Iranian Journal of Seed Research

Effect of Osmotic Potential on Seed Germination and Biochemical Indices of different Christ's thorn (Ziziphus spina–christi) Populations

Ali Moradi

Extended abstract
Introduction: Seed is the most important sexual reproductive factor in plants that plays an important role in transmitting hereditary characteristics, plant distribution, and establishment in different regions. Seed germination as one of the most important and complex stages in the life cycle of plants is affected by genetic and environmental factors. Drought stress is one of the main barriers of crop plants and trees, production in many parts of the world, especially in arid and semi-arid regions such as Iran. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of drought stress on biochemical and seed germination indices of different seed lot of Ziziphus spina–christi as suitable medicinal species for controlling soil erosion in arid regions.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with four replications at the Seed Science and Technology Laboratory of Yasouj University in 2018. Experimental factors included Ziziphus spina–Christi seeds collected from the regions of Minab, Kazeroon, Masjed Soleiman, and Dehdasht and five water potentials including zero, -2, -4, -6, and -8 bar.
Results: In the present study, the effect of osmotic potential, seed lot, and their interaction were significant in each seed lot on germination (germination percentage, germination rate, seedling length, allometric index, longitudinal vigor) and biochemical (hydrogen peroxide, soluble protein content, Proline, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) indices of Ziziphus spina–christi. The results showed that except for allometric index response of all studied germination traits to osmotic potential was decreasing, Also with increasing osmotic potential, seed soluble protein was decreased and the amount of proline and activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase increased. With increasing osmotic stress, the root length was significantly increased, which increased the allometric coefficient of the seedling.
Conclusion: Germination and biochemical indices of seeds of all seedlots had significant changes with the reduction of osmotic potential and the reduction of osmotic potential was associated with reduced germination and plant establishment capability. These results can help us to recognize the prerequisites of germination and the development of the forests.

Highlights:
1- Germination indices of seeds related to several Ziziphus spina–christi seed lots were investigated under different water potentials.
2- Biochemical aspects related to seed dormancy in several Ziziphus spina–christi seed lots were evaluated.

Studying the Effect of Different Soil waterlogging Stress Levels and Burial Depth on Growth Characteristics of Strangle Wort (Cynanchum acutum) seeds and rhizomes

Esfandiar Fateh

Extended Abstract
Introduction: In Iran, the majority of research has been done on the depth of burial on crops and the effect of these factors on weeds resulted from seeds and rhziomes of seedlings has been less studied. Strangle Wort weed is one of the most problematic weeds in sugarcane fields, orchards, especially pistachio orchards, barren lands, and roads. Thus, this study aimed to find out the effect of different levels of burial depth and flood stress on the extent and quality of seedlings resulted from its rhizomes.
Material and Methods: Two separate greenhouse experiments based on completely randomized design with four replications were conducted in the experimental farm of Sugarcane Research Institute of Khuzestan province at 2014-2015 growing season. Flooding stress treatment included 7 levels of flooding stress (4, 8, 16, 24, 48, 72, and 96 flooding hours) and 6 levels of seed burial (1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 cm) and rhizome burial depth treatment included 7 levels (1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and cm 15).
Results: With increasing levels of flood stress, all studied traits including root length, stem height, total dry matter biomass, shoot dry weight and root dry weight of strangle wort rhizomes decreased at 96 hours of waterlogged stress compared to the control by 63, 70, 59, 98 and 74 percent, respectively. Also, in second experiment, buried rhizomes of this weed with a length of 5 cm at a depth of 15 cm were not able to produce new seedlings.
Conclusion: According to these results, for proper management of this weed, highly contaminated areas in the field should be identified (especially in sugarcane fallow fields because at this time there is no weed control limitation). Then, the weed should be turned it into pieces smaller than 5 cm with plowing tools. Also, if possible, with suitable tools, transfer rhizomes should be transferred to a depth of more than 15 cm and integrated weed control management with drought and flooding stress and burial depth with at least two times of plowing could be implemented to control weed and prevent its expansion.

Highlights:
1-Germination characteristics of strangle wort seedlings under burial depths and flooding stress were evaluated.
2-The effect of burial depth and flooding stress on control and management of strangle wort was examined.
3-Precise determination of weed biology and weed germination behavior will lead to proper execution of weed control program.

Effect of Temperature and Light Regimes on Germination Behavior of Rapeseed (Brassica napus) Cultivars

Farshid Ghaderi-Far

Extended abstract
Introduction: Since the maximum percentage and rate of germination of rapeseed occur at a certain temperature, finding these temperatures can play an important role in determining the appropriate time and place for the cultivation of different cultivars. Also, light can affect the germination percentage of rapeseed at different temperatures, but the response of rapeseed to light, especially at lower and higher temperatures, has not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the changes in the germination of rapeseed cultivars at different temperatures and determine cardinal germination temperatures based on germination percentage and rate under both the presence and absence of light conditions.
Materials and methods: In this study, germination tests were carried out at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 37, and 40°C temperatures in two light conditions (12 h light / 12 h dark) and darkness on nine spring cultivars (Traper, Agamax, Hayola-50, Hayola-420, RGS, Mahtab, Hayola-61, Zafar, and Zarfam) and one winter cultivar (Garo). The four-parameter Hill model was used to describe germination changes over time and the dent model was used to calculate cardinal temperatures. Seed viability at lower and higher temperatures was evaluated by the tetrazolium test.
Results: The evaluation of the trend of cumulative germination percentage over time in different cultivars showed that maximum germination percentage of all cultivars happened in the temperature range between 15-30 °C, some in the temperature range of 10-30 °C (Hyola-61) and others even in the temperature range of 5-30 °C (RGS, Mahtab, Garo, Zafar, and Zarfam) had the highest germination percentage. The highest germination rate in all cultivars was observed at the temperature range of 22-35 °C. Light only had an effect on the germination percentage of the seeds at sub and super optimal temperatures. At these temperatures, light increased the germination percentage. The remaining seed of 5, 10, 35, 37, and 40 °C temperature after transfer to 20 °C did not germinate, whereas most of them were viable based on the tetrazolium test.
Conclusion: The difference in the optimum temperature range for germination percentage and rate showed that to optimize seed performance, the optimal temperature range between the germination percentage and germination rate should be considered as the optimum temperature for germination. At sub and supra optimal temperatures, light leads to improved germination in some cultivars. The effect of light on germination at supra optimal temperatures was far higher than that of sub-optimal ones. Survival of the remaining seeds at the sub and supra optimal temperatures in some cultivars provided evidence of thermo-dormancy in these cultivars, this issue needs further investigation in the future.

Highlights:
1- The cardinal temperatures were studied based on both the percentage and rate of germination and the effect of light on them.
2- Some new varieties such as Traper and Agamax that little information about their characteristics is available were examined.
3- In this study, the reason for the lack of germination of rapeseed at the sub and supra optimal temperatures especially in the darkness has been mentioned.

Evaluation of Relationship of Germination, Vigor and Health of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) Commercial Cultivars Seed under Accelerated Ageing Conditions

Aidin Hamidi

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Cotton is the most important fiber-oil seed crop. Seed germination, vigour and health are the most important aspects of cotton seed quality. In Iran, annual cotton seed requirement is near 4000 tones, half of which is delinted and half is provided as fuzzy seed and therefore infection of fuzzy seeds to seed borne disease pathogens is possible. Every year a part of produced cotton seed does not possess standard quality and is not certify for various reasons including infection with seed borne disease pathogens. Thereafter, this research was conducted in order to study the relationship among cotton commercial cultivars seed germination, vigour and health.
Materials and Methods: Fuzzy seeds lots samples of Sahel, Varamin, Bakhtegan and Mehr cotton commercial cultivars with of 80, 90, and 95 percent intial germination ability (normal seedlings percent) produced at Golestan, Khorasan Razavi, Fars, and Ardabil provinces respectively underwent Standard germination and accelerated ageing tests. Final germination percent before and after accelerated ageing, normal seedlings percent after accelerated ageing, decayed seeds percent before and after accelerated ageing, mean germination time, seedling length, dry weight, seedling length and weight vigour indices after accelerated ageing were measured and the fungus on decayed seeds were determined by blotter test. Then, their average frequency was determined.
Results: Sahel and Bakhtegan cultivars and seeds having the highest primary germination ability had the most final germination percent before accelerated ageing and Sahel cultivar seed with the highest and moderate initial germination had the highest final germination percent after accelerated ageing. Sahel cultivar seeds had the highest normal seedlings percent after accelerated ageing. The highest decayed seeds percent before accelerated ageing belonged to Varamin and Mehr cultivars with moderate and low intial germination ability, and the highest decayed seeds percent after accelerated ageing belonged to Varamin and Mehr cultivars with low intial germination ability. Seeds having the lowest primary germination ability had the highest mean germination time and Sahel cultivar seeds had the highest seedling length and weight vigour indices. All studied cultivars seeds had been contaminated with Fusarium spp., Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp. and Trichothecium roseum. Also, Varamin and Mehr cultivars seeds had the highest and Sahel cultivar seeds had the lowest average frequency of fungus on decayed seeds. Final germination percent before and after accelerated ageing and seedling length and weight vigour indices had significant negative correlation with decayed seeds percent before and after accelerated ageing.
Conclusion: Seeds decay was the most important factor of studied cotton cultivars seed deterioration and germination and seedling vigour decrease. Sahel and Mehr cultivars seeds and seeds with the highest (95 percent) and lowest (80 percent) intial germination ability seeds respectively had the highest (91 percent) and lowest (58 percent) seed final germination percent and seedling vigour. Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp. on Mehr cultivar seeds, Fusarium spp. on Varamin cultivar seeds and Trichothecium roseum on Bakhtegan cultivars seeds with average frequency on decayed seeds after accelerated ageing of respectively 100, 99, 80.70 and 63 percent were the fungus that led to the most seeds germination and seedlings vigour decrease.

Highlights:

Cotton commercial cultivars seed lots seed borne fungi and contamination rate were identified.

The relationship of cotton commercial cultivars seeds germination percent and seedling vigour with contamination to seed borne fungi were determined

Assessment of Germination Characteristics and α and β Amylase Activity of Indian Cheese Maker (Withania coagulans) Seed in Response to Scarification and Potassium Nitrate

Seyed Ali Mohammad Modarres-Sanavy

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:

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

Determination of Cardinal Temperature and Evaluation of Germination Characteristics of Syrian Thistle (Notobasis syriaca) in Response to Temperature Range and Salinity and Drought Stresses

Ahmad Zare

Extended Abstract

Introduction: Notobasis (Syrian Thistle (has been introduced as a weed - medicinal plant. In Khuzestan province, the presence of Notobasis is abundant in cereal fields, especially field margins. For successful weed control, knowledge of weed biology and ecology (temperature, salinity and drought stresses) plays a key role in population dynamics of weeds and weed management. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate Syrian Thistle response to temperature, salinity and drought, as well as to determine the cardinal temperature based on segmented, beta-four-parameter and dent-like models.

Materials and Methods: To investigate the effect of temperature (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C), salinity (zero, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 mM) and drought stress (zero, 2) -0.0, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8, -1, -1.2 and -1.4 MPa). Three separate experiments were conducted in 2019 at agricultural science and natural resources university of Khuzestan at the laboratory of weed science with 6 replications. In each Petri dish, 25 seeds were placed and 7 ml of solution was added. In salinity and drought stresses experiments, sodium chloride solution and polyethylene glycol 6000 were used.
Results: Germination of Notobasis at temperatures of 5-30°C was more than 90%, and germination percent decreased to 24% as the temperature increased to 35°C, Based on three models segmented, beta 4 parameter and Dent-like, the Base temperature was estimated 2.95, 2.01 and 0.67°C respectively. Also, the optimum temperature in two models (segmented and beta parameter) was obtained 22.26 and 23.40°C respectively. Ceiling temperature was predicted 40.57, 39.75 and 40.03°C in three models (segmented, beta 4 parameter and Dent- like). Salinity required to reduce 50% of germination percentage, germination rate, seedling length and seedling fresh weight were 152, 85, 151 and 127 mM. 50% reduction of traits such as germination percent, germination rate, seedling length and seedling fresh weight were -0.81, -0.41, -0.43 and -0.45 MPa of drought stress respectively.
Conclusion: The results indicated that Notobasis had germination in a wide range of temperatures (5-35°C). In response to environmental stress, Notobasis have been identified as a weed resistant to salinity and drought stresses. Therefore, the presence of this weed in saline fields and arid areas is not unexpected.

Highlights:
1-To determine of cardinal temperature of Notobasis based on different models.
2-To evaluate germination ecology of Notobasis to environmental factors (temperature, salinity and drought stress) as the first report.

Interaction of Magnetic Field and Dormancy Breaking Treatments on Germination and Seedling Growth of Some weed Species

Marjan Diyanat

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Seed dormancy is the most important factor that prevents weed seed germination. Lack of simultaneous germination of weed seeds causes a number of problems in their control due to seed dormancy in the fields; therefore, weed seed dormancy is considered to be an undesirable trait for farmers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of magnetic field on seed dormancy elimination in some weed species.
Material and Methods: In order to study the effect of Magnetic field on germination and seedling growth of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), spring wild oat (Avena fatua) and common purslane (Portulaca oleraceae), a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design was conducted at the Ecology laboratory of Science Research Branch, Islamic Azad University in 2019. Factors consisted of dormancy breaking treatment at 8 levels (gibberellic acid 1000 mg/l for 20 minutes, gibberellic acid 2000 mg/l for 20 minutes, sulfuric acid for 5 minutes, sulfuric acid for 10 minutes, sulfuric acid for 20 minutes, nitrate potassium at 0.01 g/L, nitrate potassium at 0.05 g/L and control) and magnetic field at 4 levels (0, 25, 50 and 100 mT).
Results: Results showed that responses of three weed species to magnetic field were different. Magnetic field increased percentage of germination, fresh weight of plumule and length of plumule of redroot pigweed, so magnetic field at 100 mT was the best treatment for dormancy breaking. The highest germination percentage of wild oat was obtained in 0.01 mM potassium nitrate at 50 mT. The length plumule of wild oat increased significantly at 2000 mg/l gibberellic acid with increasing magnetic field level from zero to 25 mM. Nitrate potassium at 0.05 g/L was the best treatment for breaking the dormancy of common purslane. Magnetic field at 100 mT could increase percentage of germination of this weed.
Conclusion: In general, the results of this study showed that sulfuric acid treatment was not a suitable option for the removal of dormancy in the three weed species because of the elimination of seed embryos. Magnetic field treatment significantly increased the studied traits in all three species of redroot pigweed, spring wild oat and purslane. The interaction between dormancy breaking treatment and magnetic field was significant in many of the studied traits and the effect of dormancy breaking treatment was intensified by magnetic field. Therefore, the use of magnetic field treatment is recommended to increase the germination of these three species.

Highlights:
1- There is a positive and significant interaction between seed dormancy elimination treatments and magnetic field.
2- Sulfuric acid treatment is not a suitable option for breaking the dormancy of redroot pigweed, spring wild oat and purslane.

Quantification of Tuber Sprouting of Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) Response Against Temperature Using Thermal Time Models

Mehdi Rastgoo

Extended abstract
Introduction: Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) is one of the problematic weeds worldwide prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Tubers are major tools through which purple nutsedge is propagated, whereas its seeds have a low ability to germinate. Therefore, evaluation of the response of tubers against environmental agents is great of importance to know the germination and emergence time. Germination, in turn, is mostly affected by temperature, among other environmental factors. Various models that are recognized as the Thermal Time model have been introduced to describe the seed germination pattern against temperature. Since predicting the emergence of reproductive organs through the modeling is great of importance for improving the control strategies; the present study was carried out to investigate the response of tuber sprouting of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) against temperature using thermal time models.
Material and methods: The experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design with three replications in a germinator. Each replicate was placed on a separate shelf. For each replicate, 15 tubers were placed inside a 20 cm Petri dish on a filter paper and then 100 ml of water was added. The experiment was performed separately for constant temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C in absolute darkness. To analyze the data as modeling, five thermal time models were evaluated based on the statistical distributions of normal, Weibull, Gumble, logistic and log logistic. Indices such as R², RMSE, RMSE%, and AICc were used to evaluate the models.
Results: The results showed that all models predicted the germination response of purple nutsedge tuber with high accuracy (R² = 0.95). A comparison of models based on AICc values showed significant superiority of the Gumble model over other models. According to this index, there was no difference between logistic and log logistic models with normal. Among the models, Weibull was identified as the most inappropriate model. Different models estimated the final germination (Gmax) between 0.93 to 0.94 (93 to 94%). The base temperature was estimated through different models from 7.10 to 7.47 °C. Among the models, the model based on the Gumble distribution proved the skew to the right of the thermal time and Tm. According to the Gumble model, the thermal time parameters required to reach 50% germination (θT (50)) equals 123.8 ° C day and the maximum temperature for germination at 50% probability (Tc (50)) was estimated to be 46.10 ° C.
Conclusion: the thermal time model based on the Gumble probability distribution was most plausible among the models. Also, a distributed right skewness related to the thermal time and Tm was proved through the Gumble model. The parameters obtained from the Gumble model can be used to predict the sprouting of purple nutsedge tubers.

Highlights:

Thermal time models were evaluated for prediction of tuber sprouting of purple nutsedge.
The thermal time model based on the Gumble distribution was superior over the normal distribution.
Thermal time and Tm for tuber sprouting of purple nutsedge were distributed as right skewness.

Effect of Water Deficit Stress and Foliar Application of Maternal Plant on Germination Characteristics of Three Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Cultivars

Mehrdad Mahlooji

Extended abstract
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.

Highlights:

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.

Seed Coating of Satureja (Satureja hortensis) By Several Materials and Selecting the Suitable Method for Improvement of Seed Germination

Abbas Dehshiri

Extended abstract
Introduction: Small size of Satureja (Satureja hortensis L.) seed causes many problems in mechanized cultivation and its seed consumption is increased significantly. The approach discussed in the present study is the seed coating of Satureja by several matters and selecting the suitable method as well as investigation of adding hormonal and nutritional substances to the selected coating material for better emergence and the elimination of problem arise as a result of coating.
Materials and Methods: Purified Satureja seeds (97%) were prepared and poured into the coating machine at a specified amount. First, 1% solution of benomyl fungicide was sprayed on the seeds. Then some coating powder was sprayed on the spinning wet seeds inside the machine. Then some of the adhesive solution was sprayed on it and again the coating powder was added and this was repeated several times to create a suitable form for the coated seeds. This was repeated using different materials and among these coatings powder, vermiculite and perlite provided better coating on Satureja seed. Then, different materials including gibberellin, BAP, cytokinin, thiourea (CH₄N₂S) and potassium nitrate (KNO₃), phosphorus from H₂PO₄ source and manganese sulfate (MnSO₄) were used to the emergence of the enlarged seeds and also, the emergence of these seeds were evaluated in the greenhouse.
Results: Initial results showed that vermiculite and perlite provided better cover for Satureja compared with the other coating materials. Investigating the emergence of perlite-coated seeds in the greenhouse showed that gibberellin (all concentrations) and kinetin (500 mg/l) present in the seed coat improved the Satureja seed emergence under greenhouse condition. Also, it was found that Thiourea (700 and 7000 mg/l), potassium nitrate (7, 70, 700 mg/l), phosphorous (9 kg/100 kg seed) and manganese sulphate (2 and 4 mg/l) present in the coat significantly increased the Satureja seed emergence and led to improved seedling growth.
Conclusion: Perlite for the purpose of seed pelleting of Satureja showed good results and the use of gibberellin (at all concentrations) and quintine (500 mg/l) in the seed pelleting improved germination of pelleted Satureja seed.

Highlights:
1- Technical knowledge of Satureja seed pelleting was obtained.
2- The suitable material to improve the emergence of pelleted Satureja seed was introduced.

Evaluation of Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) Maneh-Samalghan Ecotype Seed Response to Temperature and Light

Majid Rahimizadeh

Extended abstract
Introduction: Velvetleaf is one of the most important weeds of cotton, corn, tomato, and soybean fields. Certainly, knowledge of weed seed response to environmental factors (light and temperature) is essential for better understanding the germination mechanism and establishment patterns of weeds community. The present study aimed to evaluate the interaction between light regimes and alternate temperature on the seed germination of velvetleaf.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted in 2015 at the plant physiology laboratory of Bojnourd Branch, IAU. This study was performed as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. The treatments were temperature regimes at four levels (constant temperatures 25°C, alternating temperatures 25-15, 30-20 and 35-25°C) and photoperiod treatments at three levels (continuous darkness, 12-12 light and dark and 16-8 light and dark). Germination percentage, germination rate, germination uniformity, time to 10% germination, and time to 90% germination were evaluated by the Germin program.
Results: The results showed that all traits were affected by temperature and light. Velvetleaf seeds germinated better in the presence of light and alternating temperature. The percentage and rate of germination increased as temperature rised to 30°c and then decreased. However, seed reaction to the night temperature was higher than that of the day temperature. The highest germination percent (98 percent) was achieved under alternating temperature 25-15°C with 12-12h light-dark. In this study, the lowest time required for 10% and 90% germination and highest germination uniformity were observed under alternating temperatures 30-20°C in darkness.
Conclusion: According to the results of this experiment, velvetleaf seeds are able to germinate in a wide range of light and temperature conditions, although they germinate better in the presence of light and alternate temperatures. Therefore, plowing with a moldboard plow can stimulate germination and drain the soil seed bank.

Highlights:
1- Since light stimulates the germination of velvetleaf seeds, so no-tillage system is able to control this weed.
2- Increasing the environment temperature reduces the chance of germination of velvetleaf seeds.

The Effect of Hormone Seed Priming Using Gibberellic Acid on Seed Germination Characteristics and Seedling Growth of Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Abdolreza Sihampoosh

Extended Abstract
Introduction: Coneflower herbal medicinal plant is from the Asteraceae family, native to North America. Because of its immune-boosting properties, it is used to treat a variety of pathogens. The seed germination stage is one of the crucial and crucial stages in the growth cycle of plant species that can play an important role in the production process by optimal establishment of seedlings. Seed of Coneflower germinates and grows very slowly and weakly. Therefore, the use of some plant growth regulators, such as the gibberellin hormone, can play an important role in improving seed germination. The aim of this study was investigate the effect of hormone seed priming using gibberellin on seed germination quality of Coneflower.
Material and Methods: A factorial experiment was conducted based on the complete randomized design arranged with three replications. The experiment was conducted at the seed technology laboratory of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, 2018. Experimental treatments were different concentrations of gibberellin (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/l) as the first factor and the durations of seed priming (12, 24, and 48 hour) as the second factor.
Results: Results of in vitro studies showed that the interaction of gibberellin in priming time on percentage, rate and mean germination time, root and shoot length, seed vigor index, peroxidase activity at 1% and Seed soluble protein content was significant at 5% level. Seed germination quality and protein content increased by the application of 200 mg/l gibberellin for the 24 hours, whereas at the concentrations of 400 and 800 mg/l, gibberellin reduced germination quality and antioxidant enzymes activities. Results of stepwise regression models of antioxidant enzymes activity and protein content with germination indices showed that these traits were significantly entered into the prediction model. It was observed that in all traits except for the rate and the mean germination time, the amount of protein entered the prediction equation. In general, stepwise regression models predicted stem length and power index better than other traits and showed the highest coefficients in these traits with values of 0.85 and 0.83. Also, catalase and peroxidase activities were significantly correlated with rate and mean germination time only. The amount of soluble protein had a positive and significant correlation with all studied traits except germination rate and mean germination time. The highest correlation coefficients for protein content were obtained from longitudinal power index with correlation coefficient (r = 0.856).
Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, the best hormone priming treatment was 200 mg/l gibberellin for the durations of 24 hour.

Highlights:
1- The role of gibberellin hormone on seed germination traits Coneflower was evaluated
2- The effect of gibberellin hormone on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and soluble proteins during seed germination was investigated.