Abstract
Seed security is of prime importance for agriculture. To protect true seeds from being faked, more secure dual anti-counterfeiting technologies for tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) pelleted seed were developed in this paper. Fluorescein (FR), rhodamine B (RB), and magnetic powder (MP) were used as anti-counterfeiting labels. According to their different properties and the special seed pelleting process, four dual-labeling treatments were conducted for two tobacco varieties, MS Yunyan85 (MSYY85) and Honghua Dajinyuan (HHDJY). Then the seed germination and seedling growth status were investigated, and the fluorescence in cracked pellets and developing seedlings was observed under different excitation lights. The results showed that FR, RB, and MP had no negative effects on the germination, seedling growth, and MDA content of the pelleted seeds, and even some treatments significantly enhanced seedling dry weight, vigor index, and shoot height in MS YY85, and increased SOD activity and chlorophyll content in HHDJY as compared to the control. In addition, the cotyledon tip of seedlings treated with FR and MP together represented bright green fluorescence under illumination of blue light (478 nm). And the seedling cotyledon vein treated with RB and MP together showed red fluorescence under green light (546 nm). All seeds pelleted with magnetic powder of proper concentration could be attracted by a magnet. Thus, it indicated that those new dual-labeling methods that fluorescent compound and magnetic powder simultaneously applied in the same seed pellets definitely improved anti-counterfeiting technology and enhanced the seed security. This technology will ensure that high quality seed will be used in the crop production.
Highlights
High quality seed is one of important factors that determine the potential for rapid and homogenous germination, which providing both economical and environmental benefits in agriculture and horticulture, as they allow for higher degrees of automation, easier weed control and a reduction of disease pressure in the field [1]
According to our previous results, the suitable magnetic powder concentration for seed pelleting was from 2% to 8%, and that adding magnetic powders to the second layer of pellets was the better treatment [33]
The 10:100 was considered as the more suitable proportion for FR to be used on tobacco seeds [19], and the talc powder has less influence on the fluorescence of FR than bentonite
Summary
High quality seed is one of important factors that determine the potential for rapid and homogenous germination, which providing both economical and environmental benefits in agriculture and horticulture, as they allow for higher degrees of automation, easier weed control and a reduction of disease pressure in the field [1]. Most of small seeds such as tobacco, flower and vegetable seeds, usually have high-value and large-profit It is very common and useful for increasing the size of small or fine seeds though pelleting technology to produce bigger, rounder, smoother and more uniformly-sized coated products [3]. The combined application of fluorescent dye and magnetic powder on pelleted seed as dual anti-counterfeiting labels had not been reported up to now. For dual-label pelleting technologies, two markers will increase the difficulty of imitation; in addition, appropriate ratio of magnetic powder could accelerate seed germination and seedling growth [23]. The present investigation was conducted to provide some new approaches by using dual anti-counterfeiting labels for enhancing the security of pelleted seed and for further ensuring the seed quality. Some physiological parameters were determined to test the effect of this novel method on seed germination and seedling growth
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