Germination Behaviour Research Articles

Genotype-specific germination behavior induced by sustainable priming techniques in response to water deprivation stress in rice.

Water stress brought about by climate change is among the major global concerns threatening food security. Rice is an important staple food which requires high water resources. Being a semi-aquatic plant, rice is particularly susceptible to drought. The aim of this work was to develop techniques directed to promote rice resilience to water deprivation stress during germination by implementing specific seed priming treatments. Five popular Italian rice varieties were subjected to priming treatments using novel, sustainable solutions, like poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), denatured γ-PGA (dPGA), and iron (Fe) pulsing, alone or in combination. The effect of the developed priming methods was tested under optimal conditions as well as under water deprivation stress imposed by polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatments. The priming efficacy was phenotypically determined in terms of germination behavior by measuring a series of parameters (germinability, germination index, mean germination time, seed vigor index, root and shoot length, germination stress tolerance index). Biochemical analyses were carried out to measure the levels of iron uptake and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Integrative data analyses revealed that the rice varieties exhibited a strong genotype- and treatment-specific germination behavior. PEG strongly inhibited germination while most of the priming treatments were able to rescue it in all varieties tested except for Unico, which can be defined as highly stress sensitive. Molecular events (DNA repair, antioxidant response, iron homeostasis) associated with the transition from seed to seedling were monitored in terms of changes in gene expression profiles in two varieties sensitive to water deprivation stress with different responses to priming. The investigated genes appeared to be differentially expressed in a genotype-, priming treatment-, stress- and stage-dependent manner. The proposed seed priming treatments can be envisioned as sustainable and versatile agricultural practices that could help in addressing the impact of climate challenges on the agri-food system.

Seed Dormancy Dynamics and Germination Characteristics of Malva parviflora L.

Little mallow (Malva parviflora L.) is a notorious weed that causes substantial yield losses in winter crops. For effective weed management and seed testing, a deeper understanding of seed dormancy, germination behavior, and dormancy-breaking methods is necessary. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of seed treatments, i.e., mechanical scarification, acid scarification, hot water treatment, and different germinating temperatures, i.e., 15 °C, 20 °C, or alternating 15–20 °C (16/8 h), on the seed dormancy in M.parviflora. A large proportion of M. parviflora seeds were physically dormant, with just 10.90% germination. Seed treatments had a significant influence on seed germination, seedling dry weight, vigor index, and water absorption (p ≤ 0.01). Among the various treatments, mechanical scarification enhanced germination by 32%, the vigor index by 487% and water uptake by 34%, and decreased percent hard seeds by 34%. Among the various germination temperatures, alternating 15–20 °C temperatures (16/8 h) gave the most significant result for germination and the lowest percent hard seeds. The findings of this study will serve as a valuable reference for seed testing and the development of suitable weed control strategies for M. parviflora.

Germination Behavior and Geographical Information System-Based Phenotyping of Root Hairs to Evaluate the Effects of Different Sources of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larval Frass on Herbaceous Crops.

Insect larval frass has been proposed as a fertilizer and amendment, but methods for testing its effects on plants are poorly developed and need standardization. We obtained different types of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) frass via the factorial combination of (a) two insect diets, as follows: G (Gainesville = 50% wheat bran, 30% alfalfa meal, 20% maize meal) and W (43% sheep whey + 57% seeds); (b) two frass thermal treatments: NT = untreated and T = treated at 70 °C for 1 h. We tested the effects on the germination of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) by applying 1:2 w:w water extracts at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% concentration. Standardizing frass water content before extraction affected chemical composition. Frass extracts showed high electrical conductivity (8.88 to 13.78 mS cm-1). The W diet was suppressive towards Escherichia coli and showed a lower content of nitrates (e.g., WNT 40% lower than GNT) and a concentration-dependent phytotoxic effect on germinating plants. At 25% concentration, germination indices of G were 4.5 to 40-fold those at 100%. Root and shoot length and root hair area were affected by diet and concentration of frass extracts (e.g., root and shoot length in cress at 25% were, respectively, 4.53 and 2 times higher than at 100%), whereas the effects of the thermal treatment were few or inconclusive. On barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown in micropots on a silty loam soil, root mass was reduced by 37% at high extract concentration. A quick procedure for root hair surface area was developed based on the geographic information system (GIS) and may provide a fast method for incorporating root hair phenotyping in frass evaluation. The results indicate that below-ground structures need to be addressed in research on frass effects. For this, phyotoxicity tests should encompass different extract dilutions, and frass water content should be standardized before extraction in the direction of canonical procedures to allow comparisons.

Studies on Germination behaviour and Physiological response of Terminalia arjuna (Roxd.) towards fly-ash during its initial stage

Studies on Germination behaviour and Physiological response of Terminalia arjuna (Roxd.) towards fly-ash during its initial stage

Moringa concanensis- Variation in seed size and germination in diverse localities seedlots from Rajasthan

Moringa concanensis belong to family Moringaceae (Drumstick family) is a small tree with various indigenous medicinal value in different parts of India especially in tribal parts of Southern region. In Rajathan, it is reported is Jodhpur (Dechu), Barmer (rocky area) (Bhandari, 1990), Churu (Gopalpura), Jhalawar (Khanpur), Jaisalmer (Near Kuri), Pali (Piproli) and Tonk (Mayola forest). It is a rare plant in Rajasthan. In the present study, seedlots collected from different locations were tested with various treatment to understand its germination behaviour along with relation of seed size with germination percentage and other factors.

Properties, Storage and Germination Behavior of Seeds of <i>Berberis tinctoria</i> Lesch., an Endangered Medicinal Plant from Shola Forests of Western Ghats, India

Properties, Storage and Germination Behavior of Seeds of <i>Berberis tinctoria</i> Lesch., an Endangered Medicinal Plant from Shola Forests of Western Ghats, India

Sensibilidade à dessecação em sementes de pêra-do-cerrado (Eugenia klotzschiana O. Berg)

Abstract: Eugenia klotzschiana, commonly known as pêra-do-cerrado, belongs to the Myrtaceae family. It is an unconventional food plant that is exploited in an extractive manner. The purpose of this study was to investigate the germination behavior of E. klotzschiana O. Berg seeds and their sensitivity to desiccation. The seeds were manually pulped from the fruits and stored in plastic containers. The initial water content was subsequently determined using the oven method at 105°C for 24 hours, yielding a value of 46.6%. Sub-samples were then separated to obtain the desired water contents of 40%, 32%, 22%, and 15% for treatments 2, 3, 4, and 5. The data underwent analysis of variance (ANOVA) and, if significant by the F test (p<0.05), the means were compared using the T test. Graphs with 95% confidence intervals were generated to illustrate the comparisons. The seedling development data was arranged in a box plot. The R software was used for these analyses. The data analysis revealed that E. klotzschiana O. Berg seeds do not have the potential to germinate with a water content lower than 22.50% moisture. Furthermore, the water content with the highest percentage, 46.6%, resulted in 100% germination.

Seed Germination Enhancement of Two Balanites Species (B. aegyptiaca (L.) Del. and B. rotundifolia (Tiegh.) Blatt.) Using Different Presowing Treatments in Ethiopia.

B. aegyptiaca and B. rotundifolia are known to be multipurpose trees with various uses and values. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the seed germination behaviours of B. aegyptiaca and B. rotundifolia under different presowing treatments. Hence, seeds were collected from the Central and Southern Ethiopian Rift Valley regions. Then, a total of 864 fruits (seeds) subjected to eight different presowing treatments and planted in pots arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) were tested for each species. The mean germination percentage (GP), mean daily germination percentage (GD), mean germination time (GT), and mean germination index (GI) were computed. One-way ANOVA showed the presence of significant GP, GD, GT, and GI among treatment groups at p < 0.05 under both Balanites species. For B. aegyptiaca, Tukey's HSD test showed that seeds soaked with 98% H2SO4 for 10 minutes (98HSO10m) and 20 minutes (98HSO20m) have the highest GPs (87 ± 8.8 and 82 ± 10.2, respectively) that are significant at p < 0.05. The seeds soaked in 75°C hot water for 10 minutes and subsequently cooled for 12 hours (HW75d), 98HSO10m, and 98HSO20m have the highest GDs (2%) that are significant at p < 0.05. Moreover, 98HSO20m, 98HSO10m, and seeds soaked in cold water for 48 hours at room temperature of 25°C (CW48h) have the shortest GTs (24 ± 2.2, 25 ± 0.5, and 25 ± 1.3, respectively), and 98HSO10m and 98HSO20m have the highest GIs (1.04 ± 0.09 and 1.01 ± 0.08, respectively) that are significant at p < 0.05. For B. rotundifolia, the control recorded the highest cumulative germination (i.e., 71), followed by CW48h (i.e., 51). However, Tukey's HSD tests generally indicated that no treatment group resulted in significant differences in the means of GP, GD, GT, and GI at p < 0.05. So, no treatment group was observed to enhance the germination of B. rotundifolia compared to the control. However, this study generally indicated potential seed enhancement technologies for B. aegyptiaca with greater implications for propagation, conservation, and sustainable utilization of the species in the agricultural and pastoral communities of Ethiopia.

Allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus extract and wood vinegar on germination and sprouting of rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.).

Eucalyptus plantations are usually characterized by low biodiversity due to allelopathy effects. Wood vinegar is considered a complex growth regulator that can promote plant growth at low concentrations. However, there is information scarcity about the co-application of eucalypt leaf water extract and wood vinegar on plants. This study aimed at clarifying whether wood vinegar can protect seed germination against suppression by eucalypt-induced allelopathy. We examined germination behavior and seedling elongation characteristics in rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.) treated with different solutions of wood vinegar and eucalypt leaf water extract. The results showed that eucalypt leaf water extracts, wood vinegar solutions, and their mixture allelopathically suppressed seed germination rate. After rapeseed sprouting, eucalypt leaf water extracts promoted root elongation, stem elongation, and fresh weight elongation. Malondialdehyde content was also lower under the influence of eucalypt leaf water extract. Mixture of high concentration of eucalypt leaf water extract and lower concentration of wood vinegar significantly promoted root elongation. Therefore, both eucalypt leaf water extract and wood vinegar are complex plant growth regulators, which can be used to inhibit or stimulate plants at different ontogenic stages. During the seed germination period, both eucalypt leaf extracts and wood vinegar could be used as weed inhibitors. Conversely, during the period of sprouting (seedling establishment), low concentrations of eucalypt leaf extracts and wood vinegar can promote growth.

Rise, fall and hope for the Sicilian endemic plant Muscari gussonei: A story of survival in the face of narrow germination optimum, climate changes, desertification and habitat fragmentation

Muscari gussonei is an endangered endemic plant growing on fragmented Mediterranean coastal dunes. This study focused on the germination performance of M. gussonei at two fixed temperatures, 10 and 15 °C, and at an alternating one, 10/20 °C, and on the multi-temporal trends of temperature and rainfall during 1931–2020, as well as on the patterns of desertification and land-cover changes over the last 60 years. High and similar germinability was found for different populations of M. gussonei, in particular, the final germination percentage (FGP) was ≥95 % for the three treatments. The general pattern was the lower the temperature the higher and faster the germination. However, germination speed varied significantly among populations. This intraspecific variability of germination behavior may suggest a certain level of ecophysiological plasticity in M. gussonei, thus raising hopes on the capacity of M. gussonei to respond better to the ongoing severe environmental changes. In the period 1931–2020, indeed, the average temperature rose by 1.5 °C, from 16.8 to 18.3 °C, which is equivalent to the enormous increase of 0.17 °C per decade. Similarly, the average rainfall declined by 100 mm, from 600 to 500 mm. Another serious stressor was desertification, which affects >90 % of the distributional area of M. gussonei. A further factor of ecological degradation is a considerably altered landscape, where the agricultural component accounts for c. 85 %, whereas natural and seminatural areas were only c. 10 %. Increasing temperature and dryness will inevitably reduce the germinability of M. gussonei, characterized by a narrow germination optimum of 10–15 °C. The future of M. gussonei looks even more dramatic if we consider its small and scattered populations distributed in an agricultural matrix affected by high levels of desertification. Only multivariate information at different space-time scales can provide an exhaustive picture for implementing effective conservation strategies.

Genetic mining of desirable alleles for transgenerational stress memory through enhancing drought adaptation in wheat

Plant memory refers to the phenomenon where past environmental experiences influence the responses of plants to current/future events. Drought stress has a mostly significant negative impact on wheat, which is a vital crop for global food security. In the context of germination, plant memory can manifest as 'transgenerational priming', where mother plants exposure to drought stress alters the germination behavior of the next-generation seeds. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the genetic factors underpinning transgenerational drought tolerance in wheat using a diverse collection of 111 by the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). In the seed germination test, all genotypes had higher Germination Percentage (G%) and Germination Pace (GP) from seeds of Stressed Plants (OSP) than those of Non-Stressed Plants (ONP) by 16% and 29%, respectively), indicating that Transgenerational Stress Memory (TSM) may manifest through appearing to possess a more persistent stress memory. For root length, OSP had a greater Root Length (RL) than ONP by 45%, suggesting a more highly developed root system in the OSP seeds. The time at which TSM manifests during the plant life cycle could reflect disparate strategies of TSM duration among genotypes from OSP and ONP. Genetic associations of TSM showed highly significant QTNs for all of the studied traits. For instance, a highly significant QTN (BS00068042_51) located on chromosome 2B at position 107,381,860 bp inside the gene TraesCS2B02G140800 encodes Cytochrome P450 (CYPs) that was found to be associated with the traits of FW and SMC for OSP. CYPs play a significant role in wheat response to environmental stresses. Therefore, further research into the specific alleles/candidate genes and their functions in wheat transgenerational stress memory will provide valuable insights for developing strategies to enhance drought tolerance in wheat crops through genetic manipulation or targeted interventions.

Germination Behaviour and Seedling Growth as Influence by Pretreatments of Seeds of Cleistanthus Collinus Benth under Storage

Germination Behaviour and Seedling Growth as Influence by Pretreatments of Seeds of Cleistanthus Collinus Benth under Storage

Unveiling the germination behavior of kidney beans: Insights into their physicochemical, antinutrients, and functional characteristics in whole and dehusked matrices

Kidney beans, considered a vital component of global food security, undergo a profound transformation during germination, providing new insights into their nutritional profile. This study meticulously examines the impact of germination durations (24, 48, and 72 hours) on whole and dehusked kidney beans. During germination, a notable surge in protein content occurs, reaching 19.05% for whole beans and 17.23% for dehusked beans. Following 72 hours of germination, whole kidney beans show remarkable increases in crude fiber (121.07%), calcium (158.75%), iron (135.31%), zinc (79.6%), and antioxidant properties (58.18%). Moreover, the present study demonstrates significant improvements in attributes such as α-amylase activity (20.10 mg maltose/3 min), foaming capacity (110.74%), foaming stability (92.04%), emulsion capacity (184.02%), and emulsion stability (274.67%) after 72 hours. The levels of phytic acid and tannin content decreased by approximately 36.24% and 31.48%, respectively, after 72 hours of germination in dehusked kidney beans. In comparison, the whole germinated kidney beans exhibited lower levels, with reductions of about 26.60% in phytic acid and 25.31% in tannin content during the same period. In the future, it will be worth exploring the development of machinery for dehusking kidney beans and to utilize whole and dehusked matrices in food and beverage formulations.

Effects of salinity and UV-B on seed germination behaviour of the halophyte Zygophyllum album L.: Enforced dormancy and trade-off strategy

Understanding the behavior of halophyte seed germination under multiple abiotic stressors is crucial for restoring salt-affected lands. Zygophyllum album L. (syn. Tetraena alba (L.f.) Beier & Thulin) is a perennial halophytic species that spreads in the coastal ecosystems of Mediterranean areas. Halophytes' seed germination indices concerning the influence of UV-B remain unexplored in scientific investigations. We provide here data on the effects of salinity (0, 100, 200, and 400 mM NaCl) and light (total darkness, 12 h dark/12 h light, and 12 h dark + 9 h light + 3 h UV-B) on seed germination, seedling growth parameters, antioxidant enzymes, histochemical localization of O2−, and anatomical parameters of Z. album. The germination percentage was not significantly decreased under low and medium salinities (100 and 200 mM NaCl), but germination was entirely inhibited at 400 mM NaCl. Also, seed germination was reduced significantly under the combined treatment of 200 mM NaCl and UV-B light. The germination rate was significantly decreased at low salinity in darkness and under moderate salinity with all light treatments. However, the highest germination recovery was recorded under combined salinity and UV-B treatments. At the seedling stage, salinity reduced biomass and seedling length under all light treatments. Additionally, combined UV-B with salinity treatments had a negative synergistic influence on all growth parameters. On the other hand, the increase of catalase and peroxidase activities, as well as the accumulation of druses and idioblasts under combined treatment, suggest a trade-off between the growth of this species and its defense mechanisms. These results indicate that Z. album has a moderate tolerance to both salinity and UV-B stresses during germination, highlighting its significance as a potential source for reclaiming salt-affected lands and cultivating crops under future climate changes.

Chronosequence of invasion reveals minimal losses of population genomic diversity, niche expansion, and trait divergence in the polyploid, leafy spurge.

Rapid evolution may play an important role in the range expansion of invasive species and modify forecasts of invasion, which are the backbone of land management strategies. However, losses of genetic variation associated with colonization bottlenecks may constrain trait and niche divergence at leading range edges, thereby impacting management decisions that anticipate future range expansion. The spatial and temporal scales over which adaptation contributes to invasion dynamics remain unresolved. We leveraged detailed records of the ~130-year invasion history of the invasive polyploid plant, leafy spurge (Euphorbia virgata), across ~500 km in Minnesota, U.S.A. We examined the consequences of range expansion for population genomic diversity, niche breadth, and the evolution of germination behavior. Using genotyping-by-sequencing, we found some population structure in the range core, where introduction occurred, but panmixia among all other populations. Range expansion was accompanied by only modest losses in sequence diversity, with small, isolated populations at the leading edge harboring similar levels of diversity to those in the range core. The climatic niche expanded during most of the range expansion, and the niche of the range core was largely non-overlapping with the invasion front. Ecological niche models indicated that mean temperature of the warmest quarter was the strongest determinant of habitat suitability and that populations at the leading edge had the lowest habitat suitability. Guided by these findings, we tested for rapid evolution in germination behavior over the time course of range expansion using a common garden experiment and temperature manipulations. Germination behavior diverged from the early to late phases of the invasion, with populations from later phases having higher dormancy at lower temperatures. Our results suggest that trait evolution may have contributed to niche expansion during invasion and that distribution models, which inform future management planning, may underestimate invasion potential without accounting for evolution.

Herbicide response and germination behavior of two goosegrass (Eleusine indica) populations in the Australian environment

AbstractGoosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.] is one of the most problematic grassy weeds in the world. It is considered to be an important weed in summer fallows and crops grown in the eastern region of Australia. To examine the seed germination ecology of two populations (Gatton and Ingham) of E. indica and their response to postemergence herbicides in Australian conditions, experiments were carried out in the laboratory and screenhouse. Seedling survival, spike production, and plant biomass of both E. indica populations declined markedly with the application of postemergence herbicides such as butroxydim, clethodim, glufosinate, haloxyfop, and propaquizafop, whereas the application of paraquat failed to control the Ingham population. A dose–response study verified the presence of paraquat resistance in the Ingham population. In this regard, it was observed that the paraquat doses required to achieve a 50% reduction in survival and plant biomass were 27 and 21 times greater in the Ingham population compared to the Gatton population, respectively. Higher alternating temperatures (35/25 and 30/20 C) resulted in greater germination of both populations than lower alternating temperatures (20/10 and 25/15 C). At 20/10 C, the Ingham population failed to germinate; however, about 15% germination in the Gatton population was observed. At the lowest alternate temperature range (15/5 C), neither population germinated. The germination of both populations of E. indica was severely reduced under completely dark conditions compared with the alternating light/dark period. Germination was more tolerant of salt and water stress in the Ingham population compared with the Gatton population. Eleusine indica seedling emergence was comparable among populations, and the greatest emergence (83%) was observed for seeds buried at a depth of 2 cm but then declined dramatically, and no seedlings emerged from an 8-cm burial depth. The information acquired from this study could be used in developing effective management strategies for E. indica.

Plant Growth Hormones and Micro-Tuberization in Breaking the Seed Dormancy of Bunium persicum (Boiss.) Fedts.

Bunium persicum is a valuable medicinal plant with limited production but high market demand. It thrives predominantly in high-altitude regions. The main challenges hindering its widespread cultivation are seed dormancy and a lengthy seed-to-seed cycle, making its large-scale cultivation difficult. Six genotypes of Bunium persicum were collected from different altitudes to evaluate its germination behavior and seed dormancy. The study was conducted during 2020-23 and comprised three experiments (viz., seed germination under an open field, controlled conditions, and micro-tuberization). Under open field conditions, germination percent was genotype dependent, and the highest germination percentage, root length, and shoot length were recorded in Shalimar Kalazeera-1. Germination behavior assessment of the Bunium persicum revealed that treatment T9 (GA3 (25 ppm) + TDZ (9 µM/L)) is effective in breaking the dormancy of Bunium persicum as well as in obtaining a higher germination percent for early development of the tubers. Similarly, with regard to the effect of temperature and moisture conditions, stratification under moist chilling conditions showed effectiveness in breaking seed dormancy as the germination percentage in stratified seeds was at par with the most efficient growth hormone. With regard to the in vitro micro-propagation, direct regeneration showed multiple shoot primordia at the base of the tubers without intervening callus phase from the MS medium supplemented with BA (22.2 µM) and NAA (13.95 µM) 4 weeks after sub-culturing. Similarly, medium supplemented with JA (8.0 mg/L) and BA (22.2 µM) produced well-organized somatic embryos with shiny surfaces, which appeared at the swelled basal portion of apical stems. Further, the combination of JA (6.0 mg/L) and BA (22.2 M) was effective in developing the micro-tubers and also enhanced the weight and length of Bunium persicum micro-tubers.

Acid Rain and Seed Germination: A Predictive Model Using ML-based CART Algorithm

The impact of acid rain on the germination of seeds is a significant concern in agricultural and environmental studies. Acid rain, characterized by elevated acidity levels due to pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, can adversely affect the germination process of various plant species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of simulated acid rain (SAR) on the germination of Brinjal (Solanum melongena Linn.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata ssp. cylindrica L. Walpers) crops. The experiments were conducted using eight plastic trays of approximately 25 cm. x 30 cm dimensions. Four trays were used for experiments with brinjal seeds (Set I), while the other four were used for cowpea seeds (Set II). One tray from each set was used as positive control and treated with normal pH 5.6, while the other three trays from each batch were treated with SAR solutions of pH 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5. Brinjal seed germination percentage and seed vigor were inferior to Cowpea seeds. The seeds treated with SAR (pH 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5) showed hindered seed germination. Furthermore, a more significant inhibitory effect was observed at lower pH values. The mean germination percentage of seeds was highest for standard SAR (pH 5.6) in the case of Brinjal seeds, while it was recorded lowest for Cowpea seeds. The results indicate that plants do not respond uniformly to SAR. To investigate the behavior of the simulated acid rain data, a Machine Learning-based Decision Tree Algorithm was employed to identify and optimize conditions. Cowpea was predicted to get 95% seed germination, whereas brinjal would only be 64% in acid rain of pH value 5.05 for 36 hours. In conclusion, utilizing a Machine Learning-based CART algorithm has provided valuable insights into predicting the germination behavior of seeds under the influence of acid rain.

Seed germination and storage conditions of Ilex embelioides Hook.f. (Magnoliopsida: Aquifoliales: Aquifoliaceae), a threatened northeastern Indian species

Ilex embelioides Hook.f. is a threatened tree species endemic to northeastern India. The species propagates naturally through seeds but shows a brief dormancy period. The present study was carried out to assess the germination behaviour, and identify the suitable storage conditions of I. embelioides seeds. Results revealed that warm stratification for 30 days could effectively break dormancy. Seeds pre-treated with gibberellic acid (GA3, 2,000 mg L-1) showed highest germination (63.89 ± 0.91%) as compared to other concentrations of GA3 as well as potassium nitrate (KNO3). Highest in vitro seed germination percentage (65.56 ± 2.92%) was recorded on (Murashige and Skoog) MS medium containing 10 mg L-1 GA3. The viability of the seeds declined with storage period irrespective of its storage condition. After 30 days, highest viability (54.72 %) was observed in seeds stored in moist sand at 25°C. Therefore, application of GA3 and warm stratification (25 ± 1°C) along with a substrate (moist sand) for 30 days may be considered as ideal conditions for effective germination and storage of I. embelioides seeds. This study can also be used for mass propagation of the species for reintroduction in the wild.

Impact of Pre-Sowing Physical Treatments on The Seed Germination Behaviour of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

In the emerging global food scenario, sorghum is a healthy cereal crop used by human beings and has been recognized to have considerable potential to be used in a variety of food products. Germination is a natural processing technique used for the biological activation of grains to improve their nutritional and functional properties. In order to improve the germination of grains, different techniques have been established; therefore, the current study was conducted to analyze the effect of ultrasound and microwave techniques on sorghum grain germination parameters. Overnight steeped sorghum grains were divided into four groups. The first group was not subjected to any treatment. The second group was subjected to ultrasonic treatment, the third group was exposed to microwave treatment, and the fourth group was treated with combined MW &amp; US applications for different intervals. Germinated grains were measured for the shoot length and root length, total weight, germination %, seedling vigor index, and the ratio of root length versus shoot length. It was found that ultrasound-processed treatment US1 (40% amplitude for 5 min) and microwave-processed treatment MW2 (700 W for 5 sec) significantly improved the germination parameters. Pre-sowing physical techniques cause disturbance of the seed coat, which enabled water diffusion into the seeds inducing a higher rate of enzymatic reactions, and the start of the initial development stages consequently resulted in faster and more effective germination.