Germination Potential Research Articles

Plasma activated‐water stimulates aged pepper seeds and promotes seedling growth

AbstractThis study conducted an activation experiment on tap water using a self‐designed dielectric barrier discharge plasma field. Aged pepper seeds and seedlings were chosen as the investigation's subjects to assess plasma‐activated water (PAW's) effects on aged seed germination, seedling growth, and their respective qualities. PAW cultivation led to notable improvements in pepper seeds' germination potential and rate, with increases of 18.0% and 28.3%, respectively. Moreover, the vitality index exhibited a remarkable rise of 250.0%. Concurrently, seedlings treated with PAW exhibited significant growth enhancements, with root length, root number, stem length, and leaf area increasing by 138.6%, 69.2%, 47.9%, and 28.4 cm², respectively. Additionally, PAW treatment induces changes in endogenous substances and enzyme activities in seeds and seedlings.

CeO2NP priming enhances the seed vigor of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) under salt stress.

Soil salinization is a common environmental problem that seriously threatens crop yield and food security, especially through its impact on seed germination. Nanoparticle priming, an emerging seed treatment method, is receiving increasing attention in improving crop yield and stress resistance. This study used alfalfa seeds as materials to explore the potential benefits of cerium oxide nanoparticle (CeO2NP) priming to promote seed germination and improve salt tolerance. CeO2NPs at concentrations up to 500 mg/L were able to significantly alleviate salt stress in alfalfa seeds (200 mM), with 50 mg/L of CeO2NP having the best effect, significantly (P< 0.05) increasing germination potential (from 4.0% to 51.3%), germination rate (from 10.0% to 62.7%), root length (from 8.3cm to 23.1cm), and seedling length (from 9.8cm to 13.7cm). Priming treatment significantly (P< 0.05) increased seed water absorption by removing seed hardness and also reducing abscisic acid and jasmonic acid contents to relieve seed dormancy. CeO2NP priming increased α-amylase activity and osmoregulatory substance level, decreased reactive oxygen species and malonaldehyde contents and relative conductivity, and increased catalase enzyme activity. Seed priming regulated carotenoid, zeatin, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways, among other metabolic pathways, while CeO2NP priming additionally promoted the enrichment of α-linolenic acid and diterpenoid hormone metabolic pathways under salt stress. In addition, CeO2NPs enhanced α-amylase activity (by 6.55%) in vitro. The optimal tested concentration (50 mg/L) of CeO2NPs was able to improve the seed vigor, enhance the activity of α-amylase, regulate the osmotic level and endogenous hormone levels, and improve the salt tolerance of alfalfa seeds. This study demonstrates the efficacy of a simple seed treatment strategy that can improve crop stress resistance, which is of great importance for reducing agricultural costs and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Do storage of Eugenia stipitata seeds affect their germination and efficacy of the tetrazolium viability test?

Eugenia stipitata is a fruit species from the Amazon that is important in traditional medicine due to its therapeutic properties. Estimates of seed viability in this species are still scarce, and it is necessary to develop rapid tests to determine the quality of the seeds. The aim of this study was to determine the applicability of the tetrazolium test to estimate viability and germination in seeds of E. stipitata with and without storage. The design was completely randomised in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme with 10 replications. The results of the tetrazolium and germination tests show that seeds of E. stipitata lose their viability when stored for six months in water at ambient temperature. Neither small nor large seeds stored for six months in water at ambient temperature are recommended for use with the tetrazolium test. Small, freshly harvested, unstored seeds show a germination potential of 100%. The tetrazolium test is efficient in determining the viability of small and large seeds of Eugenia stipitate with no storage.

Impact of bio-priming (Rhizobium leguminosarum ) to improve seedling vigour and germination potential to overcome abiotic stress in green gram

Diverse seed priming methods are used to ameliorate seed germination, seedling vigour, and to overcome abiotic stress. Insertion to these, only the bio-priming system provides the fresh benefit of biotic stress operation, earning it special attention. Bio-priming is applicable in nearly all crops around the world and is an environmentally friendly volition to chemical pesticides. Seed bio-priming generally refers to use of salutary microorganisms to influence germination potential. In this study, Rhizobium leguminosarum were used in different concentration following Complete Randomized Design with three replications. Green gram (TMB-37) was collected from AICRP pulses in BCKV, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal for this investigation. The experiment comprised of seven bio-priming treatments along with control. The seeds were subjected to in-vitro studies and data were analysed statistically. Seed bio-primed with Rhizobium leguminosarum @ 20 percent recorded higher seed germination percentage (82.71 %), shoot length (25.49 cm), seedling fresh weight (2.77 g), seedling dry weight (0.24 g), seedling vigour index I (3467.91) and seedling vigour index II (19.85). The results of this study demonstrated that Rhizobium leguminosarum @ 20 percent was the best.

Environmental drivers of Euphorbia resinifera seed germination and seedling establishment for conservation purpose.

Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg is a prickly, leafless and succulent, Moroccan endemic shrub. Field data indicate that the plant faces many challenges related to its natural regeneration and its gradual decline that can lead to a probability of extinction, at least in some areas. Successful seed germination and survival of E. resinifera seedlings during the dry period is one of the main obstacles encountered in establishing natural seedlings. With this in mind, 3080 seeds of two morphotypes of E. resinifera (M1 and M2) were harvested in the Atlas of Beni Mellal to study their germinative potential and determine suitable conditions for growth and development of the seedlings. In the laboratory, five temperatures (10 °, 15 °C, 18 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C) and two photoperiods (12 h light/12 h dark and 24 h dark) were tested. Whereas in field research, two factors were considered: the availability of water and the type of substrate (clay, peat, and limestone). Results show a maximum germination rate of around 52% for M2 at 15 °C and 48% for M1 at 18 °C. The Monitoring of plant seedling establishment and growth revealed a high vulnerability to prolonged periods of drought. However, consolidated soil is more conducive to seedling establishment. For this species, it is therefore essential to conserve the habitat within the karst geosystem. Furthermore, the variability of this species' morphotypes and their growth form architecture shows a tendency to favor the dwarf, cushion-shaped morphotype, which is the most widespread in the study area.

Effect of Seed size and pre-sowing treatment on seed germination of Terminalia bellirica

Terminalia bellirica Roxb is a large tree up to 40 meters high belongs to family Combretaceae. Due to over-exploitation (because of its multipurpose uses), tremendous population pressure, rural poverty, absence of appropriate government policy, accelerated growth of synthetic drugs and inappropriate utilization of forest products, these vital plat resources are being declined besides these, natural regeneration through seeds is very poor, uncertain and required long time to germinate, thus the State Forest Departments avoid the species in the afforestation and/or reforestation programs. Seeds from different locations in Rajasthan were analyzed for seed quality as well as germination potentials with different treatments. GA3 was found to increase seed germination in comparison to others. A detailed work with review work on its reproductive biology is presented in the present study.

Abatement effects of different soil amendments on continuous cropping of Codonopsis pilosula.

Codonopsis pilosula is widely sought-after in China as a substitute for the more expensive ginseng. Continuous cropping of C. pilosula supports a vibrant health-supplement industry but requires significant inputs of fertilizers which increase production costs and degrade the environment. Here, three environmentally-friendly natural fertilizers, including biochar, bacterial fertilizer, and vermicompost, were used at different concentrations (undiluted, diluted 10 times, diluted 50 times) to determine their efficacy in seed germination and growth physiology of C. pilosula in continuous cropping. The results showed that biochar, bacterial fertilizer, and vermicompost with different concentrations of leachate could all increase the germination rate, germination potential and germination index of C. pilosula seeds treated with inter-root soil leachate of continuous C. pilosula; increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) in C. pilosula seedlings under the stress of inter-root soil leachate of continuous C. pilosula, reduce the over-accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and increase the resistance of C. pilosula seedlings. After transplanting, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased by an average of 16.1%. Peroxidase (POD) levels showed an average increase of 16.4%. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in the MDA content, with an average decrease of 50%, and the content of osmotic-regulating substances (free proline content and soluble protein content) exhibited a significant increase. In conclusion, biochar, bacterial manure, and vermicompost have the potential to overcome the challenges of extensive fertilizer use in continuous cropping of C. pilosula.

Effects of combined application of biochar and sludge compost on seeds germination of oil sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and water retention capacity in two different soils

Biochar (BC) and sludge compost (SC) have attracted extensive attention because of their multiple benefits in improving soil quality and functionality. However, the effects of combined application of BC and SC on plant growth and soil properties in different soils are unclear. In this study, a woody waste derived BC and a sludge compost from a commercial factory were applied into an agricultural soil and a salt-affected soil collected from the Yellow River Delta to investigate their effects on the germination of oil sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus L.) and water retention capacity in the two soils using pot experiments. The results showed that the combined application of BC and SC increased the germination potential of oil sunflower seedlings in the farmland soil and salt-affected soil by 2.00–11.00 times and 0.50–5.00 times, respectively. This is because the BC and SC can collaboratively improve soil physical and chemical properties and increased nutrient availability. Additionally, BC and SC increased the maximum water holding capacity (WHC) of two soils by 3.72–18.80%. These results will provide theoretical basis and technical support for the development of biochar technology to remediate degraded and agricultural soil, thus to ensure the sustainable development of agriculture.

Validation of the methodology of the germination test using a rolled paper plus vermiculite for treated soybean seeds

ABSTRACT: The use of an appropriate germination method is crucial to allow expression of the germination potential of the seed lot, especially when the seeds are treated with phytosanitary products, since phytotoxicity can occur in some substrates and under some conditions and the germination values will be underestimated. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the methodology of germination in a rolled paper plus vermiculite (RP+V) and the possibility of its statistical validation for routine use in laboratories. Four seed lots of two cultivars with different vigor levels and chemical insecticide treatments (control, thiamethoxam + cyantraniliprole, clothianidin + fipronil, and imidacloprid + thiodicarb, all seeds were treated with fungicide) were used. The samples were prepared and sent to 13 laboratories accredited by the Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA) for germination assessment with RP+V. The collected data were analyzed using statistical methodologies to assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the method, as well as its precision and accuracy. The data from normal soybean seedlings evaluated using the rolled paper plus vermiculite (RP+V) methodology show repeatability, reproducibility, precision, and accuracy within the critical parameters of 1% and 5%. The proposed methodology is reliable and can be routinely implemented in evaluation of soybean seeds, especially those treated with phytosanitary products.

Melatonin as a key regulator in seed germination under abiotic stress.

Seed germination (SG) is the first stage in a plant's life and has an immense importance in sustaining crop production. Abiotic stresses reduce SG by increasing the deterioration of seed quality, and reducing germination potential, and seed vigor. Thus, to achieve a sustainable level of crop yield, it is important to improve SG under abiotic stress conditions. Melatonin (MEL) is an important biomolecule that interplays in developmental processes and regulates many adaptive responses in plants, especially under abiotic stresses. Thus, this review specifically summarizes and discusses the mechanistic basis of MEL-mediated SG under abiotic stresses. MEL regulates SG by regulating some stress-specific responses and some common responses. For instance, MEL induced stress specific responses include the regulation of ionic homeostasis, and hydrolysis of storage proteins under salinity stress, regulation of C-repeat binding factors signaling under cold stress, starch metabolism under high temperature and heavy metal stress, and activation of aquaporins and accumulation of osmolytes under drought stress. On other hand, MEL mediated regulation of gibberellinsbiosynthesis and abscisic acidcatabolism, redox homeostasis, and Ca2+ signaling are amongst the common responses. Nonetheless factors such as endogenous MEL contents, plant species, and growth conditions also influence above-mentioned responses. In conclusion, MEL regulates SG under abiotic stress conditions by interacting with different physiological mechanisms.

Variable seed quality hampers the use of Themeda triandra (Poaceae) for seed production, agriculture, research and restoration: a review

Themeda triandra (Forssk.) is a tussock grass of international importance for its keystone role in grassy ecosystems and, hence, is often a focus for seed production, research and ecological restoration. However, these applications can be challenged by its seed biology, including seed dormancy and the variability of seed traits among populations. The literature on these topics has not been well synthesised. To address this, we reviewed the relevant literature for Themeda triandra seed and found that seed quality is often poor but highly variable, and there are no current quality-assurance standards. Seed characteristics such as weight, awn length and desiccation tolerance can vary with seed ploidy (i.e. the number of chromosome sets). Germination rates of fresh Themeda triandra seed can be as low as 5%, which may be due to seed dormancy. Dormancy varies among populations and with seasonal conditions, and a period of dry storage at room temperature for 8–10 months may be needed before it will reach its full germination potential. No single treatment is effective in overcoming dormancy across all populations. The application of gibberellic acid can increase germination by ~30% in some populations. Although plant-derived smoke products can be effective, they also lack standardisation. Other treatments including the application of heat, or wet–dry cycling warrant further investigation. We recommend the standardisation of Themeda triandra seed testing and labelling, which would allow end users to assess value for money when purchasing seed commercially.

Impact of water stress on morpho-physiological and biochemical traits in rice genotypes

Laboratory and field screening were performed in nine rice genotypes i.e., TM 12061, TM 12077, TM 12012, TM 14035, TM 16017, Senthuram, Vandhana, TKM 12 and Anna (R) 4 to assess their drought tolerant potential. For laboratory screening, the effect of different levels of Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) concentration viz., -0.2, -0.4, -0.6 and -1.0 MPa on germination, shoot length and root length were studied. There was a considerable decrease in the germination potential among all the genotypes with increase in PEG concentration. The TM 12077 showed higher level of tolerance to PEG induced drought stress showing 30.8 % germination with 3.2 cm and 8.85 cm shoot and root length, respectively at higher level of concentration (1.0 MPa). In the field screening under managed stress condition, TM 12077 and TM 12012 showed higher accumulation of proline (4.15 mg/g). Chlorophyll stability index was more than 80 % in the genotypes TM 12012, TM 12077 and TM 12061. The genotype TM 14035, the varieties Anna (R) 4 and Vandhana matured early in 115 days. Number of tillers per plant, number of panicles/sqm and yield/hectare were maximum in TM 12077. While considering both laboratory and field screening, the genotypes TM 12077, TM 12012 and TM 12061 were found promising for water stress environment and can be utilized as donors in the drought tolerance breeding programs. High heritability coupled with moderate to high GA as per cent of mean recorded for plant height, tillers per plant, chlorophyll stability Index and total chlorophyll content indicates the presence of additive gene effects and their improvement through direct selection. Bangladesh J. Bot. 52(4): 1041-1046, 2023 (December)

Enhancing Germination and Seedling Growth in Salt Stressed Maize Lines through Chemical Priming

This study aimed to investigate the tolerance level and the use of primers (H2O, KNO3, ascorbic acid and salicylic acid), in mitigating stress in maize in the newly released cultivars (SWAN-LSR-Y, BR9928-OMR-SR-Y and OMR-LSR-SY). Activities of SOD, APX, CAT and GSH and lipid peroxidation were investigated, to measure the biochemical response of the primed maize seeds. Maize seeds primed with KNO3 and ascorbic acid improved germination and anti-oxidative potential against ROS in ameliorating the salinity stress, while salicylic acid slowed germination. The same trend was followed in the seed vigour index and radicle length of seeds primed with ascorbic acid, which recorded the highest values. The control was observed to have the highest seed vigour index, while seeds primed with salicylic acid showed the least vigour index in the maize seeds. Increased salinity stress showed adverse effects on all growth parameters. Of the maize cultivars tested, SWAN-LSR-Y showed the most tolerance to salinity stress, in terms of germination. Significant high enzymatic activities and lipid peroxidation were recorded in seeds primed with ascorbic acid and KNO3 show their importance in plant metabolic activities.

Influence of chemicals and crude plant materials as pre-storage treatment on seed quality of onion (Allium cepa L.)

Fresh onion seeds dried to 7.0% seed moisture content were stored with crude plant materials (red chili powder@20g/kg of seed; neem leaf powder@ 20g/kg of seed, lemon leaf powder @ 20g/kg seed), and chemicals (common bleaching powder and mancozeb @ 2g/kg of seed). The germination potential of onion seeds was found satisfactory in treated seeds. Water uptake during imbibition was maximum in lemon leaf treated seed which indicates better germination as the imbibition of water is an essential part of germination. A high correlation between EC measurements and germination was found; which indicates that conductivity readings have the potential to provide a rapid assessment of standard laboratory germination. In terms of seed-associated pathogens during storage, chemicals have shown better results in suppressing pathogens. Bangladesh J. Agri. 2023, 48(2): 54-62

Physiological Assessment of Temperature Stress Tolerance in Selectively Fertilzed Coconut Hybrids

In vitro pollen germination study is one of the important technologies for understanding the functions of pollens as well as in many areas of pollen biotechnology particularly in pollen selection. Ability to separate germinated and non-germinated pollen offers selective treatments and can be used for identifying stress tolerant and sensitive alleles carried by their pollen grains. The present study was carried out in Kerasree and Keraganga selectively fertilized (S.F) coconut hybrids produced through pollen selection. Pollens were subjected to germination in specific media maintained at different levels of water stress induced by PEG 6000 and the critical water potential for pollen germination was identified. The water stress tolerant pollen grains at critical level were selected and used for fertilization. Evaluation of temperature stress tolerance of these two selectively fertilized hybrids along with their normal hybrids and west coast tall (WCT) was carried out by assessing their critical temperature stress for pollen germination. Both Kerasree selectively fertilized and Keraganga selectively fertilized hybrids recorded highest critical temperature of 420C for pollen germination with germination percentage of 20.17 and 22.77 respectively compared to their normal hybrids (380C) and WCT (400C).

Improvement in seed germination potential and adaptability of vegetable soybean(Glycine max l. Merr.)

The germination problem in vegetable soybean variety Karune is most limiting factor for its wide spread cultivation. The problem of inherent germination problem was aimed to eradicate by developing segregating vegetable soybean line with high germination potential by crossing with EC 538828 which is yellow bold seeded with better germination with rapid seed feeling rate and resistance to several diseases. 14 out of 460 segregating lines were vegetable type with green seed, sweet taste, high germination potential and resistance to major diseases.

Unraveling the new member Bacillus pumilus SH-9 of Bacillaceae family and its potential role in seed biopriming to mitigate drought stress in Oryza sativa

Rice is an important cereal crop cultivated worldwide to meet the need of hungry populations. Drought stress is a major problem that reduces crop productivity by up to 50 %. Beneficial microbes have the potential to mitigate drought stress in various crops. The use of beneficial microorganisms in seed biopriming techniques enhances germination potential through the production of antioxidants and phytohormones. In this study, the novel bacterial strain SH-9 was isolated and screened for various biological and stress tolerance assays. SH-9 exhibited plant growth-promoting characteristics such as abscisic acid production (2.18 ± 0.05 ng/ml), phosphate solubilization index (4.69 ± 0.30), and sucrose production (0.72 ± 0.05 mg/ml). The oxidative stress tolerance assay also revealed remarkable production of the antioxidant molecules catalase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase. Germination metrics were also measured through seed biopriming in the experimental plant (Oryza sativa) treated with SH-9. Surprisingly, SH-9 was found to be significantly drought-tolerant as it could tolerate drought up to 35 % PEG 6000. Seed biopriming enhanced the germination potential by up to 90 % and improved the seed vigor index, germination energy, and germination rate index. It also improved the seedling characteristics of rice compared with the control group. This study demonstrated that SH-9 has excellent potential to enhance the germination metrics even under stress. Molecular identification revealed that SH-9 is a new member of the Bacillaceae family with the gene accession number ON753949. Overall, it is expected that further research on seed biopriming employing SH-9 strain in plants will lead to this technique being employed as a form of sustainable management in agriculture.

Effects of Plant Regulators on the Seed Germination and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity of Cotton under Compound Salt Stress.

Salinity stress significantly hampers cotton seed germination and seedling growth. Employing plant growth regulators stands out as an effective strategy to mitigate salt stress. In this study, we assessed the impact of varying concentrations of natural composite salt conditions (0%, 0.6%, and 1.2%) on cotton seed germination, seedling growth, and physiology. Additionally, we explored the effects of compound sodium nitrophenolate (CSN: 2 mg·L-1 and 10 mg·L-1), 24-epibrassinolide (EBR: 0.02 mg·L-1 and 0.1 mg·L-1), and gibberellic acid (GA: 60 mg·L-1 and 300 mg·L-1), against a control (CK: distilled water) group. The results indicate that with an increase in the composite salt concentration, the germination potential (GP) and germination rate (GR) of cotton seeds gradually decrease. Simultaneously, the fresh weight and root vitality of seedlings also correspondingly decrease, while the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation increases. Under high-salt (1.2%) conditions, soaking treatments with CSN and EBR significantly enhance both GP (45-59% and 55-64%) and GR (30-33% and 39-36%) compared to the CK. However, the GA treatment does not increase the GP and GR of cotton. Moreover, under high-salt (1.2%) conditions, CSN and EBR treatments result in the increased activities of superoxide dismutase (56-66% and 71-80%), peroxidase (20-24% and 37-51%), and catalase (26-32% and 35-46%). Consequently, cotton exhibits a relatively good tolerance to natural composite salts. Soaking treatments with CSN and EBR effectively improve cotton germination by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities, thereby strengthening cotton's tolerance to salt stress. These findings offer new insights for enhancing the salt tolerance of cotton.

Cloning of the Soybean GmNHL1 Gene and Functional Analysis under Salt Stress.

When encountered in the soybean seedling stage, salt stress has serious impacts on plant growth and development. This study explores the role of the soybean NDR1/HIN1-like family gene GmNHL1 under salt stress. First, the GmNHL1 gene was successfully cloned, and bioinformatic analysis revealed multiple cis-acting elements which are related to adversity stress and involved in the oxidative response in the promoter region. Sub-cellular localization analysis indicated that the protein expressed by GmNHL1 was localized on the cell membrane. An over-expression vector of the target gene and a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing vector were constructed, and the recipient soybean variety Jinong 74 was genetically transformed using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated method. By analyzing the performance of the different plants under salt stress, the results showed that GmNHL1 was over-expressed in the T2 generation. The germination potential, germination rate, germination index, and vitality index of the strain were significantly higher than those of the recipient control JN74. Under salt stress conditions, the root microanatomical structure of the GmNHL1 over-expressing material remained relatively intact, and its growth was better than that of the recipient control JN74. Measurement of physiological and biochemical indicators demonstrated that, compared with the receptor control JN74, the malondialdehyde and O2- contents of the GmNHL1 over-expressing material were significantly reduced, while the antioxidant enzyme activity, proline content, and chlorophyll content significantly increased; however, the results for GmNHL1 gene-edited materials were the opposite. In summary, over-expression of GmNHL1 can improve the salt tolerance of plants and maintain the integrity of the root anatomical structure, thereby more effectively and rapidly reducing the accumulation of malondialdehyde and O2- content and increasing antioxidant enzyme activity. This reduces cell membrane damage, thereby improving the salt tolerance of soybean plants. These results help to better understand the mechanism of salt tolerance in soybean plants, laying a theoretical foundation for breeding new stress-resistant varieties of soybean.

Seed Longevity in Desert Species and the Possibility of Forming a Persistent Soil Seed Bank

The formation of soil seed banks could be an important survival strategy for desert plant species that determine their persistence under harsh conditions, where temperature is extremely high, and chances of rainfall are low and unpredictable. Therefore, the assessment of the seed viability and germination potential of in-situ stored seeds could be important for understanding their reproductive strategies. Seeds of the studied species were collected in 2017 and divided into two batches. The first batch (fresh seeds) of each species was tested for seed germination within one week after collection. However, the second batch (in-situ stored seeds) was tested for seed germination in the first week of October 2022. In the current study, the germination potential of in-situ stored seeds was investigated in order to determine their ability to remain viable under natural conditions. Stored seeds of studied species showed higher germination percentages (53–89%) than fresh seeds (3–34%), except for Peganum harmala, indicating the presence of seed dormancy at the time of seed maturation. Seed germination percentages of all the species were significantly enhanced by storage, indicating their ability to form persistent soil seed banks, although the extent was species-specific. Fresh seeds of all the species attained higher germination in light as compared to complete darkness, suggesting that the germination of seeds can be restricted if they are buried deep in the soil under natural conditions. However, depending on species, in-situ seed storage changed the light requirement for germination. Additionally, the absence of an increase in the ratio of dead seeds between fresh and stored seeds indicates their ability to remain persistent in a soil seed bank and thus may offer great potential for maintaining and restoring desert ecosystems.