Pre-sowing Treatment Of Seeds Research Articles

Seed pre-treatment with electromagnetic field (EMF) differentially enhances germination kinetics and seedling growth of maize (Zea mays L.)

Pre-sowing treatment of seeds with different intensities and exposure times to electromagnetic fields (EMF) has proved to be beneficial in increasing the productivity of crops. The purpose of the recent study was to evaluate the effects of electromagnetic fields applied prior to cultivation to seeds of two maize genotypes namely FH-1046 and YH-5427. Sterilized seeds were exposed to three doses of EMF and sown in six treatments levels i.e. T0 (as control), T1 (60mT for 3 min.), T2 (120mT for 3 min.), T3 (180mT for 3 min.), T4 (60mT for 6 min.), T5 (120mT for 6 min.), and T6 (180mT for 6 min.). There were three replicates in each treatment. Results showed EMF exposure as an augmenting factor as it caused up to 50 % improvement in seed germination performance. The EMF exposure increased germination kinetics and triggered enhancement in morphological characteristics i.e., higher leaf area, plant height, more fresh and dry weight; higher concentration of physiological pigments like chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids; upregulated antioxidative enzymatic activities; and, higher mineral ions concentration such as Na+, K+, and Ca2+. A growth promotory effect of all doses of electromagnetic field was observed on crop performance, however, T3 (180mT for 3 min.) and T5 (120mT for 6 min.) resulted in the highest germination indices, vegetative proliferations and biochemical assays. Of the two genotypes of maize, FH-1046 proved to be more sensitive the EMF as compared to YH-5427. It was concluded that maize growth and grain yield might be directly enhanced through the useful aspects of EMF by its analytical and sustainable utilization at the large scale of agricultural farming.

Effectiveness of use of biological drugs and microelements in the cultivation of chickpeakes in light chestnut soils in the Volgograd region

Chickpeas are widespread in countries with arid climates, where they are sown annually on an area of 10–11 million hectares. The favorable combination of protein, fat, carbohydrates, macro- and microelements, vitamins, and biological active substances in grain make it a complete feed for farm animals and poultry. The purpose of the research was to study the eff ectiveness of the use of biological products and microelements when cultivating chickpeas under the conditions of light chestnut soils in the Volgograd region. In the process of work, two series of experiments were carried out: the fi rst – “Pre-sowing treatment of chickpea seeds with microfertilizers” and the second – “Combined use of growth stimulants and microfertilizers”. The most important conditions for the realization of chickpea productivity, taking into account the biological characteristics of the variety Privo 1 in the soil and climatic conditions of light chestnut soils of the Volgograd region have been identifi ed. In the second experiment, the average lowest economic yield of chickpea variety Privo 1 was formed in the control variant without seed treatment with microelements and growth stimulants and was equal to 1,92 t/ha. The highest economic yield of chickpeas, on average, according to experience, was established in combinations of the growth stimulator HB-101 with boric acid or ammonium molybdate during pre-sowing seed treatment and was equal to 2,59 t/ha, i.e. was 34,9 % higher than in the control variant. It was recommended that under the conditions of the Volgograd region on light chestnut soils when cultivating chickpea variety Privo 1, before sowing, treat chickpea seeds with growth stimulant HB-101 (50 ml/t) in combination with ammonium molybdate (NH4)2MoO4 – (250 g/t) or boric acid H3BO3, B(OH)3 (500 g/t). Sowing should be carried out as early as possible with a seeding rate of 500 thousand viable seeds on 1 ha.

Effect of bioecogum bioorganic fertilizer on the development of maize and soya bean in light chestnut soils

The article discusses the use of domestic liquid bio-organic fertilizer "BioEcoGum" in the cultivation of corn and soybeans in the south-east of Kazakhstan. The influence of seed treatment and foliar top dressing during the growing season on the growth, development and yield of corn (Porumben 458) and soybeans (Zhansaya, Victory) was studied. Pre-sowing treatment of corn and soybean seeds with a solution of liquid bioorganic fertilizer increases germination by 10-15 %. Two and three-fold foliar top dressing of corn and soybean plants enhances growth and development, increases the yield of soybean grain by 25-33 % and corn by 75 %, contributes to an increase in root biomass by 50 %, increases the economic efficiency of application. According to the results of production tests, the bio-organic liquid fertilizer "BioEcoGum" is recommended for widespread introduction in the south and south-east of Kazakhstan in the cultivation of grain and leguminous crops.

Effectiveness of a preparation based on animal effects on winter and spring wheat

   The results of testing a drug obtained from livestock waste containing fulvic acids on winter and spring wheat are presented. The prescription was obtained by treating an aqueous infusion of chicken manure and pig waste with 60% nitric acid. Before use, the drug was diluted with water in a ratio of 1:100. The working solution had a pH of 6.7–6.9. The specified pH value of the working solution prevents the possible adverse effect of the drug on other agrochemicals when using tank mixtures. Pre-sowing treatment of winter wheat seeds with the resulting preparation, at a consumption rate of 0.1 l/t, increased the area of flag leaves, which had a significant positive effect on yield, by 1.8 times compared with the control. The biomass of plants treated with the drug was 1.3 times greater than in the control. Pre-sowing treatment of seeds with the medication at a consumption rate of 0.1 l/t led to an increase in the yield of winter wheat in the conditions of the Belgorod region by 0.44 t/ha, or by 6.8 %, as well as the content of gluten protein in grain by 2.0 % and reduced infection of seeds with Alternaria. Spraying spring wheat during the stem growth phase (two nodes) increased the yield by 0.73 t/ha or 20.8 %. The use of the drug for pre-sowing seed treatment significantly reduced the sensitivity of spring wheat plants to herbicide stress. The increase in yield under the influence of the medicine was achieved by increasing the number of ears by 11.2 % and by increasing the number of grains in an ear by 8.3 %.

Influence of the endophytic fungus <i>Metarhizium robertsii</i> on the growth and development of forage beans siberian varieties

   The results of studying the influence of the endophytic fungus Metarhizium robertsii on the growth and development of fodder beans of the Sibirskie variety are presented. Endophytes are ubiquitous, diverse microorganisms that live in healthy host tissues without causing visible disease symptoms. The studies were conducted in 2020–2022. Pre-sowing treatment of broad bean seeds (Vicia faba L.) with the entomopathogenic fungus M. robertsii, followed by cultivation in field conditions, contributed to the acceleration of growth processes, the formation of greater biological mass and increased yield. The effectiveness of the entomopathogenic fungus M. robertsii was assessed in a field experiment on leached chernozem in the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia. M. robertsii on broad beans significantly increased grain yield by 10–15 % depending on year conditions in 2020 and 2022. (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.036715 and 0.012186, respectively), plant height - by 6–16 cm (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.010023), foliage, and weight of 1000 grains. A significant increase in active nodules on the roots of broad bean plants treated with M. robertsii was established. The results indicate that treating bean seeds with the entomopathogenic fungus M. robertsii before sowing can increase crop yield and stimulate growth processes. In the future, this technique can be used in agricultural practice on other legumes. This work is the first study of the influence of entomopathogenic fungi on broad beans when grown in the continental climate of Western Siberia.

The dependence of yield and its structure on pre-sowing treatment of spring triticale (<i>× triticosecale</i>) seeds in the Amur region

   The research results (2014 - 2015) on triticale yield and its structure depending on the seed treatment are presented. The need for research is caused by increasing grain yields and gross yields in the region.   This work aims to establish the dependence of yield and its structure on the pre-sowing treatment of triticale seeds by modern fungicides that are effective in extreme conditions.   A two-factor field experiment was conducted on the experimental field of the Far Eastern State Agrarian University, Amur region. Options: Factor A - triticale varieties: 1. Ukro, St; 2. Yarilo; 3. Carmen. Factor B - treatment with preparations: 1. Control - water; 2. Maxim rate - 1.5 ml/l; 3. Inshur Perform - 0.4 l/ha; 4. Kinto Duo - 2 l/ha. Each variety of triticale corresponded to fourvariants of treatment with preparations. Regarding height, productive business and ear length of triticale, the differences between the preparations and the control were insignificant. The preparation of Kinto Duo increased the number of grains in the ear by 2.0 % compared with the control. Maxim and Inshur Perform by weight of 1000 grains resulted in a significant increase of 2.8 and 3.9 %, and Kinto Duo - 7.2 % compared to the control. Yield is strongly related to productive business, r = 0.798. The correlation between yield and stem length is medium r = 0.332. Between yield, ear length, number of grains in the ear, and weight of 1000 grains, the correlation dependence is weak r < 0.3. The preparation Inshur Perform increased the yield of triticale grain by 0.11 t/ha or 4.9 %, Maxim - by 0.30 t/ha or 13.4 %, and Kinto Duo - by 0.34 or 15.2 % relative to the control.

Effect of pre-sowing treatment of soybean seeds with inoculant and microelements for yield and quality in the conditions of south-east of Kazakhstan

Soybean is a high-protein and at the same time an oilseed crop. Its cultivation brings profit from the sale of seeds and enriches the soil through the activity of nitrogen-fixing plants. The effectiveness of pre-sowing treatment of soybean seeds with a nitrogen-fixing preparation (HiStick© inoculant) in combination with molybdenum and cobalt salts was evaluated at field level from 2019 to 2021 in the conditions of south-east Kazakhstan. The profitability of the crop could be increased by the use of pre-sowing treatment with these micronutrients which are involved in the processes of photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. The most indicative characteristics for assessing the impact of pre-sowing seed treatment are the accumulation of protein and oil per hectare, since grain yield increased with pre-sowing treatment without changing quality characteristics (expressed as concentrations). Our research showed an increase in protein yield per hectare with pre-sowing treatment. When seeds of the early ripening Ivushka variety were treated with molybdenum and cobalt without HiStick©, protein yield per hectare increased by 8%. When using the HiStick© preparation together with microelements, the protein yield increased by 4.8%, 8.7% and 12.8% for Zhansaya, Lastochka (late-maturing) and Birlik CV varieties respectively. The increase in oil yield after pre-sowing seed treatment for the early-ripening Ivushka variety was 8.8% (complete treatment) and 6.8% for the late-ripening Lastochka variety (with micronutrients only). Therefore the increase of grain protein and oil yields improves the profitability of this crop for a range of soybean varieties.

Modern technologies for cultivation of winter wheat on leached chernozems of the Republic North Ossetia-Alania

The purpose of the research was to study and use modern agrobiological principles of adaptive intensification of the technology for cultivating promising introduced varieties of winter wheat, their responsiveness to growth stimulants and winter hardiness of plants, as well as to identify inhibitory functionality in the destruction of weeds, reducing the incidence and number of pests on leached chernozems of the Republic North Ossetia–Alania. The processes of pre-vegetation were studied and it was found that the energy of seeds germination had a positive correlation with air temperature within the range of r=0,68–0,84. A slightly lower correlation coeffi cient (r=0,61–0,68) was noted when taking into account laboratory seeds germination. The maximum weight of 1000 seeds was observed in the varieties Aivina, Vassa and Kameya – 44,8–51,9 g, which was 1,2–8,3 g higher than in the control. High resistance to low temperatures was determined with normal autumn development of plants with sugar content in within 30 % or more. A recommended method for pre-sowing treatment of winter wheat seeds consists of soaking in a 0,1 % aqueous solution of sodium selenate (Na2SeO4) for 0,5–1 hour, enveloping with soil from the rhizosphere of Galega eorientalis Lam., thereby increasing the productivity and fertility of soils without additional costs for nitrogen fertilizers. The infl uence of seeding rates and predecessors such as clover and peas on the yield of Batko variety on leached chernozems of the foothill zone of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania was revealed. The optimal germination rate was 89,5 %, when sowing after peas with a seeding rate of 4,5 million pcs/ha, the yield reached 3,7 and 3,8 c/ha after clover and peas, respectively, with a profitability level of 77,7 % for due to the lack of additional technological methods. It was revealed that the biological product Nikfan in mixed with sulfur-containing mineral water as a top dressing for crops during the spring regrowth period after various predecessors contributed to an increase in yield and quality indicators of grain, a profitability level of 51,9 % and a reduction in prime-cost to 5,77 rub./kg.

Productivity of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with the complex use of biological preparations

The article reflects the results of studies conducted in the period from 2021 to 2023 in the dry steppe zone of the Russian Federation to assess the effectiveness of the integrated use of biological products in the cultivation of spring barley. The effectiveness of pre-sowing treatment of spring barley seeds with a biofungicide followed by foliar treatment during the tillering phase with biological products that suppress the development of phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria, stimulate plant growth and development, and also increase plant resistance to adverse environmental factors has been studied. Indicators of the prevalence and degree of development of root rot on spring barley were determined. Data are presented for recording the phytometric indicators of spring barley crops with the integrated use of biological products. Indicators of productivity and grain quality of spring barley were determined using biological products INBIO-FIT, BIOFIT-1.0 M and biofungicide Strekar

Stimulation of growth processes and productivity of grain crops in the forest-steppe of Western Siberia

The results of three years of research (2021-2023) are presented to study the effectiveness of pre-sowing treatment of seeds of grain crops (spring wheat, spring barley and oats) to regulate growth and development, increase yields and improve product quality. The research was carried out on leached chernozem of the Novosibirsk Ob region (JSC Irmen breeding plant, Ordynsky district, Novosibirsk region) and on gray forest soil (TPP “Michurintsev Garden”). The varieties of grain crops (spring wheat Licamero, spring barley Paustian and oats – Max) were studied. An increase in leaf area parameters was established against the background of the use of preparations for treating seeds with subsequent spraying of plants in the tillering phase with the following growth regulators Siliplant 0.01% (based on chelate forms), Epin-Extra 0.005%, Zircon 0.005%, Toro Combi 0.02% solution and Turmax 0.025% (chelate forms of macro and microelements). It was shown that the use of growth regulators increased the rate of growth and development, productivity and product quality. It was statistically established that the yield of grain crops depended on the elements - 38%, the crop under study - 31%, growth regulators and year conditions by 24%.

Оценка посевных качеств семян сортов зернового сорго при применении хелатных микроудобрений

Recently, the cultivation of grain sorghum has become increasingly popular in modern agriculture. Grain sorghum is a valuable agricultural crop, the peculiarity of which is consistently high productivity even under conditions of abnormal drought, which is especially important in arid agriculture. Another feature of grain sorghum is its suitability for food use. The grain of this crop serves as a valuable raw material for gluten-free products. Currently, the area of cultivation of grain sorghum is actively expanding, which extends to countries in Africa, Asia, South and North America, Europe and Australia. It should be noted that grain sorghum responds well to the use of agrotechnical techniques, including fertilizer systems, both in organic and mineral forms, as well as to the use of pre-sowing, leaf treatments with various humic, chelate and growth-regulating preparations. However, the effect of chelated micronutrients in the pre-sowing treatment of grain sorghum seeds has not been studied widely enough. This circumstance was the reason for the research. The article notes the significant effect of chelated preparations on the germination energy and germination of seeds of grain sorghum varieties. A tendency to increase the degree of grain swelling, as well as the length of primary roots and primary seedlings, was revealed when using preparations in chelated form. Keywords: GRAIN SORGHUM, VARIETY, CHELATED MICRO FERTILIZERS, WATER CONSUMPTION, SWELLING, GERMINATION ENERGY, GERMINATION, PRIMARY ROOTS, SEEDLINGS

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ ВЛИЯНИЯ ЭНДОФИТНЫХ БАКТЕРИЙ РОДА BACILLUS НА РОСТ И СТРЕССОУСТОЙЧОВОСТЬ ПРОРОСТКОВ ЯРОВОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ И СОИ

The studies were carried out to assess the indicators of seed germination, root length, level of lipid peroxidation, content of photosynthetic pigments and free proline in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous crops when seeds were treated with strains of endophytic bacteria of the genus Bacillus. The scheme of vegetation experiments included modeling of 30% drought on sand and pre-sowing treatment of seeds of spring wheat variety Yoldyz and soybean variety Sultana with endophytic bacteria: Bacillus subtilis KS-55 AU, Bacillus cereus KS-56 AU, Bacillus pumilus KS-57 AU, Bacillus megaterium KS- 58 AU, Bacillus cereus KS-59 AU, Bacillus megaterium KS-60 AU and Bacillus pumilus KS-61 AU. Bacteria better stimulated root growth when using a titer of 1×106 cells in 1 ml of the drug (the increase was 0.6 cm on soybean with Bacillus subtilis KS-55 AU and Bacillus megaterium KS-60 AU and 0.4 cm on wheat with Bacillus cereus KS -56 AU, Bacillus cereus KS-59 AU and Bacillus pumilus KS-61 AU). In wheat, the Bacillus subtilis KS-55 AU strain stood out, treatment with which contributed to an increase in germination by 30%, a decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation by 46%, an increase in the amount of free proline by 148% and photosynthetic pigments by 6%, relative to the control variant. On soybean plants, the strain Bacillus subtilis KS-55 AU contributed to an increase in germination by 40%, Bacillus cereus KS-59 AU contributed to a decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation by 47% and the accumulation of proline by 73%, and Bacillus pumilus KS-61 AU increased the amount of total chlorophyll by 141%, relative to the control variant. Thus, we can conclude that the above strains of endophytic bacteria improve the growth and development of spring wheat and soybean seedlings, and also serve as inducers of crop resistance to soil drought.

FATTY ACID CONTENT AND MORPHOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF WINTER WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) SEEDLINGS GROWN FROM SEEDS TREATED WITH OZONE

Background. Presently, a selection of environmentally friendly technologies for pre-sowing treatment of wheat seeds is conducted in agriculture. Ozone, an allotropic form of oxygen, is highly reactive, acts as an effective insecticide, promotes seed improvement, and reduces soil contamination. The impact of ozone on seeds is one of the promising technologies to improve the quality of seedlings. It is known that the field germination of winter wheat may be less than 50%, depending on the environmental conditions, and therefore the quality of seedlings is very important.
 Purpose. To evaluate the effect of different ozone concentrations on morphological parameters and synthesis of fatty acids (FA) in winter wheat seedlings.
 Materials and methods. The object of the study was the seeds of soft winter wheat (variety Irkutskaya). The ozonation was conducted with ozone concentrations of 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/m3 during 15, 30, 45 and 60 min. The germination of treated and control seeds was carried out for three days in the dark in a thermostat (24±1°C). On the third day, the morphometric characteristics were measured. The extraction of lipids from shoots and roots was carried out according to the method of Bligh, Dyer [14]. The methyl esters of lipid fatty acids were analyzed by chromato-mass spectrometry. Statistical data processing was conducted with the use of R programming language and SigmaPlot v. 12.5.
 Results. Ozone in concentrations of 2, 4, 6 g/m3 has a stimulating effect on seedling germination, the length of the shoots and roots increases. At ozone concentration of 8 g/m3, the length of the shoots and roots decreases.
 There is a general trend in the content of fatty acids, in the shoots of seedlings there is some decrease in lipid unsaturation, and in the roots - some increase in lipid unsaturation.
 Conclusion. Ozone in concentrations up to 8 g/m3 is suitable for pre-sowing seed treatment and improves seedling performance.

Characteristics of Stenotrophomonas rhizophila Lipopolysaccharide, a Representative of Antarctica

In 2002, Wolf described a new species of Stenotrophomonas, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, which is a non-pathogenic plant inhabitant. The defining characteristics of the new species, in contrast to S. maltophilia, were the following: growth at 4 °C, but its absence at 37 °C; the use of xylose as a carbon source; low osmolytic tolerance. S. rhizophila is isolated exclusively from the rhizosphere or from the internal tissues of plants, in particular from the vascular tissues of the root and stem. In 2014, a number of authors, studying cultivated heterotrophic bacteria and yeasts, which dominate in plant samples collected from various terrestrial biotopes near the Ukrainian Antarctic station on Galindez Island in Marine Antarctica, isolated a number of bacterial isolates. The authors’ phylogenetic analysis using only BLAST analysis made it possible to determine the approximate phylogenetic affiliation of the bacterial isolate to the family Gammaproteobacteria (genus Stenotrophomonas, species S. rhizophila). It is known that many processes that determine the biological features of microorganisms, the nature of their relationships between them, as well as micro- and macroorganisms in biocenoses, are carried out with the participation of the surface structures of the bacterial cell, which are in direct contact with the environment. Among them, of particular interest are lipopolysaccharides (LPS), components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. However, to date, we have not found any works devoted to the study of S. rhizophila lipopolysaccharides in the literature available to us. The aim of the work was to clarify the phylogenetic position of the 6p5m bacterial strain isolated from the Antarctic region by constructing dendrograms, to study some of its phenotypic properties, to isolate lipopolysaccharides and study chemical and component composition, serological, and biological properties. Methods. Identification was carried out via ribosomal phylogeny. A fragment of the 16S rRNA gene of bacterial strain 6p5m was amplified by PCR using primers 8F and 1492R. The phylogenetic position of the strains was determined by construction of dendrograms, which show the position of the investigated strains among closely related and typical species and type species (programs ClustalX 2.1, Mega v. 6.00). LPS was obtained from cells by water-phenol extraction, electrophoresis was carried out in polyacrylamide gel, monosaccharide and fatty acid composition was determined by chromato-mass spectrometry, antigenic activity was studied by immunodiffusion in agar. Results. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene revealed a high level of homology (99.8%) of the bacterial strain 6p5m with typical strain S. rhizophila DSM 14405T from the GenBank database, which allows us to classify it. Comparing phylogenetic analysis with phenotypic data, we can assert that strain 6p5m belongs to the S. rhizophila species. When studying the biopolymer composition of LPS by specific reactions to each component, it was found that the carbohydrate content was relatively low and amounted to 27.42% and 13.34% for LPS1 and LPS2, respectively. The content of characteristic LPS components: heptose and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic (KDO) acid was 1.78% and 0.034%, as well as 5.38% and 0.09%, respectively, for LPS1 and LPS2. Analysis of the monosaccharide composition of LPS preparations showed that fucose (72.57%) is present as a dominant monosaccharide in LPS1 and rhamnose (65.04%) in LPS2. The main monosaccharides of the extracellular component were galactose (39.92%) and rhamnose (24.36%). Analysis of the lipid part of the studied LPS indicates significant differences between them. In the composition of lipid A LPS1 and LPS2 of S. rhizophila 6p5m, anti-iso-pentadecanoic acid (a-i-C15:0) was predominant (25.58% and 39.24%, respectively), and 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid (3-OH-C12:0) in LPS2 (26.21%), hexadecanoic acid (С16:0) (27.06% and 10.51%, respectively) for LPS1 and LPS2. Cyclic acids were present only in LPS1, while i-C15:0 and 9-C16:1 only in LPS2. Electrophoretic analysis showed heterogeneity characteristic of an LPS molecule, manifested by a plurality of bands in the form of a «ladder» when the gel was stained with silver ions, which is associated with the presence in the composition of LPS preparations of O-specific polysaccharide structures with different lengths of oligosaccharide chains, which determine their different molecular weight. On the electropherogram of LPS1 and LPS2, bands were not visualized in the upper part of the electrophoretic track, which indicates the absence of S-forms of LPS with long O-specific chains, but a significant predominance of SR-form molecules in the membrane LPS pool. S. rhizophila 6p5m LPS showed significantly higher pyrogenic activity compared to pyrogenal, a pharmaceutical preparation, an active ingredient of which is Shigella typhi LPS. The extracellular polymer did not exhibit pyrogenic activity. In the double immunodiffusion reaction in agar according to Ouchterlony, it was found that the studied LPSs in the homologous system exhibit antigen activity. The antigens present in both LPS1and LPS2 and the extracellular component are identical: the antigen present in each of the wells binds to all antibodies that can interact with the antigen from the other well. It was shown that pre-sowing treatment of seeds with LPS preparations of S. rhizophila 6p5m stimulates the energy of seed germination. LPS1 (+2.82 cm) showed the greatest impact in comparison with the control. A significant stimulatory effect of LPS1, LPS2, and extracellular polymer was observed when studying their effects on mustard seedlings. Conclusions. The taxonomic position of bacterial strain 6r5m of the ecosystems of the polar region (Antarctica) was determined via the phylogenetic analysis taking into account the phenotypic features of the strain. The bacterial strain is represented in the phylum Proteobacteria, class Gammaproteobacteria, family Xanthomonadaceae, genus Stenotrophomonas, species S. rhizophila. From S. rhizophila cells, LPS preparations were obtained, which differed in monosaccharide and fatty acid composition, but showed high pyrogenicity. S. rhizophila represents a promising alternative to S. maltophilia for applications in agricultural biotechnology and biological control due to its ability to both stimulate plant growth and protect roots from biotic and abiotic stresses.

Effect of low positive temperature on the antioxidant system formation in de-etiolated and etiolated Amaranthus tricolor L. seedlings grown from seeds treated with growth regulators

In the Non-chernozem zone of Russia, the recurrent spring cold up to 1-2 C can cause damage and death of thermophilic amaranth seedlings. Pre-sowing treatment of seeds with growth regulators is an inexpensive and effective method to reduce the negative effect of hypothermia on seed germination. The aim of the research was to study the effect of low-temperature stress on etiolated and de-etiolated seedlings of amaranth cv. Valentina ( A. tricolor L.) grown from seeds treated with growth stimulants. Seeds were pretreated with aqueous solutions of Albit (1 g/L), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) - 5 mM and succinic acid (ScA) - 500 mg/L. Seeds were germinated in peat pots at 23 2 C (T23) for 7 days. On the 7th day, peat pots with seedlings grown in the light and in the dark were moved to thermostat at 2.0 0.5 C (T2) for 8 hours. Determination of the amount of amaranthine, chlorophylls and carotenoids were carried out according to generally accepted methods. Pretreatment of seeds with the growth regulators Albit, H2O2, and ScA increased hypocotyl length, root length, and biomass of light and etiolated seedlings. Low positive temperatures increased the content of amaranthine and carotenoids but reduced the content of chlorophylls. It was shown that all used growth regulators - H2O2, Albit and ScA trigger or at least maintain the system of antioxidant protection in light and etiolated seedlings of amaranth cv. Valentina under low positive temperatures.

Protection of soybean plants from phytophages under conditions of the Primorsky Territory

The effectiveness of pre-sowing treatment of soybean seeds and application of biorational insecticides in reducing the number of major pests of soybean in the conditions of the Primorsky Territory have been studied. The results of using insecticides and biopreparations to regulate the number of dominant pests of soybean have been presented. The studies were conducted in 2020 and 2021. The efficiency of insecticidal protectants Imidor Pro, SC (2 l/t) and Tabu, WSC (1.0 l/t), bioinsecticides Fitoverm, EC (0, 16 l/ha), Proclaim, WSG (0.3 kg/ha), Batsikol, L (15 l/ha), Biosleep BW, L (2 l/ha), Biosleep BT, P (2 kg/ha) against two-striped leaf beetle (Medythia nigrobilineatus Motsch.) and soybean pod borer (Leguminivora glycinivorella Mats.) were studied. Pre-sowing seed treatment with insecticides Imidor Pro and Tabu reduced damage of soybean plants in the sprouting phase by Medythia nigrobilineatus beetles compared to the control by 94.0–98.2%. Seed dressing with imidacloprid-based preparations provided effective protection of crops against the pest in the sprouting – branching phase. Biorational insecticides based on avermectin C and Bacillus thuringiensis showed high biological efficacy (71.1–98.8%) on the 5–10th day after treatment against the two-striped leaf beetle. Soybean seed damage when bioinsecticides were used against Leguminivora glycinivorella was 1.9–3.0% compared to 5.6% in the control. The conducted studies testify to the prospect of using the preparations of biological origin to control the number of dominant pests in soybean crops.

Biostimulatory Impacts of Seed Priming through Botanical Extracts on Crop Production: A Critical Review

Rapid human population increase, food scarcity, and climate change are some of the global challenges in the current scenario. Among these, climate change adversely impacts crop production by creating abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and metal toxicity. Seed emergence, the critical stage in crop development, is highly vulnerable to these abiotic stresses. Therefore, short-term approaches to increase seed germination and the initial growth of plants were investigated in advance as a solution. Seed priming is indeed a pre-sowing treatment of seeds. It is a technique used to enhance the germination and early growth of seeds by exposing them to controlled hydration and sometimes other treatments before planting. Seed priming considered a low-cost, eco-friendly, and sustainable technique to promote seed germination and the initial growth of plants. Though various priming methods are available, this review discusses only botanical extracts (both seaweed and plant extracts) used as priming agents in seed priming. Among the seaweed extracts, green and brown algae species such as Ascophyllum nodosum, Sargassum spp., and Ulva spp. enhanced the crop performances even under stress conditions. In addition, leaf extracts derived from drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and neem (Azadirachta indica) are widely used to increase the crop production under stress and non-stress environments. Furthermore, in this review discussed about priming mechanism, different extraction methods and bioextracts behavior under diverse agroecosystems are discussed in detail.

THE EFFECT OF MYCORIZATION OF SEED AND SOIL BIOFERTILIZER ON THE FORMATION OF INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTIVITY OF SOYBEAN PLANTS

This article presents the results of field research on the effect of seed treatment with the Mycofriend mycorrhizal biopreparation and the use of Groundfix soil biological fertilizer in pre-sowing cultivation, under different rates of mineral fertilization, on the formation of elements of individual plant productivity, namely the number of beans per plant, the number of grains per plant, mass grains from one plant and the mass of 1000 grains. The early ripening soybean variety of the Ukrainian selection Diadema Podillya was used for the study. The research was carried out during 2017-2021 at the research field of the "Agronomichne" research center of the VNAU. On the basis of the received data of the five-year cycle of field research, it was established that on the gray forest soils of the Right-bank forest-steppe, the most optimal conditions for the growth processes and development of soybean plants, and as a result of the formation of high individual productivity, are made under the conditions of applying mineral fertilizers in the norm of N60P60K60, soil biological Graunfix fertilizers (5 l/ha) and pre-sowing treatment of seeds with the mycorrhizal preparation Mycofriend (1,5 l/t). Under these conditions, the maximum number of beans per plant was obtained in the experiment, 27,2 pcs. (19,3 pcs. on the control), the number of grains per plant is 47,2 pcs. (37,5 pcs. on the control), the weight of grains from the plant is 7,6 g (5,43 g on the control) and the weight of 1000 grains is 160,9 g (145,1 g on the control). It should be noted that the variant of the experiment, which involved the application of mineral fertilizers at the rate of N45P45K45, the application of Groundfix at the rate of 5 l/ha and the treatment of seeds with the mycorrhizal preparation Mycofriend (1.5 l/t) ensured the formation of indicators of individual plant productivity at the same level as the variant with the introduction of only mineral fertilizers at the rate of N60P60K60, and in some cases even exceeded it. At the same time, the number of beans per plant was 22,0 pcs., the number of grains per plant was 41,3 pcs., the weight of grains per plant was 6,32 g, and the weight of 1000 grains was 153,4 g.

Sol-Gel-Derived Functional Coatings for Pre-Sowing Seed Treatment

The superatomic structure of film-forming sols obtained by the acid hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in an aqueous medium (free of organic solvents) was studied using the SAXS method. The formation of nanoparticles (NPs) was confirmed in alcohol-free silica sols with both a low (1 vol. %) content of TEOS and a high (10 vol. %) content of TEOS, hydrolyzed in an aqueous-alcoholic medium. A trimodal size distribution was revealed for the resulting NPs, with radii ranging from less than 1 nm to ~11 nm. The volume fraction of NPs tends to grow with increases in TEOS concentration, as well as with the introduction of magnetic NPs of iron oxides into silica sols. The synthesized silica sols and suspensions based on silica sols with FexOy NPs were used for the pre-sowing treatment of white and cauliflower cabbage seeds in order to provide a functional coating on their surfaces, thereby improving seed germination, stimulating their growth in the early stages of development, and suppressing the effect of phytopathogens. The effect of the pre-sowing seed treatment in sol-gel compositions on seed germination and the growth characteristics of plant seedlings is analyzed, including the influence of iron-oxide magnetic NPs’ compositions and concentrations in silica sols.

Peculiarities of soybean-rhizobial systems subject to different levels of water supply fol-lowing treatment with succinic acid and epibrassinolide

All around the world, one of the leading – according to area of cultivated fields – oleic crops is soybean, which has a high demand for moisture. Given the significance of this crop and negative impact of drought on its yield, integrated research of the influence of insufficient water supply on the intensity of physiological-biochemical processes in those plants is necessary for identifying and understanding the drought-tolerance mechanisms of soybean, as well as symbiotic systems created with its participation, and also for search for ways to adapt it to this stressor. Therefore, our objective was determining the specifics of formation and functioning of the symbiotic systems of soybean and Bradyrhizobium japonicum, following treatment with succinic acid (0.01 g/L) and 24-epibrassinolide (0.00001 g/L), subject to different levels of watering. Our studies revealed that pre-sowing treatment of the seeds with a solution of 24-epibrassinolide with their subsequent inoculation with B. japonicum Т21-2 resulted in the most pronounced stimulation of formation and functioning of the symbiotic systems of soybean in the optimal growing conditions. At the same time, during water shortage, the intensity of nitrogen fixation was the highest in the plants grown from seeds that had been successively treated with the acid and the inoculant. We confirmed that water deficit led to significant increase in the overall content of phytohormones of cytokinin nature in the soybean root nodules, depending on the way the seeds were treated. However, the largest pool of cytokinins was seen in the plants that had been treated with succinic acid against the background of both optimal and insufficient water supply. Treatment of the seeds with 24-epibrassinolide caused significant excess of content of zeatin riboside over the content of zeatin during the flowering stage, whereas in the stage of pods formation it led to an opposite effect – excess of zeatin over zeatin riboside. Fourteen days-long water deficit decreased the content of chlorophylls in the leaves and grain productivity of the plants of all variants of the experiment. The use of growth regulators managed to alleviate the negative impact of stress and protect the pigment complex from ruination. Treatment of the seeds with solutions of succinic acid and 24-epibrassinolide provided the growth of soybean grain productivity regardless on water-supply level. The most efficient was 24-epibrassinolide. Therefore, use of 24-epibrassinolide for pre-sowing treatment of the soybean seeds provided formation of effective symbiotic systems with high nitrogen-fixing activity and caused a number of specific changes in the pattern of accumulation of free and complex forms of cytokinins in the root nodules of those plants. At the same time, the treatment provided the highest concentration of photosynthesis pigments in the soybean leaves, and as a result produced the greatest increase in grain productivity of plants of all the variants, regardless of levels of water supply. In turn, use of succinic acid produced the highest level of nitrogen-fixing activity in the case of the lowest number of root nodules in the conditions of insufficient water supply, and also caused significant accumulation of cytokinins in the nodules, compared with other studied variants against the background of both optimal and insufficient water supply. Therefore, it did result in increase in soybean grain productivity, but this was lower than in the plants treated with 24-epibrassinolide.