Germination and vigour of seed of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) treated with Arsenicum album

Abstract

Rosimar Maria Marques1; Bruno Reis1; Anielen C. Tormena Cavazin1; Flávia Carolina Moreira1; Monica G. Buchoski1; Hingrid Ariane Silva1; Mayara A. Lois1; Carlos Moacir Bonato1*
 
 1Universidade Estadual de Maringá – UEM
 
 1* Orientador – cmbonato@uem.br
 
 Introduction: The accelerated aging test evaluates the behavior of seeds exposed to stress conditions based on the fact that the rate of deterioration is considerably increased by exposure to high temperature and relative humidity [1]. The knowledge acquired in homeopathic science is experimental research on healthy living organisms that are undergoing experimentation using homeopathic medicines [2]. The experimental research on homeopathic plants has been performed in Europe, Mexico, India and Brazil, proving that the principle of homeopathy, as set out in the animal kingdom has been found in plants [3]. This experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of the homeopathic Arsenicum album in decimal (x) and centesimal (cH) scale on the physiological variables of the germination and growth of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) subjected to accelerated aging.
 
 Materials and methods: The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Homeopathy, Universidade Estadual de Maringá - UEM. Arsenicum album 6x and 2CH matrices were acquired in homeopathic pharmacy. From matrices were prepared further dynamizations in decimal (x) and centesimal (C) scale, according to the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia [4]. In the accelerated aging test were used samples of 200 seeds per treatment distributed evenly forming a single layer on the surfaces of metal wire suspended inside the plastic box containing inside 40ml of Arsenicum album (9, 12, 18, or 30x 24 and 9, 12, 18, 24 or 30C). The control consisted of distilled water. The boxes were placed in BOD-chamber adjusted to 42°C and relative humidity 100% for 96 hours. After this period, led to the germination test, using four replicates of 50 seeds, totalizing 52 experimental units which were placed on germination paper previously soaked with distilled water in an amount equivalent to 2.5 times the paper weight[5]. The rolls were arranged randomly in the BOD-chamber at 25°C±2. The interpretation of the test was performed after seven days [6]. Germination percentage (% PG) was determined according to the Rules for Seed Analysis [5]. The length of primary roots (PRL) and hypocotyl (LH) were only performed in normal seedlings. The total length of the radicle (TLR) was calculated as the sum of the lengths of hypocotyl and primary root. The experimental design was completely randomized. We adopted the double-blind procedure, avoiding possible interference from the researcher. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared by Scott-Knott test (P ≤ 0.05).
 
 Results: Arsenicum album 9x, 9CH and 12CH reduced the percentage of germination (%PG) (Figure 1A). The highest values in the length of hypocotyl (LH) ​​were observed in 12 and 24x dilutions, followed by a reduction in intermediate and higher inhibition at 30x and 9x. The 18x does not differ from control. All centesimal dilution presented effect on the variable analyzed. There was an increase in hypocotyl length in the 12, 18 and 24 dilutions, and reduction in 9 and 30 cH dilutions (Figure 1B). The primary root length (PRL) of sorghum was increased in dilutions 18 and 30x. However, the centesimal dilutions were not different from control (Figure 1C). There was an increase in the total length of the seedlings (TLS) in the dilutions 18, 24 and 30x and reduction in 9x when compared to control. As for centesimal dilutions, there was an effect only in 18cH. The other centesimal dilutions were not different from control (Figure 1D).
 
 Conclusions: In general, homeopathic preparations did not affect the germination percentage except for 9x, and 9cH 12cH dilution. Furthermore, the dilutions reduced the effects on premature aging verified by high values ​​of growth variables. These results suggest that high dilution Arsenicum album can be an alternative to minimize the deleterious effect to high temperature.