Increased Germination Percentage Research Articles

Response of Different Doses of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Early Growth of Mung Bean Seedlings to Seed Priming under Salinity Stress Condition

Background: Salinity impacts physiological processes, including germination, seedling development, ionic balance and water relations, leading to growth inhibition. Mung bean’s early stage is susceptible to salt stress. Our study aimed to mitigate salt stress at early stage using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) to enhance mung bean tolerance. Methods: Pot experiment was carried out to incorporate ZnO-NPs into mung bean seedlings. Two Mung bean genotypes, TMB-37 (tolerant) and MH-1314 (sensitive), were chosen. Seeds were primed with ZnO-NPs at various concentrations (0.00 ppm, 50 ppm, 100 ppm, 500 ppm and 1000 ppm) and shown in saline soil. Result: ZnO-NP priming notably increased germination percentage, shoot length and shoot dry weight in both genotypes. In 25-days-old seedlings, ZnO-NPs elevated antioxidant enzyme activity, proline content, especially superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POX) activity, while reducing lipid peroxidation and membrane injury. 1000 ppm ZnO-NPs had the negative impact on the root trait of sensitive genotype. Lower doses of ZnO-NP (50 ppm) concentrations was very effective in mitigating the adverse effect of salinity stress in both the genotypes offering a key approach for Mung bean’s salt stress mitigation.

Quercetin and Rutin as Tools to Enhance Antioxidant Profiles and Post-Priming Seed Storability in Medicago truncatula

Seed priming is routinely applied to improve germination rates and seedling establishment, but the decrease in longevity observed in primed seeds constitutes a major drawback that compromises long-term storability. The optimization of priming protocols able to preserve primed seeds from aging processes represents a promising route to expand the scope of seed priming. The present work explores this possibility in the model legume Medicago truncatula by testing the effectiveness of quercetin- and rutin-supplemented seed priming at improving the response to subsequent artificial aging. In comparison with a non-supplemented hydropriming protocol, supplementation with quercetin or rutin was able to mitigate the effects of post-priming aging by increasing germination percentage and speed, improving seed viability and seedling phenotype, with consistent correlations with a decrease in the levels of reactive oxygen species and an increase in antioxidant potential. The results suggest that quercetin and rutin can reduce the effects of post-priming aging by improving the seed antioxidant profiles. The present work provides novel information to explore the physiological changes associated with seed priming and aging, with possible outcomes for the development of tailored vigorization protocols able to overcome the storability constrains associated with post-priming aging processes.

Effect of Bio-Priming with Isolates of Fungal Bio Agents on Morphological Attributes and Growth Parameters of Chickpea

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important pulse crops of India. Chickpea is one of the major and abundant sources of protein among pulses; production of chickpea is very low all over the worldwide due to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Biotic stress diseases are the major problems. Chickpea wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri has been considered as devastating one to cause up to 10 per cent loss in yield every year. For eco-friendly and sustainable management of the disease, six isolates of two fungal bioagents Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride were evaluated for their antagonistic efficacy on colony growth by dual culture plate method. The results showed that the bio-agents suppressed the colony growth ofpathogen which ranged between 70.80-59.29%. Isolates of T1 [Trichoderma harzianum (KN)] 70.80% was found very effective antagonistic effect compare to all treatments and control followed by T2 [Trichoderma harzianum (VN) which inhibited 68.80%, T3 [Trichoderma harzianum (UNN) 66.45% and T4 [T. viride (FBD)] 63.58% mycelia growth of pathogen and so on. The result of seed treatment in vivo condition showed that T1 found highest germination percent among all the treatments with a value of 85.71%. In all the treatment, substantially boosting the morphology of chickpea against control, the maximum number of branches was recorded in T1, with value of 12 and maximum root length was 13.33 cm with increase 81.85% over the control. In the yield parameter, the highest number of pods was found in T1 with 41 pods, followed by T2 and T3 with 37 and 36 pods, respectively. Result of the study show that bio-agents significantly reduced the wilt incidence, treated plants subsequently significantly increased germination percentage, morphological parameters and yield parameters over the non-treated plants. .

Heavy metal tolerance and accumulation in the Brassica species (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis and Brassica rapa L.): A pot experiment

This study delves into the heavy metal tolerance and accumulation capabilities of Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis (B. chinensis) and Brassica rapa L. (B. rapa) in a pot experiment, specifically focusing on cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb). Agricultural topsoils were spiked with varying concentrations of these heavy metals (0 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, 225 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) for each element. The experiment involved cultivating 15 pots each of B. chinensis and B. rapa over 60 days. Results indicated that both Brassica species experienced delayed germination, with B. chinensis exhibiting a significant drop in germination percentage to 53 % at the highest concentration (300 mg/kg), while B. rapa showed a tendency for an increased germination percentage of up to 80 % at elevated metal concentrations; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Both B. chinensis and B. rapa demonstrated a stable decline in growth rate from 0.05 cm/day to 0.04 cm/day with increasing heavy metal concentrations, and the he reduction in relative growth rate was significant at the highest concentration compared to the control. The stress tolerance index revealed a significant decrease in plant heights for B. chinensis, in contrast to the stable performance of B. rapa, showcasing the tolerance of B. rapa to toxic conditions. Despite insignificant differences in fresh biomass due to metal treatments, B. chinensis consistently yielded higher biomass, yet it had a lower edible index due to its higher root biomass. Leaf areas increased significantly in both species at higher soil treatments, while root lengths remained unchanged, suggesting their resilience to elevated heavy metal concentrations. Analysis of plant tissues (leaves, stems and roots) using ICP-OES revealed that B. rapa accumulated the highest Cd concentration (864 mg/kg), whereas B. chinensis accumulated the highest Pb concentration (953 mg/kg) in root parts. Both species significantly accumulated Cr in roots, demonstrating a sequestration mechanism. These findings suggest that both species, particularly, B. rapa possess strong tolerance and accumulation capabilities for non-essential heavy metals, making them potential hyperaccumulators for green remediation techniques in toxic soil environments. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving these responses and validating phytoremediation potential in real-world scenarios is essential for developing sustainable soil management practices.

Seed dormancy and after-ripening requirements of Indian lac tree (Schleichera oleosa Lour. Oken)

ABSTRACT After-ripening (AR) is a time and environmental regulated process which determines the germination potential of the dry seeds. The after-ripened seeds swell after absorbing water and initiates metabolic activity linked to the germination process. Such after-ripening process is not studied in detail in Schleichera oleosa species. Therefore, an experiment was designed to assess the effect of different pretreatments on seed dormancy and AR patterns in the seeds of S. oleosa. The seeds were subjected to various pre-treatments, viz., mechanical scarification, scarification + Gibberellic acid (GA3, 0.02% and 0.05%), scarification + KNO3 (0.02% and 0.05%) for 24 hours. Further, the seeds were desiccated at four levels (10, 12, 14 and 16%) of intact seed water content (SWC) and were kept at either uncontrolled ambient room temperature or controlled constant temperatures (22°C, 25°C and 28°C), and their germination was tested fortnightly for 60 days. The results revealed that S. oleosa possess combined physical+ physiological dormancy and soaking of scarified seeds in GA3 solution (0.05%) for 24 hours showed the maximum germination percentage (80.0%), vigour index (721.4), and mean germination time (6.6 days). Results also indicated that AR process under optimum conditions (25°C, 16% SWC and 60 days) can increase germination percentage up to six times (81.25%) as compared to freshly collected seeds (12.5%) in the species. These findings can be utilized for developing the seed germination protocol with the aim to devise the propagation techniques and conservation programme for the species.

The Impact of Water Potential and Temperature on Native Species' Capability for Seed Germination in the Loess Plateau Region, China.

Global warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves and droughts. One important phase in the life cycle of plants is seed germination. To date, the association of the temperature and water potential thresholds of germination with seed traits has not been explored in much detail. Therefore, we set up different temperature gradients (5-35 °C), water potential gradients (-1.2-0 MPa), and temperature × water potential combinations for nine native plants in the Loess Plateau region to clarify the temperature and water combinations suitable for their germination. Meanwhile, we elucidated the temperature and water potential thresholds of the plants and their correlations with the mean seed mass and flatness index by using the thermal time and hydrotime models. According to our findings, the germination rate was positively correlated with the germination percentage and water potential, with the former rising and the latter decreasing as the temperature increased. Using the thermal time and hydrotime models, the seed germination thresholds could be predicted accurately, and the germination thresholds of the studied species varied with an increase in germination percentage. Moreover, temperature altered the impact of water potential on the germination rate. Overall, the base water potential for germination, but not the temperature threshold, was negatively correlated with mean seed mass and was lower for rounder seeds than for longer seeds. This study contributes to improving our understanding of the seed germination characteristics of typical plants and has important implications for the management and vegetation restoration of degraded grasslands.

Functional Attributes of Seeds as Indicators of Germination Sensitivity to Global Warming

Climate change has profound impacts on ecosystems, and one critical aspect is its effect on seed germination, a crucial stage in plant life cycles. Various studies have explored the responses of plant species to rising temperatures, and there is now a pressing need to integrate this wealth of information into a coherent framework. The aim of this study was to survey literature about seed traits and thence to evaluate germination responses to climate change and to propose functional groups for germination. Increased temperature affects seed traits, particularly germinability. Many species show increased germination percentages in warmer temperatures, although the extent varies among species and temperature ranges. Some maintain a consistent percentage, whereas others reduce it to retain seeds in the seed bank. Temperature changes also affect the timing and season of germination, with some species accelerating germination, others delaying it, thereby influencing competition and exposure to adverse conditions. Shifts in temperature can alter seed requirements, affecting responses to temperature, humidity, light, chemical stimuli, and dormancy. Modifications in germination have profound effects on seed bank and seedling bank dynamics, affecting plant populations and ecological community resilience. Changes in germination can disrupt competitive dynamics, favoring some over others, altering community composition and potentially impairing ecosystem functionality. Germination Niche, Germination Potential, and Germination Phenology are fundamental concepts in the evaluation of climate change's implications for germination.

Evaluation of viability and germination of pollen grains of three local caprifig cultivars and their effect on some characteristics of fig fruits (Ficus carica L.)

This research was carried out in fig fields in the village of Kafar-Jales, in the north of Syria. The analyses were conducted in the laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture at Idlib University during the 2022 farming season, to evaluate the viability and germination of three local varieties of Caprifig (Bunduqi, Azraq, Panjani). The morphological characteristics, the date of the exodus of insects (Blastophaga psenes) from male fruits, the quantity of pollen, and the percentage of germination and viability were studied on four nutritive media at a temperature of 27°C. The measurements were taken after 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. These three pollinators were used to pollinate three varieties of edible figs (white Satehi, Safrawi, and Habashi) to study the effect of pollen source on the productive characteristics of edible fig fruits. The result showed significant superiority of the Bunduqi cultivar over the rest of the cultivars in traits of the fruit’s early ripening, pollen quantity, and date of departure of insects. The Azraq cultivar is found to be superior to Bunduqi and Panjani cultivars in the germination rate of pollen at all stages of the experiment and in all used media. The addition of stigma flower extract in culture media increased germination percentage by 35% for all studied Caprifig cultivars. The addition of 10% sucrose in the cultivation environment increased the percentage of pollen germination by 20%. The cultivars that were inoculated with the Panjani pollinator outperformed the characteristics of the length, diameter, and weight, demonstrating that the fruit’s quality characteristics are affected by the genotype of the pollinator used. The results of this research can be beneficial for both fig growers and plant breeders, as they help to select the best pollinators and contribute to the development and improvement of the quality of the cultivated fig fruits.

Effect of Soaking and Germination on Antinutritional Factors of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)

Quinoa is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. However, it also contains certain compounds that impact nutrient availability. To address this, processing methods like soaking and germination have emerged as effective traditional treatments. They not only enhance the nutritional and bioactive potential but also diminish the anti-nutritional components in these grains, elevating their overall quality. This study examines the effect of soaking and germination treatments on anti-nutritional characteristics of quinoa. The result shows that an increase in germination percentages increases with longer germination times. Notably, seeds soaked in lukewarm water containing 2% salt for 24 hours showed the highest germination percentage (82.89%), while the number of non-germinated (16.27%) and abnormally germinated (0.32%) seeds decreased and greatest radical length (10.25 mm) when compared to seeds soaked in normal water. However, as the germination period extended, quinoa exhibited increased levels of vitamin C, notably more pronounced in lukewarm water with a 2% salt concentration. Additionally, germinated quinoa presents reduced levels of phytic acid (68.22 mg/100 g), tannin (0.36 mg/100 g), saponin (75.13 mg/100 g), and oxalates (42.55 mg/100 g) in comparison to raw quinoa. Hence, soaking and germination emerge as effective methods for reducing antinutritional components and enhancing the nutritional and bioactive potential of quinoa.

Studies on seed germination of khirni (Manilakara hexandra L.) seedlings under shade net house condition

Studies were carried out on seed germination and subsequent growth of Khirni (Manilkara hexandra L.). seedlings under shade net house condition at Department of Horticulture, Late Shri. Vasantrao Naik Marahwada Agricultural University, Parbhani (M.S.), India during the year 2006-07 and 2007-08. Among the various seed soaking treatments given to Khirni seed, GA3 200 ppm seed soaking treatment for 24 hours was the best for increasing germination percentage and subsequent growth of Khirni seedlings under shade net house condition. While the treatment control i.e. no soaking recorded least germination percentage and subsequent growth of Khirni seedlings.

Unlocking Growth Potential: Enhancing Salt-Stressed Seed Germination and Seedling Growth with Ga3 Priming in Acacia auriculiformis A.cunn. ex Benth., Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. and Cassia fistula L.

Gibberellic acid (GA3) is the one of the plant growth regulator which helps plants tolerate salt competently and diminishes the effects of salt stress. The present investigation was done to determine the effect of GA3 on two different Nacl concentrations on seed germination and physiological limits of four fabaceae seeds: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth., Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf., Cassia fistula L., and Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. Experimentation was directed as a factorial with a completely randomised block design with three replicates. Salinity at two levels (50 mM and 100 mM NaCl) and hormone (GA3 at 150ppm versus no GA3 were the experimental conditions. Therefore, when the salt level was 50 mM NaCl, priming the seeds of these tree seeds with 150 ppm GA3 suggestively increased germination percentage, declined mean germination time, improved physiological parameters of the seeds.

Overcoming dormancy in Desmanthus virgatus seeds for improved viability monitoring protocols of genebank accessions

Desmanthus virgatus is a perennial forage legume used as a livestock feed source. Seeds of this species are physically dormant and thus, propagation is difficult. The dormancy also impacts the routine viability monitoring of genebank accessions. The present study investigated different methods to break dormancy in seeds collected from various locations at different times. The result showed that most pre-treatments significantly increased germination percentage. Accessions treated with concentrated sulphuric acid (25 or 30 minutes) followed by sandpaper scarification showed the highest proportion of normal seedlings (94.6 and 96%). Boiling water (2.3 or 3 minutes) was also effective in all accessions except for accession 331. However, accessions treated with hot water (3, 5 or 8 minutes) had a considerable proportion of hard seeds. The proportion of dead/abnormal seedlings was high in seeds treated with a hot wire in all accessions, ranging from 27.5 (accession 15489) to 75.5% (accession 16). The untreated seeds remained hard at the final germination count. We conclude that it is important to use concentrated sulphuric acid and mechanical scarification with sandpaper to break the dormancy for the species to enhance germination, obtain uniform field stands and make wise decisions during storage.

Ecofriendly Management of Dry Root Rot in Black Gram Caused by Macrophomina phaseolina

In the present study Trichoderma asperellum (ECK), Trichoderma asperellum (TNAU), Streptomyces sp (native) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (TNAU) were tested in vitro by dual culture technique. Among the six treatments Trichoderma asperellum (ECK) and Streptomyces sp (native) was found to be more effective as compared to other bio-control agents and inhibited maximum fungal growth (100 %) of Macrophomina phaseolina followed by Trichoderma asperellum (TNAU) (81.6 %). The disease incidence controlled by all other isolates was ranged from 67.72 to 81.66%. The growth promoting activity of various bio-control agents and chemical was assessed based on seedling vigour index by standard Roll Towel Method (ISTA,1993). The treated seeds and controls are placed on the pre-soaked germination paper. After one-week various growth parameters like root length, shoot length, vigour index are determined by using the formulae. The seeds treated with Trichoderma asperellum (ECK) and Streptomyces sp (native) exhibited increased yield parameters like increased germination percentage, root length, shoot length, and Seedling vigour index 2562.0. Under field conditions the seeds are treated with different biocontrol agents and carbendazim. The various growth parameters like root length, shoot length and seedling vigour index observed under field conditions. Streptomyces sp (native) was found to be most effective in reducing pre and post emergence mortality and also it enhances the yield than other treatments. In field trail among the six treatments, treatment containing seed treatment of Streptomyces sp (native) was found to be most effective in reducing pre and post emergence mortality with germination of 87.0 %. Streptomyces sp (native) was found to be more effective as compared to other bio-control agents in increasing the yield parameters like root length, shoot length, and seedling vigour and also it enhances the yield (322.8 Kg/ha) compared to other treatments. Streptomyces sp (native) needs further species level characterization and other biotrophic and tritrophic interaction studies for developing commercial formulation.

Mitigation of Salinity-Induced Growth Inhibition of Maize by Seed Priming and Exogenous Application of Salicylic Acid

Soil salinity has come to be recognized as a global challenge to the sustainability of farming systems due to its adverse effects on crop quality and production, particularly in coastal regions of the world. Although maize (Zea mays L.), a C4 plant, has the capacity to withstand a medium degree of salinity, maize is vulnerable to salinity stress during its early growth phases. Therefore, in order to develop strategies to improve maize adaptability in saline settings, it is essential to increase our understanding of maize response to salt stress and tolerance mechanisms. According to reports, plants are known to be able to withstand salt stress when phytohormones are applied. Salicylic acid (SA), a widely-used plant hormone, has been shown to increase a plant's ability to withstand salt stress. In order to reduce the growth inhibition of maize caused by salt, the aim of this study was to clarify and assess the potential impact of priming and exogenous administration of salicylic acid (SA). The results revealed that salt stress decreased seed germination, seedling fresh and dry weight, leaf relative water content (RWC), and photosynthetic pigments of maize. Salicylic Acid (SA) treatment increased germination percentage (43-69%), shoot (24-56%) and root length (13-37%), dry weight of shoot and root (35-171%), RWC (34-39%), and chlorophyll contents (12-36%) of maize under salt stress. The findings highlight the need for additional research to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and explore SA's potential mitigating effects in lowering salt stress as well as its potential practical applications in agricultural practices.

Dry storage alters intraspecific variation in phenotypic traits at early life stages: evidence from a dominant alpine meadow species

AbstractThe intraspecific variations of phenotypic traits in the early life stages, such as seed germination and seedling establishment, are important components affecting species adaptation and differentiation. As one of the most common ways in which seeds are maintained, dry storage usually affects these traits, by either increasing or decreasing variation among populations. However, little is known about how the interaction between dry storage and population variation of a species affects the performance and adaptability of early life-cycle traits. In this study, we conducted experiments with seeds from ten populations of Elymus nutans along an altitudinal gradient on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Fresh seeds and seeds stored dry for 6 months were used to quantify the temperature thresholds for germination, determine seedling emergence and survival in two common gardens and examine the correlation between these traits and environmental conditions of population provenance. Dry storage increased germination percentage, germination speed and seedling emergence, and decreased intraspecific variation in germination traits of seeds (reduced by 33.36, 52.05 and 20.45% for Tb, θT(50) and σθT, respectively). Dry storage had little effect on the intraspecific variation of seedling emergence and survival. In addition, the temperature threshold for germination cannot be used to predict seedling emergence and survival in either common garden, regardless of whether seeds were stored or not. These results indicated that it is feasible to use dry-stored seeds to evaluate and select suitable provenances in ecological restoration, and using dry-stored seeds in ecological restoration projects is expected to achieve better vegetation restoration results than fresh seeds. On the other hand, the status of seeds (fresh vs. dry stored) should be considered in an evaluation of the adaptive value of plant functional traits, especially in the early life stages, otherwise, inconsistent conclusions may be drawn.

Influence of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson and A. hybridus L.

AbstractAmaranthus blitoides S. Watson and A. hybridus L. are common herbaceous annual summer weeds in different regions of Iran, which produce a large number of small seeds per plant. The goal of these experiments was to determine seed germination cardinal temperature and investigate the effect of constant temperature, osmotic and salt stresses, stratification, flooding duration, after‐ripening and seed planting depth on seed germination and seedling emergence. Two‐piece segmented, dent‐like and beta four‐parameter models were used to investigate the relationship between germination rate and constant temperature. The dent‐like model showed the best description of the effect of constant temperature on seed germination rate of both A. blitoides and A. hybridus. Optimal seed germination of A. blitoides occurred at 35°C, but in A. hybridus optimum germination was observed in a range of constant temperatures from 30 to 40°C. Osmotic and salt stresses and flooding adversely affected seed germination of both species. After ripening for 6 months increased germination percentage of both A. blitoides and A. hybridus. Maximum seedling emergence of A. blitoides (42.8%) and A. hybridus (44.9%) occurred at a planting depth of 3.3 cm, whereas further increased planting depth minimized seedling emergence of both weeds. Information obtained from this study will help us to develop effective techniques for management of A. blitoides and A. hybridus.

Magnetopriming enhance germination and seedling growth parameters of onion and lettuce seeds

The main objective of this study was to improve seed quality by using magnetic field (MF) as a priming method to increase germination percentages (GP) and seedling emergence percentages (SEP) in onion and lettuce seeds. MF treatments on pre-hydrated seeds, significantly increased GP (up to 80% for onion, 87% for lettuce) and SEP (up to 76% for onion, 86% for lettuce) in both species. Magnetic treatments in other saying magnetopriming helped to increase germination and seedling emergence speed in treated seeds as well. The shortening of mean germination time allowed the treatments to establish uniform and well-developed seedlings. Our findings indicate that magnetopriming could be used as a pre-germination treatment before sowing.

Variation in degree of intermediate complex morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Bunium persicum (Apiaceae)

AbstractBunium persicum is an important medicinal plant, but the requirements for seed dormancy break and germination are not well known. Based on available information, we hypothesized that seeds have an underdeveloped embryo and physiological dormancy (PD), and hence morphophysiological dormancy (MPD), and that populations of this species may have different degrees of MPD which demand different germination requirements. In this study, we evaluated embryo growth in seeds from four B. persicum populations at different temperatures and tested germination at varying constant temperatures, with or without GA3 and cold stratification. Seeds from the four populations had a fully differentiated, small, linear but underdeveloped embryo. The initial embryo‐to‐seed length ratio was 0.14–0.17, but it increased to 0.71–0.75 before germination at 5°C. Little embryo growth occurred at 15°C and no growth occurred at 25°C. GA3 effectively increased germination percentages, replaced cold stratification, reduced the required period for cold stratification, and in combination with cold stratification increased the maximum temperature of germination. Therefore, seeds from the four populations have intermediate complex MPD. Additionally, the germination responses of seeds from the four populations to GA3, cold stratification, or both were different, suggesting variation in the degree of PD. Bunium persicum seeds developed in cool and wet conditions were more dormant than those developed under warm and dry conditions. Thus, we showed that different climates can affect the depth of PD in a species whose seeds have MPD, resulting in variation in the degree of intermediate complex MPD at the population level.

Effects of macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics on seed germination of temperate grassland species.

Macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics are widely used to control invertebrate pests in livestock, such as sheep. While anthelmintic effects on non-target animals, such as dung-dwelling insects, are well studied, effects on seed germination are largely unknown. Seeds can come into contact with anthelmintics either during passage through the gastro-intestinal tract of grazing animals or when anthelmintics are excreted with their dung into the environment, which may result in changed germination patterns. We used four commonly applied macrocyclic lactones to assess their effects on germination: moxidectin, ivermectin, abamectin and doramectin as pure substances; moxidectin and ivermectin also in formulated form. We tested these pharmaceuticals on 17 different temperate grassland species from five plant families. Seeds were exposed to three concentrations of macrocyclic lactones (0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 mg·l-1 ) under controlled conditions, and germination was assessed over a 6-week period. From these data, we calculated germination percentage, mean germination time and germination synchrony. Most of the tested species were significantly affected in germination percentage and/or mean germination time by at least one of the tested pharmaceuticals, with formulated moxidectin having the largest impact. In general, the effects found were species- and pharmaceutical-specific. While formulated substances generally reduced germination percentage and increased mean germination time, pure substances increased germination percentage. Synchrony showed less clear patterns in all pharmaceuticals. Although effect size and sign varied between species, our study shows that non-target effects of macrocyclic lactones commonly occur in terrestrial plants. This may impede successful seed exchange between habitats via sheep, and even translate into profound changes to grazed ecosystems.

In Vitro Plant Growth Promoting Effect of Fucoidan Fractions of Turbinaria decurrens for Seed Germination, Organogenesis, and Adventitious Root Formation in Finger Millet and Eggplant

Bioactive ingredients derived from brown algae have been extensively used in the food, medicine, and cosmetic industries. In this study, fucoidans of low and high molecular fractions (LMF and HMF) extracted and isolated from brown alga Turbinaria decurrens were analyzed for their efficacy on seed germination, seedling growth, callus induction, direct organogenesis, and adventitious root formation in eggplant and finger millet. The yield and sugar content of LMF were higher than HMF. FTIR confirmed that the isolated fractions containing fucoidan has more sulfate groups in HMF than in LMF. The results showed an enhanced seed germination and seedling growth in both crops. In eggplant, 1 mg/L LMF treatment showed the maximum germination (91.6%), whereas, in finger millet, 0.1 and 0.5 mg/L LMF recorded a substantial increase in germination percentage (41.6 and 46%). Maximum fresh weight (FW) was noted with 1.0 mg/L LMF, and 1.0 mg/L LMF and 0.5 mg/L HMF showed maximum dry weight (DW) in eggplant. In finger millet, maximum DW was observed in 0.5 mg/L LMF and 1.0 mg/L HMF. Maximum biomass was noted in the 0.1 mg/L LMF treated group in the case of callus growth in eggplant. Similarly, the shoot tip initiation, proliferation, and plantlet regeneration were significantly improved with fucoidan LMF (0.1 mg/L). In conclusion, fucoidan extracted from T. decurrens exhibiting natural growth promoter property is reported for the first time in this study. These fucoidan fractions, LMF and HMF, can be utilized as cost-effective supplements in plant tissue culture media replacing the commercial PGRs for micropropagation.