Germination and the Initial Seedling Growth of Lettuce, Celeriac and Wheat Cultivars after Micronutrient and a Biological Application Pre-Sowing Seed Treatment.

Dobrivoj Poštić,Tatjana Popović,Ana Ćirić,Nevena Banjac,Nenad Trkulja,Rade Stanisavljević,Ratibor Štrbanović,Marijenka Tabaković

doi:10.3390/plants10091913

Abstract

Seed treatments with zinc, boron, biostimulant Coveron and MIX (zinc + boron + Coveron) were applied to three lettuce and three celeriac cultivars. Seeds of three wheat cultivars were treated under laboratory conditions with Trichoderma harzianum and eight Bacillus spp. Seed germination, seedling growth, and the presence of the following pathogens were determined: Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp., and Mucor sp. The Coveron treatment was the most effective on lettuce seeds tested in the germination cabinet. Seed germination was higher by 4% than in the control. Alternatively, germination of seeds treated with boron in the greenhouse was higher by 12% than in the control. The Coveron treatment had the highest effect on the shoot length, which was greater by 0.7 and 2.1 cm in the germination cabinet and the greenhouse, respectively. This treatment was also the most effective on the root length. Zn, B, and MIX treatments increased celeriac seed germination by 14% in the germination cabinet. The Zn treatment was the most efficient on seeds tested in the greenhouse. The germination was higher by 15%. A significant cultivar × treatment interaction was determined in both observed species under both conditions. The maximum effect on wheat seed germination (8%) was achieved with the T. harzianum treatment in the Salazar cultivar. A significant interdependence (p ≤ 0.01 to p ≤ 0.001) was established between seed germination and the seedling growth. The interrelationship between seed germination and pathogens of all cultivars was negative.

Highlights

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a plant species of the family Asteraceae
During the filling period and grain maturity, the weather conditions in the two-year testing period were similar on plots for lettuce, celeriac, and wheat production, which probably affected the year without affecting seed germination and seedling quality
Tukey’s multiple range test, significant effect p ≤ 0.05, different small letters, a, b . . . x, values are mean ± standard error of the mean, Coveron −, MIX −

Summary

Introduction

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a plant species of the family Asteraceae. World production of lettuce is about 21 million tonnes per year, mainly under temperate climatic conditions [1]. The leaf stalks, leaves, and roots are used as the ingredient in soups, salads, and various other side dishes. It has diuretic, antiseptic, anti-allergy, and anti-inflammatory effects [3]. Antiseptic, anti-allergy, and anti-inflammatory effects [3] It has medicinal properties for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, and liver diseases in humans [4]

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