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Volume 8, Issue 1 (9-2021)
Introduction: Barley is the fourth largest cereal crop in the world and the second cereal crop in Iran in supplying food needs. Considering population growth and food shortages, it is important to look at ways to increase production. Seeds of higher quality and vigor emerge better when exposed to biotic and abiotic stresses and have stronger seedlings with higher vigor. It seems that one of the appropriate strategies for reducing or moderating the effect of stress on yield is foliar application with micronutrients which can also affect germination and vigor of the produced seeds. For this purpose, the effect of water stress and foliar application on germination characteristics and vigor of barley seeds was investigated.
Materials and Methods: A factorial experiment was carried out based on CRD with four replications on the seeds resulted from a field experiment at Isfahan Kaboutarabad Agricultural Research Station, during the cropping year of 2018-19. The main factors was foliar application at five levels: no foliar application(water use), zinc sulfate (0.5%), potassium sulfate (0.5%) and salicylic acid (1.5 mM), and superoxide dismutase (3 mg/liter) at the start of tillering for three times at seven day intervals and the sub-factor was genotypes was Goharan (drought tolerant), Mehr (salt-tolerant) and Armaghan (stress-sensitive). After harvesting, germination traits were evaluated.
Results: Foliar application of maternal barley plant at the late season drought stress had a significant effect on root and shoots length, root and shoot dry weight, length and weight vigor indices, allometric coefficient and germination uniformity of seed. Also among the studied cultivars in late season irrigation cut off conditions, Goharan cultivar had a better shoot and root development (seedling vigor weight index) and higher seed germination uniformity.
Conclusion: Foliar application of potassium sulfate and zinc sulfate on different barley cultivars resulted in favorable metabolic conditions in seed and due to better root development and higher dry weight than stem development and as a result, higher allometric coefficient and better establishment under late season drought stress, may provide better growth conditions under drought stress conditions.
- Goharan barley cultivar responds more positively to foliar application under late season drought stress conditions.
- Foliar application of potassium sulfate, zinc sulfate and super oxidase superoxide on Goharan cultivar maternal plant under late season drought stress condition led to the highest seedling root length, root dry weight and shoot dry weight.
Volume 11, Issue 1 (9-2024)
Introduction: Growth, development, and ultimately production of plants are affected by several environmental factors. Drought and salinity are major environmental stresses that have irreparable effects on all stages of germination, plant growth, and the structure and activity of organs. The germination stage and seedling establishment are more sensitive to osmotic and salinity stresses, so it is important to evaluate the germination indices under stress conditions for plant cultivation in dry and saline environments.
Materials and Methods: To investigate the effect of different levels of osmotic and salinity on germination and early growth of camelina (Camelina sativa L.), two experiments were conducted separately in a completely randomized design in the laboratory of Bardsir Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in 2023. In the first experiment, polyethylene glycol solution (PEG 6000) at -0.2, -0.4, and -0.6 MPa levels was applied to generate the osmotic potential. In the second experiment, NaCl at 50, 100, and 150 mM concentrations was used. In both experiments, distilled water was used to create zero stress (control).
Results: The results showed that mild osmotic (-0.2 MPa) and salinity (50 mM) stresses had no significant adverse effect on seedling establishment. However, increased intensity of osmotic and salinity stresses significantly reduced germination percentage and rate, seedling vigor length index, seedling dry weight, radicle length and dry weight, and plumule length and dry weight, so that drought stress at -0.6 MPa reduced the length and dry weight of the root and the length and dry weight of the plumule by approximately 40.40%, 57.4%, 49.2%, and 53.3% compared with the control, respectively. The highest level of salinity stress (150 mM) caused a decrease of 37.8%, 56.8%, 45.3%, and 55.4% in the length and dry weight of the root and the length and dry weight of the plumule compared with the control, respectively. An increment of MDA content, soluble carbohydrates, and the amount of free amino acids was observed at moderate (-0.4 MPa) and severe (-0.6 MPa) osmotic stress and 100 and 150 mM salinity stress levels.
Conclusions: Since camelina is a new plant in Iran, evaluating the response of this plant to different levels of osmotic and salinity stress during germination and early growth stages of the seedling provides the possibility of its cultivation and development in the dry lands of different regions of the country. It seems that mild drought (-0.2 MPa) and salinity (50 mM) stresses did not have a significant adverse effect on camelina germination indicators, but if the stress level exceeds the plant's tolerance range, it leads to decreased germination traits. Recommending the cultivation of this species requires studying its stability, compatibility, and agroecological characteristics.
Highlights:
- Germination characteristics and initial growth of camelina seedlings were investigated under drought and salinity stress conditions.
- The tolerance threshold of camelina seedlings was evaluated to different water potentials and salinity stress.
- The sensitivity of germination components to salinity stress was higher than that of osmotic stress.
Volume 11, Issue 2 (3-2025)
Introduction: Rice (Oryza sativa L.), as one of the world's most important cereals, serves as a staple food for more than one-third of the global population. This strategic crop plays a key role in the economies of many countries. Seed priming is a biotechnological tool and a simple, practical, effective, eco-friendly, and cost-efficient approach to enhancing a plant's tolerance to various environmental stresses and improving seed germination. This study was designed and conducted to investigate the germination and physiological responses of two rice cultivars under varying intensities and durations of electromagnetic field exposures.
Materials and Methods: A factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with the factors of electromagnetic field intensity at 4 levels, time at 3 levels, and two cultivars (Tarom and Hashemi) in three replications was conducted at the Islamic Azad University, Astara Branch in 2023. Rice seeds were treated in a plastic bag under magnetic fields with intensities (0, 50, 100, and 150 mT) and times (10, 50, and 100 minutes). A plastic tray was used for the second experiment and seedling establishment. Healthy seedlings were transferred to plastic pots containing sand. After 25 days, the desired traits were measured.
Results: The analysis of variance results indicated that the effects of the magnetic field, time, cultivar, and their interactions were significant for most traits. The electromagnetic field at 100 mT for 50 minutes led to an increase in germination percentage compared with the control. In contrast, the treatment of 150 mT for 100 minutes caused a significant reduction in all germination-related traits. The highest values were observed under the 100 mT for 50-minute treatment, including germination percentage (98.8%), germination rate (12.5 seeds per day), radicle length (68.1 mm), plumule length (47.5 mm), seedling length (116 mm), radicle dry weight (0.715 mg), plumule dry weight (2.02 mg), seedling dry weight (2.74 mg), seedling length vigor index (11422), seedling weight vigor index (271), chlorophyll-a (0.846 mg g-1 FW), chlorophyll-b (0.96 mg g-1 FW), and carotenoids (0.44 mg g-1 FW).
Conclusion: The electromagnetic field had a significant effect on germination-related traits and physiological characteristics, including germination percentage, germination rate, and chlorophyll content, leading to an increase in these indices. In the present study, the 100 mT treatment for 50 minutes improved seedling vigor in terms of both length and weight. Based on these findings, magnetopriming within the studied treatment range enhances germination and improves rice plant establishment by increasing chlorophyll levels.
Highlights:
- The effect of the magnetic field on the germination and physiological characteristics of rice seeds was investigated.
- Seed priming at 100 mT for 50 minutes increased chlorophyll and carotenoid content.
Volume 11, Issue 2 (3-2025)
Extended abstract
Introduction: Rice (Oryza sativa L.), one of the world's most crucial cereals, serves as a primary nutritional source for over one-third of the global population. Compared to other grains, rice exhibits greater sensitivity to low-temperature stress. Seed priming as a biotechnological tool is a simple, practical, cost-effective, and eco-friendly approach to enhance plant stress tolerance and improve seed germination. This study investigated the germination and physiological responses of rice seeds to varying intensities and durations of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure under cold stress conditions.
Materials and Methods: In 2024, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design at Islamic Azad University, Astara Branch. The experiment evaluated four levels of EMF intensity (0, 50, 100, and 150 mT), two exposure durations (30 and 60 minutes), and three cold stress levels (10, 15, and 25°C) on the Hashemi rice cultivar, with three replications. Rice seeds were treated in plastic bags under the specified EMF conditions. For seedling establishment, healthy seedlings were transferred to plastic pots containing sand. After 25 days, physiological traits were measured.
Results: Analysis of variance revealed significant effects of EMF intensity, duration, cold stress, and their interactions on most traits. Cold stress significantly increased proline (1.02 µmol g⁻¹ FW) and malondialdehyde (4.40 mmol g⁻¹ FW) while reducing chlorophyll a and b. The highest germination percentage (98.9%), radicle length (69.6 mm), chlorophyll a (0.807 mg g⁻¹ FW), and chlorophyll b (0.99 mg g⁻¹ FW) were observed under 100 mT at 25°C. Additionally, the highest germination rate (0.560 day⁻¹), shoot length (58.63 mm), seedling length (130.8 mm), radicle dry weight (3.25 mg), shoot dry weight (2.21 mg), seedling dry weight (5.46 mg), length-based vigor index (13035.5), and weight-based vigor index (543.5) were recorded at 100 mT, 25°C, and 30 minutes. While cold stress reduced germination and seedling growth, EMF treatment up to 100 mT counteracted these effects across all temperature levels.
Conclusion: EMF treatment up to 100 mT significantly improved germination traits (e.g., percentage, rate) and physiological parameters (e.g., chlorophyll content) in this rice cultivar. These findings highlight the potential of EMF priming to enhance seed germination and stress resilience under cold conditions.
Highlights:
- The effect of the magnetic field was investigated on rice seed germination and physiological traits under cold stress.
- Seed priming with an intensity of 100 mT for 60 minutes under cold stress of 10°C increased proline and malondialdehyde content.
- Higher EMF intensities (up to 100 mT) significantly improved germination at 10°C.
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Seed Science and Technology, Seed Physiology, Seed Ecology, Modeling, Seed Health, Germination Characteristics, Seed Dormancy, Seed Ageing, Seed Storage, Seed PrimingVote
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