Enrichment Of Seeds Research Articles

The Dependence of Photosynthetic Indices and the Yield of Spring Rape on Foliar Fertilization with Microfertilizers

Application of fertilizers is included today into the cultivation intensive technologies, as one of the basic components providing for high crop yield. Today, the minimal tillage is widely used, which significantly reduces the choice of fertilizer application method in comparison with classical fertilizers. Therefore, the competent use of the remaining methods of feeding field crops becomes very important. An innovative solution to this problem is the use of foliar fertilization in agrotechnologies. The use of microfertilizers in the form of foliar fertilizers makes it possible to provide plants with the necessary set of microelements during the formation of reproductive organs, leading to the enrichment of seeds of agricultural crops with microelements, which has a positive effect on the seed material. As a result of the researches lead by us it has been established that the application of new microfertilizers (Brassitrel and Bortrac) contributed to an increase in such biometric parameters of spring rape as the number of pods and runaways, the number of grains in a pod, which in turn increased the yield.

Tracking wind-dispersed seeds using (15)N-isotope enrichment.

Seed dispersal influences a wide range of ecological processes. However, measuring dispersal patterns, particularly long-distance dispersal, has been a difficult task. Marking bird-dispersed seeds with stable (15)N isotopes has been shown to be a user-friendly method to trace seed dispersal. In this study, we determined whether (15)N urea solution could be used to enrich seeds of two common wind-dispersed plants, Eupatorium glaucescens (Asteraceae) and Sericocarpus tortifolius (Asteraceae). We further tested if the water type (distilled versus tap) in (15)N urea solutions influences the level and variability of enrichment of plant seeds, and if increasing spraying frequency per se increases enrichment. Because droughts may lower seed set or kill plants, we wanted to investigate if the additional use of an externally applied anti-transpirant affects the intake of externally applied (15)N into seeds. The results demonstrate that (15)N enrichment of seeds can facilitate dispersal experiments with wind-dispersed plants. The use of distilled water in (15)N urea solutions did not increase (15)N enrichment compared to tap water. Further, enrichment was more efficient at lower spray frequencies. Both the use of tap water and low frequencies could lower time, effort and project costs. The results suggest that species can be protected from drought using an anti-transpirant without decreasing the incorporation of (15)N into seeds.

Enrichment of marigold (Calendula officinalis) seeds influences seedling vigor and essential oil yield in flowers

Most of soils in Iran are deficient in micro-elements. Enrichment of seeds is found to be as suitable method for overcoming micronutrient deficiencies. Marigold is a herbal medicinal plant. In order to study evaluate of seed enrichment by some of micro-nutrients on seedling establishment and yield of marigold two laboratory and field experiments were carried out on marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) at the Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran, during 2012. Treatments were 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% Zinc or Manganese, such as 14.5, 29, 43.5 and 58 g Zinc or 19, 38.5, 58 and 77 g Manganese per liter water, respectively. Each treatment involved weighing nearly 10 g of the seed in a glass cup, adding 20 m L of the priming and allowing the seed + solution mixture to sit covered with plastic. Enrichment at the concentrations of 1%; 1.5%, 2% of zinc or manganese increased final germination percentage of marigold seeds in comparison to the control. The data show that mean seedling vigor index can be increased by seed enrichment with zinc sulfate and manganese sulfate, compared to the control. Seeds enriched in 1% Zinc had higher seedling vigor index, but a greater improvement in the Zinc concentration of the solution did not further increase in seedling vigor index. When seeds primed in the highest concentration of manganese, marigold statistically produced flower yield similar to unprimed treatment. Significant increase in essential oil yield of marigold due to seed enrichment treatments relative to not-enrichment was expected. Enrichment of marigold seeds positively influenced seedling vigor and essential oil yield in flowers.

Modified fast rejoining of chromosomes after fractionated X-ray exposures with iron and copper sulfate pretreatments related to uptake detected by PIXE analysis in Nigella damascena seeds

Nigella damascena dry seeds were irradiated with X-rays (250 kV) at fractionated exposures (2 × 40 and 2 × 20 Gy) separated by time intervals ranging from 120 to 240 s. A decrease of chromosome aberrations (threshold) observed with 60Co γ-rays between 130 and 140 s was confirmed. Some seeds were supplemented with FeSo 4 or CuSo 4. In unirradiated seeds, FeSO 4 (at doses ranging from 1 × 10 −5 to 1 × 10 −2 M) induced a certain amount of chromosome damage, ostensibly on the basis of free radical production. FeSO 4 (1 × 10 −5 M) pretreatment considerably enhanced the frequency of chromosome aberrations induced by X-rays and suppressed the threshold observed in control experiments. CuSO 4 (1 × 10 −5 and 1 × 10 −3 M) did not modify the initial level of chromosome aberrations (time intervals shorter than 130 s), but enhanced the final level (time intervals longer than 140 s), thus reversing the threshold. In the present experiments, no modifications of the proportions of various kinds of aberrations occurred as compared with the controls. The enrichment of seeds with each of the transition metals was measured with PIXE (particle-induced X-ray emission) in relation to the biological effects at the chromosome level.