Carrot Seeds Research Articles

Development of a Cell-Type Cylindrical Carrot Seeder

Planting the required number of carrot seeds is one of the important parameters in developing a carrot seeding device. This study developed a metering mechanism that promotes the deposition of < 3 carrot seeds on each planting hill at negligible seed damage. The metering disc and hopper are designed to ensure consistency and uniformity in both the loading of seeds into the seed cell and their discharge onto the planting hills. Specifically, the clearance between the metering disc and the hopper was strategically designed to scrape excess seeds from the seed cells and allow them to freely slide back into the hopper without being damaged. The seeder’s performance was evaluated by examining the number of seeds dropped per hill, scattering index, hill diameter, hill spacing, and missing index across various operating speeds (60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 cm/s). Results of evaluation showed that the seeder performed better when operated at 80 to 120 cm/s with an average number of seeds dropped per hill ranging from 1.70 to 1.81 seeds. The mean hill spacing between hills ranged from 10.98 to 13.50 cm at speeds below 120 cm/s. At an increased speed of 140 cm/s, the mean hill spacing and missing index were 23.06 cm and 53.33 %, respectively. Additionally, the scattering index decreased at a higher operating speed. The developed metering mechanism effectively enhanced the efficiency of the seeder.

Determining Light Conditions for Improved Carrot Seed Germination in a Closed-type Plant Factory

Determining Light Conditions for Improved Carrot Seed Germination in a Closed-type Plant Factory

Hydrogen sulfide alleviates cadmium stress in germinating carrot seeds by promoting the accumulation of proline

Carrot (Daucus carota L.), a widely cultivated economically vegetable from the Apiaceae family, is grown globally. However, carrots can be adversely impacted by cadmium (Cd) pollution in the soil due to its propensity to accumulate in the fleshy root, thus impeding carrot growth and posing health hazards to consumers. Given the potential of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to improve plant resistance against Cd stress, we treated germinating carrot seeds with varying concentrations of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), aiming to alleviate the toxic impacts of Cd stress on carrot seed germination. The results revealed that carrot seeds treated with a concentration of 0.25 mM NaHS displayed better seed germination-associated characteristics compared to seeds treated with NaHS concentrations of 0.1 mM and 0.5 mM. Further investigation revealed a rise in the expression levels of L-cysteine desulfhydrase and D-cysteine desulfhydrase, along with enhanced activity of L-cysteine desulfhydrase and D-cysteine desulfhydrase among the NaHS treatment group, thereby leading to H2S accumulation. Moreover, NaHS treatment triggered the expression of pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase and pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase and promoted the accumulation of endogenous proline, while the contents of soluble sugar and soluble protein increased correspondingly. Interestingly, since the application of exogenous proline did not influence the accumulation of endogenous H2S, suggesting that H2S served as the upstream regulator of proline. Histochemical staining and biochemical indices revealed that NaHS treatment led to elevated antioxidant enzyme activity, alongside a suppression of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide generation. Furthermore, high performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that NaHS treatment reduced Cd2+ uptake, thereby promoting germination rate, seed vitality, and hypocotyl length of carrot seeds under Cd stress. Overall, our findings shed light on the application of NaHS to enhance carrot resistance against Cd stress and lay a foundation for exploring the regulatory role of H2S in plants responding to Cd stress.

Molasses-based waste water irrigation: a friend or foe for carrot (Daucus carota L.) growth, yield and nutritional quality

Management of molasses-based wastewater generated in yeast and sugar industries is a major environmental concern due to its high chemical oxygen demand and other recalcitrant substances. Several strategies have been used to reduce the inland discharge of wastewater but the results are not satisfactory due to high operating cost. However, reuse of molasses-based wastewater irrigation in agriculture has been a major interest nowadays to reduce the freshwater consumption. Thus, it is crucial to monitor the impacts of molasses-based waste water irrigation on growth, metabolism, yield and nutritional quality of crops for safer consumer’s health. In present study, carrot seeds of a local cultivar (T-29) were germinated on filter paper in Petri dishes under controlled conditions. The germinated seeds were then transplanted into pots and irrigated with three different treatments normal water (T0), diluted molasses-based wastewater (T1), and untreated molasses-based wastewater (T2), in six replicates. Results revealed that carrot irrigated with untreated molasses-based waste water had exhibited significant reductions in growth, yield, physiology, metabolism, and nutritional contents. Additionally, accumulation of Cd and Pb contents in carrot roots irrigated with untreated molasses-based waste water exceed the permissible limits suggested by WHO and their consumption may cause health risks. While, diluted molasses-based waste water irrigation positively enhanced the growth, yield of carrot plants without affecting the nutritional quality. This strategy is cost effective, appeared as most appropriate alternative mean to reduce the freshwater consumption in water deficit regions of the world.

Pre-sowing preparation of carrot seeds

Pre-sowing preparation of carrot seeds

Phenological and yield response of primed carrot (Daucus carota L) seeds under deficit irrigation

Seedling emergence and stand establishment of carrot seeds are often slow and erratic which results in low productivity. Poor seed quality together with lack of pre-sowing seed treatments and improper irrigation management can be mentioned as the major factors that influence the yield and productivity of carrot. The present study was carried out with the objective to evaluate the effects of different seed priming techniques on early seedling establishment, growth and yield of carrot (Daucus carota L. cultivated variety Nantes) exposed to different irrigation intervals, under field conditions at Gerado, South Wollo, Ethiopia. Four seed priming treatments (no priming, hydro priming, halo priming and hormonal priming) and three irrigation intervals (4, 7 and 10 days) were combined as factorial RCBD in split plot arrangement with three replications. The irrigation intervals were assigned to main plots and the seed priming techniques to sub plots. Result indicated that the interaction effects of priming techniques and irrigation intervals significantly affected the phenological and yield parameters. Distilled water treatment in seven and ten days irrigation interval recorded the highest marketable carrot root yields of 33.73 t h-1 and 30.63 t h-1, respectively. Hence, hydro priming and seven days irrigation interval can be recommended for the production of carrot in the study area and similar agro-ecologies. Given the promising results obtained, further repetitions of the study are recommended to validate the use of these techniques in further locations and in different seasons.

Seed priming with potassium nitrate alleviates the high temperature stress by modulating growth and antioxidant potential in carrot seeds and seedlings

Early season carrot (Daucus carota) production is being practiced in Punjab, Pakistan to meet the market demand but high temperature hampers the seed germination and seedling establishment which cause marked yield reduction. Seed priming with potassium nitrate breaks the seed dormancy and improves the seed germination and seedling growth potential but effects vary among the species and ecological conditions. The mechanism of KNO3 priming in high temperature stress tolerance is poorly understood yet. Thus, present study aimed to evaluate high temperature stress tolerance potential of carrot seeds primed with potassium nitrate and impacts on growth, physiological, and antioxidant defense systems. Carrot seeds of a local cultivar (T-29) were primed with various concentration of KNO3 (T0: unprimed (negative control), T1: hydroprimed (positive control), T2: 50 mM, T3:100mM, T4: 150 mM, T5: 200 mM, T6: 250 mM and T7: 300 mM) for 12 h each in darkness at 20 ± 2℃. Seed priming with 50 mM of KNO3 significantly enhanced the seed germination (36%), seedling growth (28%) with maximum seedling vigor (55%) and also exhibited 16.75% more carrot root biomass under high temperature stress as compared to respective control. Moreover, enzymatic activities including peroxidase, catalase, superoxidase dismutase, total phenolic contents, total antioxidants contents and physiological responses of plants were also improved in response to seed priming under high temperature stress. By increasing the level of KNO3, seed germination, growth and root biomass were reduced. These findings suggest that seed priming with 50 mM of KNO3 can be an effective strategy to improve germination, growth and yield of carrot cultivar (T-29) under high temperature stress in early cropping. This study also proposes that KNO3 may induces the stress memory by heritable modulations in chromosomal structure and methylation and acetylation of histones that may upregulate the hormonal and antioxidant activities to enhance the stress tolerance in plants.

DEVELOPMENTAL CONTROL OF SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS ON REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY AND RUDIMENTARY EMBRYOS PHENOMENON IN CARROT SEEDS

This study was aimed to investigate delayed germination and immature embryos of carrot seeds; This research was implemented at vegetable field of College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad during two sequent seasons (fall and spring). The experiment was conducted using factorial within Randomized Complete Block Design arrangement with three factors and replicates (3X3X2). The aqueous barley sprouts extract (B0, B1) (0, 100 g.L-1) represented the first factor. Trehalose (T0, T1, T2) (0, 50, 75 mmole.L-1) represented the second factor. Calcium (C0, C1, C2) (0, 1, 2 ml.L-1) represented the third factor. Results showed the effectiveness of third order interaction treatment B1T2C1 in increasing germination speed and percent for the seeds of royal umbel (92, 97%); secondary umbel (90.67, 94.67%); and tertiary umbel (75.68, 86.33%). The mentioned treatment increased embryo length for the seeds of primary (royal) umbel (1628.3 µm), secondary umbel (1620.3 µm); and tertiary umbel (874.7 µm ). in compare with the lowest percents that found in B0T0C2 treatment.

Effects of Nopal and Goat Manure on Soil Fertility and the Growth, Yield and Physical Characteristics of Tomato and Carrot Plants

Nopal (Opuntia) is a resource that is discarded after pruning complete cladodes. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the combined use of organic matter (nopal) and goat manure on changes in soil characteristics and on the growth and yield performance of carrot and tomato plants. Physicochemical analysis of the soil and goat manure was carried out, and germination tests and physical characterization of the plants and the products obtained were performed on tomato and carrot plants after adding the components of the cladodes alone and the cladodes with goat manure. The results showed that the application of the nopal cladode components increased the cation exchange capacity of the soil. The highest germination rate was obtained by the application of liquid nopal, with a 1.7-fold increase in the germination rate of carrot seeds, while that for tomato seeds was only 14%. Similar results were obtained for the germination percentage. An increase in resistance to water stress of approximately 15 days was observed in both tomato and carrot plants. Plant development and production were achieved in tomato, with a 100% increase in carrot plant length and a threefold increase in production. The addition of nopal to the soil improved the soil characteristics and the production yield of carrots and tomatoes.

Enzymatic loosening mechanism of endosperm weakening plays a key role in promoting carrot (Daucus carota L.) seed germination by hydro-electro hybrid priming

As an innovative physical priming technique, hydro-electro hybrid priming (HEHP) tends to significantly promote the seed germination of carrot. Endosperm weakening at micropylar endosperm is a critical regulatory mechanism for seed germination, but it is unclear whether it plays a role in promoting seed germination through HEHP treatment. In the present work, we conducted association analysis between transcriptome and proteome data of the previous studies and found that HEHP promoted the mannose metabolism in carrot seeds, with key enzymes involved in mannan degradation called β-mannanase (MAN) and the coding genes were both significantly upregulated in HEHP treatment. Based on this, the subcellular structure of micropylar endosperm, the activity of key enzymes in mannan degradation and the expression pattern of MAN coding genes during the germination process were further studied. The results showed that carrot seeds subjected to the priming treatments exhibited more significant endosperm weakening during germination, with significant degradation of the cell wall of micropylar endosperm, and among the three key enzymes involved in mannan degradation, only MAN activity showed significant differences at micropylar endosperm and non-micropylar endosperm. In addition, the priming treatments, especially the HEHP treatment, significantly upregulated the expression of MANs before sowing, and the expression levels of MANs at micropylar endosperm were significantly higher than those at non-micropylar endosperm. Ultimately, it is confirmed that the rapid germination of carrot seeds is closely related to the enzymatic loosening mechanism of endosperm weakening, and that MAN plays a key role in this process. The results ulteriorly deepen the understanding of the rapid germination mechanism of carrot seeds treated with HEHP.

Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils of seven Cultivated Apiaceae species

The Apiaceae family contains many species used as food, spice and medicinal purposes. Different parts of plants including seeds could be used to obtain essential (EO) oils from members of the Apiaceae family. In the present study, EOs were components obtained through hydrodistillation from the seeds of anise (Pimpinella anisum), carrot (Daucus carota), celery (Apium graveolens), dill (Anethum graveolens), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and cumin (Cuminum cyminum). EO constituents were determined with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and Gas Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and their antioxidant capacities were determined with the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) methods. The antimicrobial activity of EOs were tested against four pathogenic bacteria. Phenylpropanoids in anise (94.87%) and fennel (92.52%), oxygenated monoterpenes in dill (67.59%) and coriander (98.96%), monoterpene hydrocarbons in celery (75.42%), mono- (45.42%) and sesquiterpene- (43.25%) hydrocarbons in carrots, monoterpene hydrocarbon (34.30%) and aromatic hydrocarbons (32.92%) in cumin were the major compounds in the EOs. Anethole in anise and fennel, carotol in carrot, limonene in celery, carvone in dill, linalool in coriander, and cumin aldehyde in cumin were predominant compounds in these EOs. The high hydrocarbon content in cumin EO gave high CUPRAC activity (89.07 µmol Trolox g−1), and the moderate monoterpene hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpene content in dill EO resulted in higher DPPH activity (9.86 µmol Trolox g−1). The in vitro antibacterial activity of EOs against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli was evaluated using the agar diffusion method and the minimum bactericidal concentration was determined. Coriander, cumin and dill EOs showed inhibitory effect against all tested strains except P. aeruginosa. While fennel and celery EOs were effective against E. coli and B. cereus strains, respectively, anise and carrot EOs did not show any antibacterial effect against the tested bacteria. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) produced four groups based on EO constituents of seven species. The potential adoption of the cultivated Apiaceae species for EO extraction could be beneficial for the wild species that are endangered by over collection and consumption.

Eliminating the Pathogen Xanthomonas hortorum pv. carotae from Carrot Seeds Using Different Types of Nanoparticles

There exists a wide range of plant pathogens that are commonly referred to as seed-borne pathogens due to their dominant mode of spread. Treating seeds to eliminate such pathogens is therefore very important in contemporary seed production. In the present study, eight types of nanoparticles were evaluated for their effectiveness against Xanthomonas hortorum pv. carotae, a seed-borne pathogen that affects plants of the Apiaceae family. Initially, parameters considering the inhibitory and bactericidal activity of individual nanoparticles were evaluated under in vitro conditions. In this way, three nanoparticles based on copper, silver, and silver/selenium composite were identified as being the most effective. Subsequently, their ability to eliminate Xanthomonas hortorum pv. carotae from artificially infected carrot seeds was tested. This was achieved through the qPCR quantification of the pathogen in 14-day-old plantlets developed from seeds inoculated with Xhc. Based on the obtained results, copper-based nanoparticles were the most effective, resulting in an approximately 10-fold decrease in the occurrence of Xhc in plantlets compared to the untreated control. Taking into account the fact that X. hortorum pathovars also attack other important horticultural crops, the presented results may have a much wider scope than just carrot seeds.

Physico and Phyto-chemical Evaluation of Seeds and their Extracted Crude Oil’s Characteristic of a Nutritionally important plant Daucus carota Linn

Carrot seed oil and carrot seed essential oil are distinctively different from one another. Carrot seed oil is pressed from wild carrot seeds, while carrot seed essential oil is steam-distilled and may come from either the seeds or the carrot itself. It has a unique aroma, but carrot seed oil may be found in many formulas dealing with skin conditions ranging from revitalizing and toning to eczema and can also be directly on the skin as another way to take advantage of its many benefits e. g. analgesic, androgenic, anti-Alzheimer, anorexic, anti-arcane, anti-aging anti-asthmatic activity. The present study has been taken up to establish the physical and phytochemical properties of carrot (Daucus carota L.) seeds and their oil which was extracted in the laboratory with the help of Soxhlet apparatus. The seeds were evaluated for successive extractive values, moisture content, crude protein, crude fiber, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, total carbohydrate, essential oil, mineral contents, and weight of 1000 seeds. Also, relative density, refractive index, free fatty acids, peroxide value, iodine value, saponification number, and unsaponifiable matter were determined in the seed oil. Other parameters studied, arefluorescence behaviour, qualitative and quantitative analysis of inorganic and phytoconstituents etc. Besides, thin layer chromatography of different solvent extracts of seeds and their oil was also reported in the present study. The fatty acids identified by gas chromatography were oleic (5.21%), linoleic (11.5%), palmitic (13.50%), and stearic (3.50%) acids. The yield of essential and crude oil from carrot seeds was established as 0.83% and 6.50% respectively.

Reuse of Treated Wastewater for Crop Irrigation: Water Suitability, Fertilization Potential, and Impact on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties

This study evaluates the suitability of treated wastewater (TWW: secondary effluent and membrane effluent) for crop irrigation and the resultant impact on crop growth and soil physicochemical characteristics. Carrot seeds (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) were grown on loam soil and irrigated with tap water (Tap), secondary effluent (SE), and membrane effluent (ME) until maturity. Bacteriological analyses showed four log counts of E. coli and thermotolerant coliforms for secondary effluent, making it unsafe for the irrigation of carrots. Tap water and membrane effluent fulfilled the microbial limit for water reuse and were suitable for irrigation. The sodium absorption ratio, Kelly index, and magnesium hazard assessments indicated that all three irrigation water streams were suitable for irrigation. The average mass of carrot fruits for Tap, SE, and ME was 2.14 g, 3.96 g, and 3.03 g, respectively. A similar trend was observed for the dry matter composition: Tap had 15.9%, SE had 18.3%, and ME had 16.6%. The soil pH increased from 7.08 to 7.26, 7.39, and 7.33 for tap water-, secondary effluent-, and membrane effluent-irrigated soils, respectively. Nitrate-nitrogen and potassium levels increased in the TWW-irrigated soil, while that of the tap water-irrigated soil decreased. Sodium levels in the TWW-irrigated soil increased significantly but did not induce soil sodicity. The application of the TWW enhanced the growth of the carrot plants and increased the soil nutrient levels. Hence, using TWW in agricultural irrigation could promote food production and also limit the overdependency on freshwater resources. However, TWW should be disinfected by using UV disinfection and ozonation to reduce the risk of microbial contamination. Such disinfection methods may not lead to the formation of toxic byproducts, and therefore secondary pollution to crops is not anticipated.

Influence of plant species, mycorrhizal inoculant, and soil phosphorus level on arbuscular mycorrhizal communities in onion and carrot roots.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ancient and ecologically important symbionts that colonize plant roots. These symbionts assist in the uptake of water and nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from the soil. This important role has led to the development of AMF inoculants for use as biofertilizers in agriculture. Commercial mycorrhizal inoculants are increasingly popular to produce onion and carrot, but their specific effects on native mycorrhizal communities under field conditions are not known. Furthermore, adequate availability of nutrients in soils, specifically phosphorus, can reduce the diversity and abundance of AMF communities in the roots. The type of crop grown can also influence the composition of AMF communities colonizing the plant roots. This study aimed to investigate how AMF inoculants, soil phosphorus levels, and plant species influence the diversity of AMF communities that colonize the roots of onion and carrot plants. Field trials were conducted on high organic matter (muck) soil in the Holland Marsh, Ontario, Canada. The treatments included AMF-coated seeds (three to five propagules of Rhizophagus irregularis per seed) and non-treated onion and carrot seeds grown in soil with low (~46 ppm) and high (~78 ppm) phosphorus levels. The mycorrhizal communities colonizing the onion and carrot roots were identified by Illumina sequencing. Five genera, Diversispora, Claroideoglomus, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, and Glomus, were identified in roots of both plant species. AMF communities colonizing carrot roots were more diverse and richer than those colonizing onion roots. Diversispora and Funneliformis had a 1.3-fold and 2.9-fold greater abundance, respectively, in onion roots compared to carrots. Claroideoglomus was 1.4-fold more abundant in carrot roots than in onions. Inoculation with R. irregularis increased the abundance and richness of Rhizophagus in AMF communities of onion roots but not in carrot roots. The soil phosphorus level had no effect on the richness and diversity of AMF in the roots of either crop. In summary, AMF inoculant and soil phosphorus levels influenced the composition of AMF communities colonizing the roots of onion and carrot plants, but the effects varied between plant species.

Biljke u prirodnoj kozmetici

The paper gives an overview of the development of cosmetics through history, then shows some of the plant species and their parts that are most often used or included in cosmetic preparations. The list comprises the following plant species: Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Calendula officinalis L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Lavandula officinalis L., Cucumis sativus L., Daucus carotа L., and Malaleuca alternifolia (Maiden &amp; Betche) Cheel, as well as their parts used for the preparation of cosmetic preparations: aloe leaves, marigold flowers, chamomile flowers, rosemary herba, lavender herba, cucumber fruits, carrot seeds, and tea tree leaves. The cosmetic preparation of the mentioned plant species are mostly based on their extracts, macerates or essential oils. Also, the cold-pressed fatty oils from the following plant species are widely used in cosmetics: olive oil obtained from the fruits of Olea europaea L., almond oil from the seeds of Prunus dulcis Mill. D. A. Webb, coconut oil from the fruit or seed of the coconut palm – Cocos nucifera L., sunflower oil from the seeds of Helianthus annuus L., and grape seed oil from the seeds of Vitis vinifera L.

Growth and yield of carrot (Daucus carota L.) as influenced by seed priming

The research work was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of the School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, from October 2021 to February 2022 to examine the influence of seed priming on the growth and yield of carrots in the Punjab region. The experiment was conducted using a two-factorial randomized block design replicated thrice. The first factor consisted of fourteen priming agents (T1- Zinc (ZnSO4 at 1%), T2- GA3 (50 ppm), T3- GA3 (100 ppm), T4- Cinnamon (10%), T5- Cinnamon (15%), T6- Coconut water (5%), T7- Coconut water (12.5%), T8- Panchagavya (3%), T9- Panchagavya (5%), T10- KNO3 (0.5%), T11- KCl (1%), T12- Cow urine (2%), T13- Cow urine (5%), T14- Water) and one control (T15- Unprimed seeds). The second factor comprised two commercial cultivars, namely, V1- Carrot Deep Red and V2- Black Wonder. Results revealed that the application of 100 ppm GA3, Panchagavya (5%), cow urine (2%), and coconut water (5%) as priming agents in carrots had better growth and yield as compared to the remaining treatments. Therefore, priming carrot seeds could be recommended as an effective method to improve the performance of the plants in terms of both growth and yield attributes.

Determination of Effects the Different Holes Position in the Vacuum Discs of Pneumatic Precision Vegetable Planters on Emergence and Uniform Plant Distribution in Black Carrot Production

The objective of this study was to determine the seed releasing characteristics of seed metering discs used in the precision seeding of black carrot seeds. High precision vegetable seeder was tested in the field conditions using black carrot seeds in Kuzukuyu village of Ereğli-Konya in 2018. Three different seed metering discs that have holes in three different circle positions were used in the experiments. These applications referred to seeding techniques, ST1, ST2 and ST3. The seed metering discs with three trajectories, each diameter was 210, 185, and 155 mm respectively. Each trajectory on vacuum plate using in ST1 had equal number of holes (96 holes), while P1 and P2 hole positions had same number of holes in ST2 ve ST3, however, 25% and 50% decrease in the number of holes in the P3 (bottom hole position), respectively. The downforce on the press wheel was kept constant throughout all trials. In these three different seeding techniques, the planting performance of the machine under field conditions was evaluated and the coefficient of variation values expressing the seed distribution uniformity, mean of the emergence rates were determined. According to the results, the mean of emergence rates and coefficient variation values were determined as %59.86 ve %76.84, %68.91 ve %75.31, %66.26 ve %72.48for ST1, ST2 ve ST3, respectively. Given hole positions (planting rows), emergence rates and CV values were obtained %59.71 ve %81.94 for P1, %62.69 ve %74.49 for P2 and %72.60 ve %68.20 for P3.

Germination Parameters of Different Types of Black Carrot Seeds of Ereğli Local Population

Consumer interest in healthy foodstuffs and vegetables has continuously been increasing. In this sense, quality has become a prominent issue in production, consumption and marketing of vegetables. Seeds and planting processes significantly affect quality of vegetables. Black carrot production is an important source of income for local farmers of Ereğli and Karapınar Districts of Konya province. Bare seeds of Ereğli local population are commonly used in black carrot production. Farmers produce their own seeds. These seeds undergo only one sieving and are not calibrated. In this study, uncalibrated bare, calibrated and coated seeds were planted and germination parameters were investigated. Experiments were conducted in Kuzukuyu village of Ereğli District, at three different planting distances (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 cm) in randomized blocks design (3x3) with 3 replications. Planting was done in three rows on a ridge (with 7.5 cm row spacing) at a forward speed of 0.64 m s-1. Mean germination time was calculated as 19.90 days for uncalibrated bare seeds, 20.14 days for calibrated bare seeds and 20.79 days for coated seeds; germination rate index values were respectively calculated as 0.431, 0.761 and 0.656 [seeds (m days)-1]; field emergence rates were respectively calculated as 37.13%, 60.97% and 55.19%; number of plants per unit area were respectively determined as 42.35, 69.14 and 59.61 plants m-2. It was concluded based on present findings that calibrated bare and coated seeds should be used in planting process of black carrot seeds of Ereğli local population. Farmers should be trained on black carrot seed production.

Physiology of carrot seeds treated with red seaweed biostimulant and exposed to different temperatures and salinity

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is a horticulture crop species with economic importance. The performance of this crop can be improved with the use of seaweed extracts, which are a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers and biostimulants. Few studies have been performed aiming to determine the effects of algae-based biostimulants, especially red algae of the genus Solieria, on seed treatment and physiology. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of seed treatment with Solieria filiformis algal biostimulant for improving the physiological potential of carrot seeds of Brasilia Irecê and Nantes cultivars. Carrot seeds of both cultivars were treated with 0, 1, 2, and 4 mL L−1 of the biostimulant, after which they were subjected to germination and seedling growth evaluation at different temperatures and salinities. The results were analyzed by analysis of variance, Tukey’s test, and regression. It was observed that 30 °C temperature reduced carrot germination and seedling growth for the cultivars. No dose of red algae biostimulant improved germination of carrot seeds under both adequate and stress conditions of temperature and salinity for the cultivars analyzed.