gibberellic acid 100 ppm during 8 hours. All the average, gibberellic acid 100 ppm in 8h had an additive effect on the most of the measured traits of the lentil seed. Therefore, it can be introduced as the best mixture treatment.

Efficient seed germination and rapid and uniform seedling emergence are important in commercial agriculture. Therefore, the use of strategies to improve germination and seedling establishment is necessary for increasing productivity. Hydropriming has been suggested as a simple pre-germination strategy to improve seed performance. In this study, the effects of different durations of hydropriming (10, 24, 48 and 72 hours) at different temperatures (10 and 25 ˚C) compared to unprimed seeds on the vigor and germination performance of five milk thistle accessions (Ahvaz, Sari, Esfahan, Dezfol and Gachsaran) were evaluated. An experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Germination performance was evaluated by final germination percentage, mean daily germination, mean germination time, the coefficient of germination, Timson's index, time to reach 50% the final germination percentage, germination value, coefficient of uniformity of germination, length and dry weight of seedlings and vigor index. The results show that germination capacity, germination rate and seedling vigor indexes increase significantly in hydro primed seeds at a temperature of 10˚C, whereas a decrease in hydro primed seeds at a temperature of 25˚C. Our results also show that the efficacy of hydropriming on seedling emergence and vigor traits depends on the priming duration and temperature. Hydropriming at 10˚C indicated the most effective on germination indicators and seedling vigor when compared to unprimed seeds. In addition, the comparison of germination and growth indicators in different durations of hydropriming in five milk thistle accessions indicated that the best duration of hydropriming for Ahvaz and Gajsaran is 72h, for Sari and Dezfol is 48 and 72h and for Esfahan is 10 and 24h. Therefore, the effect of hydropriming on germination performance and seedling vigor depends on plant association and hydropriming time and therefore, the selection of the best condition for hydropriming will improve the seed germinability and vigor.

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.

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.